The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1885. THE AFGHAN DIFFICULTY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1317, 19 March 1885, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1885. THE AFGHAN DIFFICULTY.

About a fortnight ago there was flashed across the ocean to us the thrilling news that Russian troops were marching on Afghanistan. The news came like a thunderbolt, for no one expected it. All attention had at the time been directed towards the Soudan, and no one contemplated such an event. Since then we have received very little information on the subject. We have been informed that England has sent an ultimatum defining the limits to which the Russians can come ; that Russian newspapers have deprecated the idea that Russia contemplated going to war ; and that the Emperor of Germany advised the Czar against entering upon a quarrel with England. More recent telegrams render it doubtful whether the Czar will take his advice or not, but, whether he does or not, one thing is certain, the Czar undoubtedly contemplated taking aggressive steps in the first instance, and if he desists now he will do go because he feels it is the safest plan. The Czar saw that England was engaged in tiie Soudan, that France was mixed up in a Chinese quarrel, that there was a coolness between England and Germany, that there was some trouble brewing as regards colonisation in the South Seas, and that the colonies were clamouring at England for her tardiness in respect of annexation. He saw all this, and thought, no doubt, his hour had come—it remembered that the extension of her dominion over the Byzantine Empire is the dream of Russia. There were other reasons why Russia should desire to go to war. “ The St. Petersburg correspondent of the St. James’ Gazette, witmg of the position of affairs in Russia, says ;—“ Symptoms of fear, not only for the personal safety of the Czar, but of a general rising, and especially of a military revolt, abound on every side. Peculation and official corruption, after receiving a momentary check, are as rife as ever. Immediately after the Russo-Turkish war the Czar made a spasmodic attempt at reform in this direction, an attempt which almost resulted in his bringing one of his near relatives before a court-martial ; but of late he has seemed to acknowledge that the task of cleansing such a gigantic Augean stable as the Russian Administration is beyond even his theoretically unbounded power, and things have gradually drifted back to their former deplorable state. Jewbaiting, Nihilist hunting, oppression of the Baltic provinces in the west, and extension of the frontier in the east on the principles laid down in General iSkobeleff’s celebrated letter, suffice to fully occupy the attention of the Emperor’s present counsellors, n ho would regard any attempt at internal reform as a most dangerous proceeding. The more intelligent and enlightened members even of the Cousei’vative party view the situation with undisguised alarm. The higher the pressure at which the machinery of despotic Government is being driven, and the tighter every safety valve is screwed down, the more violent and disastrous, they prognosticate, will be the final explosion. That the present state of affairs cannot last much longer, unless public attention is distracted from home matters by a great war, is an article ot faith with every sensible man throughout the empire.” It was a similar reason that led to the last war between France and Germany. The Emperor Napoleon saw that the country was getting tired of him ; there was nothing but plots and conspiracies to dethrone him, and ho thought that by going to war he would distract public attention from domestic affairs for the time being, and if he returned triumphant he would be established on the throne on a firmer footing than before. How woefully his schemes miscarried is a matter of history, and if a similar fate befal the Czar, civilization would benefit by if. The Russian form of Government is the most despotic perhaps amongst civilized nations. All power centres in fhe Czar; his will is law, and the people have no power whatever in in their bands. They have neither representative institutions 5 nor have they any say whatever in the management of their affairs. That corruption and eyil doing should run riot in a country thus governed is only what might be, expected, and that the people should feel discontented and disposed to rebellion is only natural. Napoleon on being defeated found his kingdom ablaze, not through the agency of his German conqueror, but through the uprising of his own people. If the Czar should experience a similar fate, the world would be the better for it, for he has been the disturber of the peace in Europe, and is not likely to mend his way now. It he persists in.going to war we are not afraid of the result. He will certainly get as good a thrashing as Russia got at the Crimea, but at the same time it must be admitted that he is one of the most powerful enemies England has encountered for many a year. He is, too, an enemy in whose subjugation we colonists have an interest, for if ho were once let loose there is no doubt but that he would eventually find his way to these islands. Whatever we may do as regards the Soudan, war with Russia would appeal not only to our patriotism, but to our instincts of self-preservation. It is, top, a war which has not been brought upon us by England ; it is a war forced upon England by the aggressive policy of the Czar, and consequently it would be lawful and just on our part to repel any infringement ot our rights. Germany j

appears to bare some grievances, France sometimes complains of the policy of England, but so far we have not heard a word of complaint from Russia, and no excuse seems to have been made for the step she has taken. In all probability the Czar will think better of it. To see all her colonies ready to shoulder their rifles and rush to the assistance ot their Venerable Mother Country, must produce an effect on the Czar’s mind not at all calculated to induce him to force a quarrel on so pugnacious a neighbor as John Bull, backed up by his numerous family of stalwart sons. He, no doubt, feels this, and, if he carries his aggression no farther we feel rather inclined to believe that the martial-spirit shown by the colonies had a great deal to do with bringing him to a peaceful frame of mind.