The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1879.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 407, 12 March 1879, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1879.

Telicguams announce the death of Sheer Ali, the Ameer of Afghanistan. If this niiiioimcement be true, a very remarkable man has ended his career. He was not the eldest son of his father post Mahomed, but was considered the wisest. (Ju tins ground Ids father set aside an elder brother, or half-brothei, from the succession, and nominated Sheer Ali, who ascended the throne in 1863. From the very-beginning his reign was troubled. Three ol his brothers in succession rose in revolt and threw Afghanistan into disorder. Ihe fickle people now flocking to his standard, and now leaving hire quite unsupported. For five years ho was the plaything of for- ■ tune, “ sometimes wielding the full patriarchal authority of his father, but more frequently a fugitive beleaguered by his enemies, or seeking refuge in the distant provinces of the west.” The end has been like the beginning. Led on by his evil genius, he has incurred the enmity of Britain, experienced her swift and certain vengeance, proved the hollowness of the promises of Russia, is again rebelled against by his kindred, again forsaken by bis people, again a fugitive—and once for all, dead. Ihe circumstances which made this notable man our enemy have been for months past the subject of violent accusation and recrimination, on the part of Liberals and Conservatives in England. It is well known that until the appointment of Lord Lyttou to the Vice-royalty, the traditional foreign policy of India was ‘‘masterly inactivity.” Liberals and Conservatives alike had accepted this policy as the policy for the time and place. In accordance with this policy, when Sheer Ali was a fugitive in 1861, the British Government answered his appeal for aid, by saying that they were ready to recognise any man who could win his way and establish himself upon the throne. Who the man might bo was regarded as a matter of such little moment, that a humane Government could not sacrifice the blood and the treasure of its subjects to decide it either one way or the other. When Sheer Ali proved himself to be the man, he asked for a defensive and offensive alliance with the British “Masterly inactivity ” could not grant this request. It was thought that a civilized power could not pledge itself to support a semi-barbarian in every war lie might please to undertake, or in suppressing every rebellion bis tyranny might provoke. Not wishing then to run the risk of having to go to war for the sole reason of fumnmg «. u.o was not entered into bv .the Gladstone Government. Yet, having an eye to British interests, that Government promised that should the independence of Afghanistan be at any time threatened, aid. would be granted in arms, money, and if need be, men. Smarting under this rebuff. Sheer Ali said “ The English look to nothing but their own interest, and bide their time, Whosoever’s side they see strongest for the time, they turn to him as their friend. I will not waste precious life in entertaining false hopes from the English, but will enter into friendship with other Governments.” From this time, began gradually the influence of Russia at Cabal. Russia could not place a resident ambassador there without giving an alarm to the British; she therefore sent frequent messages, on various pretexts, by special messengers, each of whom stayed as long as was seemly, and on his departure was soon succeeded by another. In the meantime the British became dissatisfied with “ masterly inactivity.” The Conservative Government no more wished to annex or protect Afghanistan than the Liberal Government had done: they “ looked only to their own interests.” They discovered that India required a “ scientific frontier.” She wanted, and must have as soon as possible, at any cost, the key of her own house, which her neighbors had kept from time immemorial. No country of the world has been oftener and more successfully invaded than India. The invader has almost invariably swept down the mountain passes on the Afghan frontier. The error of Indian princes has always been in preferring cure to prevention, in trying to drive the enemy out when he was in, instead of keeping him out when he was out. Austria followed their example in 1866, when she lot the Prussian pass the Mountains of Bohemia unopposed ; the result was Sadowa. Turkey followed their example in 1877, in not defending the Danube and the Balkans —the result was the treaty of San Stefano. The British have wisely determined to have a frontier to defend, and to defend it. This frontier, or the possession of the passes, could not be obtained without war. The present Government pretends to deplore the war, and to throw the blame of it on the policy, of their predecessors in office. The plain English of the matter is that the Government saw that the passes were necessary to the safety of India, and they determined to have the passes; they saw that war was necessary to obtain the passes, and they determined to have war. The success of ihe campaign, as far as it has gone, seems to show that the best time has been chosen for obtaining their ends.