stan, and Morocco, the Far East probably being destined to be a fourth, greater and more important than either. Of these the one most in the public eye for a few days lately was Afghanistan, There are uneasinesses respecting the Balkans and Morocco, but there no vital change has occurred to put a new face on affairs. In Afghanistan on the other hand, there has just occurred an event which in an Eastern land with old-world customs and ideals might be followed by anything, but what, the most clear-sighted of prophets would hesitate to foretell.
The Amir is dead. Abdur Rah-man Khan, GOB, GCSI, the Sfahommed Khan, came to the throne anson of the celebrated Dost
in July, 1880. Louis Cavagnari had just been murdered, and a British force had administered chastisement. For many years the British Government paid to the late Amir a subsidy of 18 lakhs of rupees, with which he did as he pleased and of which he rendered no account. It is to the interest of India that its northwestern frontier should not merely be secure, but beyond the reach of hostile effort. In all probability, whatever happened, no effort that could be made from the norther northwest could force the frontier as it is now guarded and in face of the immense superiority which modern weapons give to the defence. Still from the very fact that Afghanistan is a very difficult country of quite respectable size, it is good that its ralers should be firm allies of Great Britain. Its territory could never be crossed by the only rival we have in that neighbourhood unless the way had been paved by previous diplomacy. From Herat to the Khyber Pass is no less a distance than 600 miles, a tract without railways, almost without roads, and flanked by hil! districts to which those of South Africa of which we have experience lately are open country. When to these natural difficulties, which even in peace would render the movement of a large army a feat of no small difficulty, we consider the character of the tribes on the way, it is easy to see how formidable would be the task of crossing Afghanistan with such foes all around and a civilised enemy in front.
Habibullah Khan, like his father, is the proud possessor of a British order. Like his father it is to be hoped that he will find that, so long as he Keeps faith with Britain, Britain will keep faith with him. In 1897 when the hill tribes rose because of our decision (80 they gave out) to keep control of Chitral, the late Amir issued a proclamation "plain for all folks to see," in which he pointed out to them how they had misjudged British action in Chitral. He ridiculed the assumed right of the mullahs to preach a jihad or holy war. Owning no Kaliph of the Koreish tribe ut the time, he proclaimed himself "King of Islam" and pointed with much pertinence to the fact that there were more Mohammedans onthe side of Great Britain than there were against her. He made an apt quotation from the Koran respecting the obligation of keeping one's word, and in short acted as a faithful ally might be expected to act. Since then the relations between the two States have on the whole been satisfactory. Scarcely a reference was to be found in ordinary newspapers to Afghanistan for months together, and we know that the time was being spent b the late Amir in introducing such improvements among his countrymen as were possible.
Luckily for England she has often been served nobly in the outstanding parts of her vast realms when the Government at home has been anything but effective. India in particular has had Viceroys whose careers would bear comparison with those of the greatest consuls of Rome's palmiest days. We have recently had occasion to criticise the invertebrate policy of our present government. It is therefore a pleasure to turn to the successful career of a Viceroy who, removed from the evil influences of a depressing majority, and unenervated by too long a tenure of the same office, has done his duty as a British stntesman should, has safeguarded his country's interests, guided her through periods of famine and pestilence, and moreover has evidently looked somewhat beyond his nose in the anticipation of, and preparation for, coming events.
We refer to the present Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon. It is doubtless due partly to his prevision that the Afghan crisis has passed without disturbance, without friction, and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.