The Late Ameer.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 119, 24 October 1901, Page 4

The Late Ameer.

Greatness ia greatness everywhere, ears a contemporary, and he mast be a partial judge who reckons Abdur Rahman other than a great ruler and leader of men. Both relatively and absolutely, he may be called the Great Ameer; jfor in all the history of modern Afghanistan not one other, not even the mighty Dost Mohammed, was to be. compared with him) while reckoned among bontemporary Sovereigns in the Eastern world he easily maintained his title to a place In the foremost rank. The great work of Abdur Rahman was the consolidation o* his empire. He was a man of iron will, crafty diplomacy, and not a little savage brutality. But he made his subjects realise that the country over which he held sway was one and indivisible, that there was to be no more thought of sovereignty at Oandahar or Herat, but that the Lord of Cabul was to be suprem e over all. He improved the internal administration of the Empire greatly, personally investigating and reformiug every department. His army, too, he entirely remodelled, according to approved European fashion. In brief, his early prowess in battle was fully

equalled by his thoroughness and ability as an administrator. Steadily his foreign policy inclined more and more to tbo British side. He recognised the fact that Russia had an eye on India by way of Afghanistan. Therefore, he argned, for him to have any alliance or close friendship with Russia would surely be to offend Great Britain, and provoke that power to conquer and occupy Afghanistan in self-defence. The only eafe course was therefore to be faithful to the British, and trust them to respect the independence of his realm; That course be adopted, and has consistently maintained for many years, notwithstanding all the blandishments of Russia. The territory over which the Ameer of Afghanistan holds sway embraces an area of some 300,000 square miles, its breadth being about 500 miles, and its length from the Khyber to Herat, about 600 miles. The population of Afghanistan is, roughly, about 4,000,000, mainly consisting of tribesmen at feud with each otber, who demand the constant vigilance of the Ameer to keep them in subjection. Among the achievements for which the Ameer will be long remembered was his introduction into Afghanistan of the industries, the arts, and the sciences of Europe. They exist to-day in the neighbourhood of Cabul to an extent undreamt of twenty years ago. Shere Ali had once remaiked: “Truly all nations are advancing in the arts of peace and civilisation. It is only we Afghans who remain ignorant asses !” But be made no effort to. bring Afghanistan forward into line with other nations. That was reserved for Abdur Rahman. He naturally turned to England for instructions and assistance, and got Mr (now Sir) Salter Pyne, a shrewd Forksbireman, to start various manufacturing enterprises at Cabul. After they were

in fall working order he came to Inspect them, and said .to Mr Pyne: “Thisjie one of the happiest days of my life. I have to-day seen the foundation of what is to be a great thing for Afghanistan, Before these workshops can be finished, three things are needed—God's help, my money and your work. . . . | will find the money, yon will do the work, and we mast hope for God's help. ” Now • there are workshops of all kinds at Cabul turning out all things, from candles to breech loading cannon. The electric light is in use, and a short line of railroad has been built. Everyone who has come

in contact with the Ameer has been deeply impressed with bis shrewdness and ability. Sir Lepel Griffin, who was brought into intimate relations with him in the days immediately prior to bis accession, formed a most favourable judgment of his character. Speaking of his first meeting; with Abdur Rahman, at Cabul, in 1880, he says: “ His conversation showed him at once to tea man of much knowledge of men and the world ; his estimate of the character of persons of whom we conversed was reasonable and shrewd; while through his whole bearing there was dearly visible natural humour and bonhomie.”' At Rawul Find! the Ameer created a not leas favourable impression. He conversed freely with the British officers wbo were brought into association with him, and surprised them by the depth of hb knowledge and the acuteness of bis judgments. He evidently possessed a native shrewdness and keeanme o£ observation such as have rarely been met with in an Asiatic ruler.