The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-01
KhartOunl.

Khartoum is a name that is known
among the widest savages of equatorial
Africa who never heard of Paris or of
London: to them it is the center of all
that is great, and it is the capital of
everything The abandonment of Khar-
toum would, in their estimation, be the
disruption of a central power, which
would imply impotence. The slave
hunters have been suppressed by the
authority from Khartoum. and the
force required for that suppression has
emanated from that center of strength
and government; if, therefore, Khar-
toum should be abandoned, the protec-
ton that was the support of loyal tribes
of the interior would have been with
drawn, the supporting power would
have been overthrow, and the slave
hunters would again be in the ascend
ant. The result would be immediate;
those tribes which had been faithful to
the government would become the first
victims to those who had been against
the governments: general anarchy
would ensue, and the loyal would be
sacrificed to the slave gangs which had
been kept in subsection by the imperial
forces. The slave trade would be re-
newed with tenfold vigor, as no power
would remain to curb the atrocities of
the traders. This deplorable situation
would render impossible all future at
tempts at government, as the natives
would have lost all confidence of sup
port; they would have seen that the
loyal had been sacrificed by the aban-
dOnment of the government upon which
hoI 1.,1 20 nfan urhi a
| those who had openly detied the laws
| had triumphed by rebellion. All the
| good results of the last Internationally
| years of exploration and energetic ac-
| ton against the slave trade would have
been entirely dissipated, and the end
of the long struggle would have yielded
victory TO the wrong-doers. The work
of siXty-four years since the conquest
of the Soudan by Mehemet Ali Pasha
would have been utterly destroyed, and
the Soudan would relapse into the
| frightful barbarism described by Bruce
"A hundred years ago. 1t is ridiculous
to suppose that any Soudan races are
capable of self-government. If we re.
fuse this to Ireland, how can we eX-
pect better result from ignorant bar.
barians. who would eXtinguish all prog
ress by chronic inter-tribal strife? As
local autonomy would be impossible
should Khartoum be evacuated by the
| Egyptian forces, the Soudan, deprived
of its capital, would resolve into polit
ical chaos, until some superior force
should take advantage of the genera
disruption and restore order by militar,
conquest. Abyssinia is dangerousl,
situated as a hostile neighbor. From
the frontier at Gellabat the marcel
would be a direct descent upon Khar
toum by the River Rahad and the Blu,
Nile, through fertile country teemin:
with supplies. If Khartoum should b,
abandoned by the imperative orders o
the British government, Egypt will
have abdicated her right, and the coun
try will become an easy prey to the frs
adventurer. If | were Frenchman,
should not neglect the opportunity
French officers might assist the king o
Abyssinia in the organization of hi
army for the conquest of Khartoun
and the fertile provinces of Senaar
Kadarif, and Taxa. Khartoum ant
the richest portions of Africa would b.
annexed to Abyssinia. French inhu
ence would procure concessions of lant
to various officers in reward for thei
military services. BY degrees, the EN-
bryO of French settlement would b.
established, and, in less time than man,
people would believe, we should dis
cover a rival colony firmly rooted a
Khartoum.-Sir Samuel Baker, IN Nine
teenth Cent,trU