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“ HIBERNIAN AFGHANS. ”

(From Public Opinion, Got. 9.) The Nation exclaims : —Long life and good health, success, prosperity, and happiness to Shere Ali, Ameer of Afghanistan ! May his councils be wise and his plans perfect, his arm mighty and his sword keen, to resist any unjust attack that may he delivered against him! The Ameer has met au outrageous aggression in the way it ought to be met—with prompt resentment and stern defiance. There can hardly be in the whole world one manly heart that will not be moved to admiration by bis patriotism and his courage. A more astounding demand was never with so little cause presented to any independent ruler in all history. What had the Ameer done to call for it ? Had he made an inadmissible demand upon England, had be sent any hostile expeditions into her territories, taken captive British subjects, or destroyed British property and refused to make any reparation ? Was he persecuting his own subjects ? Was revolt impending or anarchy rife ? No. The only pretence of a justification for the mission is that ho entered into friendly relations with the Russians, which it was quite within his right to do. The mission was despatched to tell him that he should forthwith dismiss the Russian officials and accept a British Resident at his court, who would dictate his home and foreign policy, take the direction of all his affairs, and reduce him to the condition of a puppet. The Irishman thinks :—The British Lion must be very sick indeed when a small Afghan state dares to beard him so boldly. England must fight, and, however it may be disguised, the new war must give an uneasiness, for the time is inopportune, the locality is of bad omen, and the season unfavorable. Myriads of Russians will be at their beck, fighting under the Afghan flag, with hordes to follow if need bo. AU these things forebode fearful carnage, for it will be considered a matter of life and death that the English shall enter and extort reparation from the ruler of Cabal. If they should not be able, then there will be more carnage, for all disaffected India will be up, and Russia will pour down upon them. The Cahul war seems a small thing iu itself, but all signs combine to point it out as the crisis of England’s destiny. Again Providence appears to favor the cause of Ireland, since England stands again with an avalanche of trouble forced above her. As the Almighty of old time afflicted the Egyptians with successive plagues because they refused freedom to tho Israelites, so England has had to suffer grievously, time after time, because of her sin as regards Ireland. Now, at tho eve of what, If human prescience fails not, seems to bo tho most menacing danger that has occurred to her since the cmbarcation at Boulogne was projected, it ought to bo her first caro to restore the liberties of Ireland. That cloud iu tho cast requires, as well as the cloud in tho west, of Pitt’s time, to bo propitiated by “ a message of peace to Ireland” —iu other words, a message of freedom. ■ England, however, may harden her heart as Pharoah did. Austria did not give way to justice until after Sodowa, and English statesmen may bo intent on provoking a similar manifestation of divine displeasure. At this junoture are the Irish representatives about to bo found dipping their hands in tho fleshpots of Egypt—or are they preparing to demand tho rights of their native nation. The Flag of Ireland says :—Has Providence at last brought on the day of reckoning for the slayer of many nations ? Is the cup of England’s wickedness full, and is mankind now to

bo avenged for all the blood that has been shed in the cause oi unrighteousness? England’s arrogance has provoked the war, and the Ameer is acting not only in concert with Russia, but with the Indian princes. Ireland's opportunity may be now at hand. What will tho Horae Rulers do ? Have they the patriotism and tho courage to turn the approaching advantage to good account ? The National Party, at least, will watch wjth keen interest the events that are about to transpire, and be prepared to promote the welfare of their country by every fair and available means. Tho Weekly News considers Shere All was justified in refusing to receive the mission, .that the stake at issue between him and England is his independent sovereignty, and that he acted like a sensible man in accepting the friendship of Russia after the English had turned a deaf ear to his request for assistance in resisting Russian encroachment. The Evening Mail, in allusion to these “ Dublin Afghans,” as it calls them, says : There is no more popular individual iu the two editorial closets of the four journals quoted above than Shore Ali. It is quite an unexpected 'piece of fortune that he should have oomo to tho front. The National game was getting so stupid and unexciting that another month would have seen the community demoralised into loyalty and senes; but a better prospect opens. The Ameer is a gentleman, every inch of him. Onr Cabul prints are likely to afford as much entertainment during the winter in the way of pictures as well as prose. Already there are Irishmen on the sea whoso destination is the passes which British troops must penetrate. One would have thought that sympathy would go with and earnest prayers follow these countrymen, who leave behind them anxious relatives and friends ; but the mock patriot of our journals is destitute of all sentiment, and full of all malice. He is not really dangerous. His tongue, if not the worst of him, is the vicious part of him. Ho does not strike either for country or against anybody, It is really amusing to hear that it is the heartfelt wish aud hope of the best portion of the Irish race that the force sent up to defend the peace of India from the morose barbarian who sits on the Khyber heights “ may meet with adequate punishment.” If Shere Ali should triumph, and, marching down, take Calcutta, and thence, setting sail, reach and subdue London ; and finally crossing the Channel, occupy Ireland, tho best portion of our race would be in high feather. Then, indeed, onr day of freedom might dawn. ' ,

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM18781209.2.22

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5523, 9 December 1878, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,066

“ HIBERNIAN AFGHANS. ” New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5523, 9 December 1878, Page 3

“ HIBERNIAN AFGHANS. ” New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5523, 9 December 1878, Page 3

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