The Chinese conquest of Kashgar, which, though little noticed in
Europe, may hereafter prove of high importance to Asia by bringing China and Russia into conflict, has been of the most thorough kind. According to the Shanghai correspondent of the Times, who watches Pekin news with creditable care, the Chinese General Tao Tsungtang admits officially that he has extirpated the Mussulmans, and invites Chinese emigrants from the eighteen provinces of the Empire. He promises them grants of land, and it is probable that his offers will be accepted, and Kaabgar changed in a few years into an ordinary Chinese pro- vince. The incident illustrates the extreme danger in which all provinces bordering on China now stand. The Chinese Generals, if they can once get weapons of precision for their men, can always throw away two lives for one ; they do not hesitate to follow up victory by extirpation ; and they can refill a desolated province with agriculturists almost at pleasure. Prophetic politics are not worth much, but before living men die, the one absorbing question for Indian statesmen may be the intentions of Pekin. All the work we have done would be child's-play, compared to a defence of the valley of the Brahmapootra against a Chinese army ; and it is fortunate that we should have the assistance of the people of India, who have a sort of horror of the Chinese.
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