The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-04-29
Gordon and the English Ministry.

(fOrQOn anu tiNo EhS
A cable dispatch informs us thaI 'he
present British Government viii not SEM
an expedition TO the relief OF khartoun
pr,,, the autumn rise In the Nile shall
make the movement by the river practical
b,e This determination is inexplica0le
unIess il he that the Government knows
more than they will tell. When it is re-
,nombered that General GORDON went to
the soudan to carry out not his own policy,
but the policy of the English Government
The attitude OF Mr.. GLADsToNE's ministry
cannot be accounted for except on one
OF two hypothesis. Either they have
deserted HIM and left him 10 SUI
fer the consequences OF what they no"
recognize was blunder, or they are IN
possession OF facts showing that the pubic
mind OF England is unnecessarily alarmed
and that he can hold his own untll reiel
can reach him by a route which VIII entail
the least loss OF life and expenditure OF
money. And this last explanation must,
we think, be accepted until the contrary Is
demonstrated beyond doubt.
IL cannot be denied that from the
mearre lights before us the affair has a
very ugly look for England. II we
are to believe one half of the contents OF
the cable dispatches relative to the Situa-
ton in the Soudan, GORDON is in desperate
straits. and has been so placed through the
yacillating and cowardly policy OF the Bri-
fish Ministry. In reinforcement OF ms
we are told that both France and Germany
have objected to any further decided move
on the part OF England in Egyptian mat
ters. and that the attitude OF those Powers
has had decided influence upon Mr.. GLAD
STONE.
On the other hand. we have vast
array OF English historical precedents
that cause us to pause before entertaining
the assumption that any Power or Powers
can make England hesitate when her honor
is as deeply involved as it appears to be IN
this instance. The known friendliness OF
Germany to Russia did not deter England
from entering the Bosphorus during the
Russo-Turkish war, and saying to Russia,
Thus far shalt thou 60 and no further.
Having defed those two Powers whether
as a matter of commercial interest, as
claimed on the one hand, or in
fulflment of guarantee to the Porte, as
asserted on the other-it is hardly possible
that she would pay much attention to the
mutterings of two nations that in the ma
ture OF things cannot make common cause
in any great question. Again, as initiating
against the idea that the Ministry have de-
serted GORDON or are willing that he should
be left to take desperate chances, it should
be considered that such a course would
mark the political death of Mr.. GLADSTONE
and his colleagues. 1t is hard to conceive
how he could dare face public sentiment
unless he were conscious OF being able
to yindcate himself by the only means
possible-the final eXtriCatiOn OF GORDON
and the pacilcation OF the Soudan. In
deed, it would appear that Dir. GLAD
STONE must yindicate himself or be re-
sponsibe for bringing stain upon Eng
land which she can never blot out.
This fact is recognized not only by the
English people, but by the English press
notably the London Times, which few
DAYS ago refused to receive sum Of money
sent to it to start "GoRDoN relief fund, y
thus significantly holding the Government
alone accountable for the safety OF its en-
voy. We therefore reiterate, the Govern
ment must know more than it will tell.