Tue St, James's gives us a very good Budget this week, and among its contents is a useful little map of the country in which the latest of England's little wars is being carried on. 'The unfortunate enemy occupy, it appears, acme valleys between Kashmir and the Pamira, under the Hindu Kush, They are not mere robber tribes, these Hurt and Nagar claus, living on' the depredations they commit on the caravans passing between Yarkand and Leh, but they are settled agricultural communities, living under rulers who boast of their long unbroken descent from princes of native blood. Hemmed in by lofty mountains, they are proud of the independence they have always maintained, and they probably present the spectacle of @ race living under almost the same conditions now us their forefathers did fourteen centuries ago.
the description given of them by an English Political Agent some years since. They have been for a long time under the nominal protection of Kashmir, and as we have now undertaken the protection of the Intter Power, we have felt it our duty to enforce the authority of the Maharajah of Kashmir over them, a course which they have resented, This is the ostensible cause of vur expedition against these tribes, the truth being that they have the misfortune to be between the hammer and the an 'There ems some ren-n to believe that has been trying to attract them by of ite scivntitic' expeditions across the Pumirs, and as we cannot allow the Russian sympathisers south of the Hindu Hash, we have sent a small force to make them tee that we are their true friends, The Daily Nevws sys The new fighting in India, which we report this morning, is on the extreme North-West frontier, ina latitude considerably higher than thut of Cabul. It was desperate, but, if it stops for good where it has stopped, we may be thankful that it was no worse. "The accounts of it, official and otherwise, are but the old, old story. The local tribesmen threatened a position beld by the Ruler of Kashmir, who is under our protection, Colone! Durand, the British Resident in the threatened district, accordingly moved forward with a force of Ghurkas and x mount battery and captured a fort held by the tribesmen. Theloss was heavy on both sides for 1 frontier affair, and it was particularly heavy among the British officers who led our native force. Colonel Durand and two other officers were severely wounded, and seven men were Killed and nearly thirty wounded among the rank and file. The enemy of course suffered heavily, but it is as yet too early to say that there is'no further danger of disturbance. Some of these little wats on the frontier are almostinterminable. The tribesmen have little to lose except the lives which they often throw away with desperate courage. On our side Imperial presi-e suffers, or seems to suffer, with every day's delay, to say nothing of the outlay in those exceedingly costly productions which are the squadron's boast, the crammer's pride." There should be no danger of lasting trouble on the North-West border, for enormous sums have been hed on it for many years past. Military railways and roads run to all the salient points; the mountains bristle with fortifications; and the Army, both native and European. has been largely increased. The present disturbance may be taken as one of the inconveniences of a scientific frontier. A few years ago it would never have entered into the head of anybody but a dreamer that we should be fighting beyond the Indus in the performance of an ordinary duty of military slice. There is some reason to fear that the fighting is part of a new forward policy; and in this connection it should be borne in mind that the scene of it is in the neighbourhood of the Pamirs, The Overland Mail, which takes the official Indian view that frontier tribes have very few rights if their independence endangers in any way the security of our frontier, tells the story of the affair with commendable outspokenness Every one who has studied the subject at all carefully has been perfectly well aware for along time past that our frontier is very weak soong as the chiefs of Hunzaand Nagar are allowed to believe they may do what they like. For the last few months it has been no secret that the Indian Government fully intended to take action; and if mistakes have been made in planning the expedition, they are not as yet apparent. It was not the fault of Lord Lansdowne and his advisers that the early approach of winter made the march of reinforcements to Gilgit very difficult; and if for the same reason the preparations for the advance were not quite so, perfect as they might have been, it would be unjust to blame those who made them. But as regards the future there is much to be said. If, as we hope, the original plan of advancing to the capital of Hunza and compelling the two States to return without delay to their old position as tributaries of Kashmir can be carried out, well and good. If, however, the task proves so difficult that the subjection of Kanjut has to be deferred, it must nevertheless be clearly understood that, havin, undertaken the work, the Government of India will not turn back, leaving it unaccom-Ter deetarine ina way that will Teave no room lished. The opportunity should be seized
for misunderstanding that Hunza and Nagar are within the British sphere of influence that this influence will be exerted when and how we choose ud that no other Power will be permitted to interfere. This can be made clear not only by a military demonstration on the spot, but also, and still more effectually, by diplomatic representations in Europe. Itis nota point which admits of argument and negotiation It is no one's business but, our own; yeat the same time much might be gained by letting it be known that we mean to mind our own business in a thorough way. Lord Salisbury, we have reason to believe, as adopted a Very firm tone in the reman: stronees that have been addressed to Russia with respect to the Pamirs; and there is equal need of firmness here. tis no less desirable, too, that something should be said to that ticular section of public opinion in Eng-jand which base mania for surrender and withdrawal from every position that is worth holding or ought to be held. The nonsense which is being talked in tome quarters about mischievous activity and unwarrantable interference with the patriotic independence of a free people should be made to appear ina proper light.
As the St. James's puts it, if we don't take the valleys, the Russians will The object of these operations can easily be explained. Unless the two petty hill States of Hunza, sometimes called Kanjut and Nagar, are reduced to subjection, the Russians will forestall us. Once established in Kanjut, our rivals would give endless trouble; for they would then have turned the great mountain-wall of the Hinda Kush, which is rightly regarded as the political frontier of the British Empire. It lismore than probable that the Khan of Hunza has been encouraged in his contumacy by Russian agents; it is not impossible, indeed, that his fighting-men may be animated by the presence of a Cossack at the Khan's chief town, if not at the front. But in any case further news will be awaited with considerable anxiety. It may be hoped that the force will still be able to push on to the Khan's chief town, which is some sixteen altered," Jt.ia not go long since changes like miles beyond the fort captured on the 2nd stant. The report that the Political Agent himself has been severely wounded adds greatly to the anxiety. The military com: mand now devolves on a young officer, Captain Bradshaw of the 35th Sikhs, who will be in a position of great responsibility.
Next we take from the same paper the following verses, which seem to indicate that Mr. Gladstone's promises to the agricultural labourer, that the future Liberal government will' give some attention to brightening their existence, have had alrendy " good deal of success. The political poets do not waste their verses on an opponent that they do not fear 'THE VOICE OF TNE CHARMER, Duckborough, dirtiest village of the plain, ere gas is not, where reeks the open drain, Where hinds beneath the farmer's yoke perspire, While Parson ' bosses" with his friend the the soil, And maidens innocent of Ibsen toil, For thee what joys Dame Fortune has in store Should Gladstone climb to Downing street once more!
Long has the Radical with anguish burned At sight of Hodge, although his eye was turned To Hodge's brother, far away in town, And those who quailed neath Ogre Balfour's frown, But now the hour has come; from every hole Creep forth poor ts to the nearest poll Open your mouths—and shut your foolish All ye who crave for bellies full of lies, While we contrive our double game to play, Last month the towns, the countryside to Small are your wants, and yet how hard to day.
win, Unless your votes put "Muster Gladstone " in, A coffee-shop where Damon may carouse, hundred acres, and a flock of cows (I'mean a herd; we agitating firms Are not well up in these bucolic terms)
"village circus" too, as Salisbury suid, With lots of butter forthe usual bread (When you have read your classics, you will know That bread and circuses together go.) Free bacon by the farm shall be supplied, Free Liberal papers shall the Squire provide, While free discussion every other night Shall make your lives and wives and houses bright.
Upon the ruins of the Church shall rise 'Tin tabernacles of abnormal size In each a Reverend Oyleigh Rant, M.A. Shall hypnotism you every Subbath day 'No more shall nonconforming Phyllis stoop 'To taste the Tories' soul-seducing, soup No more shall gifts of blankets, port, and coals Insult her fine antipathy to doles 'The Village Council will devise a way To give such things—and make the Parson All these, and other blessings greater still, 'Are kept for those who back the People'
Will; These are the salient features of our plan For running rural England " in the Van. Friend Hodge shall flourish and increase by stealth, Till his best breeches hold undreamed-of wealth, And Giles shall walk erect, like other men, When Gladstone rules—with accent ea the when.
The lot of the agricultural Iabourer is to be made brighter, because the countryman is still determined to drift into the towns if he can, the attractions of higher wages and the excitements of urban life being almost irresistible. But it does not seem that anything Parliament can do will keep the agricultural Iabourer's sons at home if, as the Times says, there is even now an excess of nearly a quarter of million of agricultural Inbourers bayoud the number required, under the existing conditions of Mritish agriculture, and in the natural course of things, these men will drift into the towns and into industrial employment, as the previously eliminated surplus has done, unless the conditions ara
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.