Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-22

'iSheS. the lucas, anu tne views VI inc
American people toward the inter-
oceanic canal question. and it was ow-
ing 10 this campaign, undertaken in
penaif OF this country as one of its
warmest and most appreciative friends.
that Lord Pauhcefote was able to Sc
cure the consent not only of his gov
eminent. but of his fellow-countrymen
TO treaty which, acceptable to the
United States. constituted with
drawal from the uncompromising atti-
tude which England had previously
displayed in the interoceanic canal
controversy.
Lord Rauncefotels role in the war of
1898 is thoroughly understood by the
President and by the State Department
at Washington. 1t was the role of a
loyal and devoted friend, who made no
move without previously consulting the
state Department, and who used his
position as dean of the diplomatic
corps not to hamper the United States
In their difficulties in connection with
the war. but. on the contrary, to as
sist them. In fact, Lord Pauncefote
has TO such an extent impressed all
American statesmen, irrespective of
into contact with his frank and honest
desire to promote loyal friendship be-
tween his country and the United
States. and has SO thoroughly con-
WINGED them with the sincerity of his
regard and affection for America and
the American people that it will need
something more than charges voiced
by the German press, but of clearly
ierir,
VINO knows this veteran diplomat be-
lieve that he has ever during his long
career done anything that could be
construed as in the least degree I'M
friendly to the United States 1t is
somewhat hard that he should be ac-
clsfd thereof at moment when that
career is drawing to a close.
1t IS a curious fact that, although
the late Amer of Afghanistan was the
most abstemious of Orientals, never
touching a drop of any kind of liquor
or wine. yet he was a perfect martyr
to govt. being indeed the only ruler of
the Old World to suffer from that
complaint since the days of King
George ~. of England, whose attacks
were brought on by his overindulgence
in stimulants.
Although drinking is forbidden by
the Koran, yet an enormous amount of
It goes on among Asiatic pOtentates.
The late Shah of Persia did not draw
sober breath throughout the whole Of
his first European trip in 1873. Sultan
Murad of Turkey. the Maharajah Of
Cashmere. besides several other
Oriental mOnarchs, were deprived Of
their thrones in consequence of their
drunken habits.
The govt with which the Ameer was
afflicted was the kind known in Eng
land as poor mans govt" which occa-
sionally preys upon teetOtalers, and ac-
cordingly to the late Lord Granville,
who took to total abstinence in the
hope of getting rid of the ordinary
govt, and then was Frustrated instead
by poor mans govt, the latter is by
far the more exasperating of the two.
The new Ameer, Habilbullah, is the
son of a slave brought to Cabul in the
reti1ue of the late Ameer's first wife,
who was her owner. and her mental
station has invested her two sons with
So much odium that many of the
Afghan mobiles were wont to declare
tnat IL would not De Seenly her
boys to succeed to the throne. They |
indeed attempted to put the young |
princes out of the way by means of |
poison. but were unable to accomplish |
their purpose. The poisons admins |
tered to Prince Habilbullah so af- |
fected his nerves, however, as to make |
him an incurable stammerer. He was |
his fathers favorite, and with the OBJ |
ject of assuring to him the succession |
to the throne he on various occasions |
iItrusted him with the regency of the |
king 1om, during which time Habil- |
bullah governed with a strength and |
resource which showed that he was |
fully capable of filling his fathers |
shoes He is married to the daughter |
of Mohamed Amin, one of the great |
dignitaries of the Afghan army and |
court. and now has large following |
and may be relied upon to hold his own |
against the various pretenders that |
are certain to avail themselves of the |
death Of the late Ameer to attempt to |
seize his throne.