The Daily Telegraph. THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1885.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4298, 7 May 1885, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1885.

A better appreciation of the real merits of tho Afghan boundary dispute has brought about a stronger desire for a peaceful solution of the question. England has been saved from hurrying into a war over a mistaken notion of her rights. But there are many Englishmen who will deeply resent any backward movement from a position however wrongly it may have been assumed. They would imitate the gasconade of the Russian Minister for War when ho is reported to have said (hat the Russian troops might advance but they would never retire. These aro they who consider that the words of tho Psalmist, " The Earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof," must only bo accepted in so far as they do not infringe the rights of the British empire. They cannot bring themselves to believe that any other nation but England has a mission to perform towards the less civilised of tho world, and they watch even tho feeble proselytising eli'orts of the French as a distinct trespass. For it is necessary to the happiness of average Englishmen not only to annex tho chief portions of tho world, but by converting tho inhabitants to the Protestant religion they hope to fill the Kingdom of Heaven with British subjects!. Mux O'Rcll, in bis "John Bull and his Island," puts this feature of British charac4 tor in a very happy light, and his observations are none the less severe because thcil aro true. It is, indeed, regarded by vei-)|-many most estimable persons as a reproach to the English nation that the conversion of the people was not made part and parcel of tho conquest, annexation, and occupation of India. But though the hold was largo tho Government would novel rccogniso missionary enterprise in that quarter, and,! probably, England's hold upon India is all the stronger in consequence. Nevertheless) the missionary is not to bo denied, anil herein we see the persistency with which Englishmen will pursue the course they havo marked out for themselves. It is pretty generally admitted now that throughout thq Afghan boundary dispute England was iii the wrong. But, in tho full light oi im[ proved knowledge of the question Lord Randolph Churchill can rise in tho Houscf of Commons and taunt the Government with having* sacrificed British rights. The right to whati* None other than the right, to act as it pleases without recognition off the rights of others. England having taken a stand, and urged tho Afghans to occupy a position within territory claimed hiRussia by right, of tho conquest of Khiviij, Lord Randolph would now insist upon fighting in support of what was a blunder, or something worse. And Lord Randolph will find many to support him. England has asked for a war vote, aud the colonius have spent more money than thoy can afford for defence purposes, and everything has pointed to an immediate outbreak of hostilities. Gradually wiser counsels have prevailed, and, if uninfluenced by the Jingi party, the Government may yet arrange the dispute without resort to arms.