Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-05-13
GLADSTONE.
ARRA,asEp ros pEsERrrs. avKpos
a rierco speech Agsinst the uovernmcut by
Sir Micnaei Hicks Beach--Tne
Premier's KepIy,

Sir Micnaei Hicks Beaoh--Tne
fremiers Reply.
The Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks
Beach, Conservative member for East
Gloucestsrshire, moved again on Monday
his motion of May . that the House re
grets that the course of the government
has not tended to promote the success of
General GOrdon's mission and that steps
to secure his personal safety have been
delayed. This action was received with
prolonged cheers. The honorable gentle
man, In making the motion, said no did
not mean to question tho wisdom of the
governments policy in demanding tho
evacuation of tho Soudan by Egypt.
What he called in question was the pre-
sent conduct of the government toward
that country. He reviewed all the cir.
cumstances which led to the departure Of
General Gordon to the Soudan. The
object of his going" Sir Michael said,
was to bring about tho peaceful evacua
tion Of the country. A moro heroic offer
than that madc by General Gordon was
never made by living man. Yet when he
arrived at khartoum the government,
instead Of seoonding his proposals,
neSatived them. With strange incousis-
tcncy, the government insisted upon u
pacific policy in enc part Of the Soudan
destroying any chance which General
Gordon might have had for carrying out
his mission. The government were
worthy of blame for not having sent as
sistance from Suakim. They have
practically deserted the brave soldier, the
Christian hero, in the hour of peril. This
is the general feeling of the eutirc country.
England now demands that General Cor.
don and those who trust him shall be
rescued" ICheers.
Mr.. Gladstone, on rising to speak in
defense of the governments course, was
greeted with hearty and long continued
applause. He congratulated Sir Michael
Hicks Beach ON his forcible speech,
but strenuously deniod that the govern.
ment had deserted General Gordon. "The
demand for the honorable gentleman" he
insisted, amounted to war of conquest
against people struggling to be free.
[Chesrs from the Liberals. The war
which the Mahdi is waging is war for
freedom. 1t is that which the honorable
gentleman wishes England to put down. I"
Continuing, the prime minister denied that
the government has failed to do ono single
act that was not for the safety and success
OF General Gordon. "The charges which
the honorable gentleman had just preferred
against the government are absurd. They
can only be accounted for by his lack of
knowledge of the true facts. The real
object of the motion, whatever may be the
ostensible aim, is TO displace the govern
ment." Loud cheers from the Liberals. J
Mr.. Gladstone thereupon referred to
official dispatches to prove General Cor
dOn's security and to justify the action
which the government had taken. He
contended that the charges failed TO note
the fact that General Gordon had orders
to resort to military force il peaceful
measures should not prove successful.
IL have duty" Mr.. Gladstone said fur
ther, "to General Gordon and duty to
the country. Both shall be performed
Despite the scof Of the honorable gentle
man az the climatic danger and difficulty
it may be the duty of the government 70
plant British force in that terrible
country, but the government declines to
be driven on without considering the blood,
the honor aud the treasure of England.
And the government also declines TO enter
| upon q vast scheme of conquest to please q
| captiOus opposition tCheers.