Evening star., 1905-10-29

down the scale To those who looked at
the bottom OF Russian affairs, the behavior
of our cabinets was decidedly incomprehen-
Sible, but there was help, no means 10
cure the blindness of our diploma fists until
clever oculists like Marshal Oyama and Ad-
mral Togo appeared on the scene proving
to the western statesmen how short-sighted
they We're and how shallow and empty was
he power of the much-dreaded northern
Happily, historical evolutions have always
their own way. which cannot be barred by
ignorance, mistakes and other human fraii-
ties. The world sees today what Russia is
irrespective of the future before her which
NOBODY can or will deny-the recent events
In the far east are rich in moral lessons TO
the nelghbors of Russia and particularly to
England who will certainly not neglect TO
shape accordingly her policy in Asia IT is
useless TO deny that England committed
grave mistakes in the past through over
rating Russfa's power and by being afraid
when her rival put to her breast the pistol
which was never loaded. At present the
time OF empty phrases like Asia Is bie
enough for England and for Russia" or "A
powerful but civilized neighbor in the north
west of India Is preferable to an unciyilized
but weak one" is decidedly gone. No in
dulgence or hyper-ca autiousness is Justified
today, and If the issue of the Russo-Jap
nese war had taken place fifty years ago I
am sure the ominous mastery inactivity
would never have been invented.
x&
As matters stand today England can 90
Oh on quietiy strengthening her rule and CIV
lHzlng the portion of Asia allotted to her
While admitting the deep feeling of ven
geance existing In Russia against England
unJustiy called the instigator of the present
war, and conceding the possibility thar tbts
srudge may find expression throueb tba
2oo.O00 Russian soldiers massed on Va rtops
points In the north of Afghanistan. I do NOT
see any danger for England in the near fu-
ture. RUSSIA may try to retrieve the moral
erect or her losses in the far east bv at
lacking England, as the completion OF tne
Orenburg-Tashkend line and the railway
from Samarkand TO Kilif as well as the IN
crease of her garrisons at Kushk and RarL,
Enthusiastically show.
But vana sine viribus ira In the first
place, we may point to the fact that the
great justification for Russian encroscb
ment. viz, her prestige among Asiatics has
been totally ruined In consequence of bar
defeats In the far east. Her arms have lost
their former reputation of inyincibility and
the sudden change in the minds of the As,
atics is best shown by the recent murdara,,
attacks on Armenlans in Khorassan and i'm
Transcaucasia, race which the Muss,,I
mans identify with the Russians
To this change OF mind may be attr,b,,aa
the rlght-about-face of Emir HabibulIeb oS
l,lI'.l Aighanisaan, VINO long ago remained in the
ating with the Russians Quite rece5tI,,
however he took new course as seer ~,
sion to Kabul ihs
Apart from this extraordinary cbans. .,
tne minds OF the Moslem world we can well
pass over in silence the new fss,ie rofica-
able In Englands policy with regard 10 CEN
Iral Asia The manly utterance of Lord
ID Lansaowne concerning British interests In
the Fersian gulf and the moderat te md wIsa
language used by Mr.. Balfour with regard
10 the extension of Russian railways into
AIghanistar leave no doubt as to the reso-
iuteness of England's policy in the defense
OF ner indian empire. We may be sure
tnat these official utterances will not remain
empty words as heretofore II this new
turn OF Engiand's policy In central Asia de-
serves to be hailed with toy by ali friends
OF civilization. Justice and humanity. II viii
pc easily understood how great must be the
Satisfaction OF those who pleaded many,
realized what they fervently AosB0l