News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-02-28
TRADITION OF Ell MAHDI.

| cENERaI STONES LECTURE ON THE
FALSE PROPHET OF THE sOUDAN.
the End of the World and Christ's Tri-
umph-A Wicked COnqueror'
lieutenant General c. p. Stone lee
tured in New York for the benefit of
the Bartholdi Pedestal Fund on GEL
Mahdi in the Soudan." In his lecture
General Stone said:-
It is probable that ten years ago
Mohammed Ahmed. the poor and un-
known Koran reader, faf up on the
White Nile, little dreamed shat his deeds
would be discussed to-day In every part
of the civilized world. TIE Soudan
was firmly held by hand of steel.
though gloved in velvet--that of the
Khedive 1smail. Mohammed Ahmed
must have been well aware of another
Soudan Koran reader who shortly be-
fore assumed the same title but was
quickly conquered. Mohammed Ahmed
proclaimed himself under more favora-
BILE circumstances. In the place of
Ismail, who had been driven from
Egypt by the two great Powers repre-
senting his bondholders, there reigned
his son, Mohammed Tewfik, whose
hands were held by England whenever
he desired to act vigorously. The
4F 4ha ont
the appearance of a strong man who,
appealing to the Arabic and Islamic
sentiment, could unite the people. He
came in the presence of Mohammed
Ahmed-El Mahdi. What is meant by
that name?
"Sitting one day in my Office in the
War apartment in Cairo" said the
General, ga confidential secretary of the
Prime Minister hurriedIy entered and
informed me that a rebellion had broken
out in the Island of Abo, and that a
man was calling himself the Mahdi. AS
military measures became at once nee
sssary | desired to know the meaning of
the word. After consulting transla-
ton of the Koran without attaining my
object I applied to an intelligent Mus
sulman, and from him learned that
there was nothing in the Koran regard
ing this parsonage, but that tradition
maintained that during the last days OF
this. world an Arab false prophet would
rise up who would conquer-tirst, the
country occupied by the Arabs, then
Asia Minor, and then the rest of the
world; then once in possession of power
his ruling would be bad. but short, mas
much as Jesus Christ would then appear
on earth, near Jerusalem, and call from
their graves the great and good war
riors of all times; that on reaching the
grave of one such he would salute the
ancient with the Islamic salutation, ''Sa-
laam Aleickoom," whereupon the old
warrior would arisc, f7lIs- equipped, end
join his forces; that with this 1nyInclble
army constantly increasing, Christ
would march on Mecca, occupy that city
and there proclaim the truth of the Is
lamic doctrine, with peace and good will
to all men.
Such being the belief of the Arabs, it
is easy to see how dangerous it IS to the
peace of the world when Mussulmans in
all countries become persuaded that
Mohammed Ahmed is really the Mahdl
of their traditions. Had he been de-
feated at the outset he might have been
proclaimed a vulgar impostor, for he
was unknown outside of the Soudan;
but circumstances favored him. First
he obtained local prestige. Then fol-
lowed the troubles in Cairo-England
and France each striving to create Eu
ropean domination. Following these
was the open rebellion of Arabi Pacha,
when, from April, 1882, to October, no
one either in Egypt or Europe thought
of Mohammed Ahmed. The shrewd
chief took advantage of the situation.
Availing himself of the fanatical inf1u-
ences by which he was surrounded, OF
| the manifest weakness of the English
government, or the inability of the Khe-
| awe, u6 concentrated LIS AO1OOS, A1''NNO
an onslaught, aroused his masses and is
now in commanding position.
The Khedive and his ministers were
prompt in the recognition Of the perilous
situation, and requested the chief of the
army staff to adopt measures to avert
the danger, but it was impossible. Brit
ish bondholders were pressing for the
payment of their semi annual coupons
and the British government itself was
exacting in its demands for the money tc
pay the expenses of the 10000 British
troops constituting the army OF occupa'
ton. 1t was moment when a little re-
Taxation of the purse strings, the taking
on of little more pecuniary RESPONSE
bility without actually expending
penny would have made the KhediVe
his government and the wisest OF the
Egyptians the grateful friends OF Eng
land. The British government allowed
the opportunity to slip, and it will hard
ly return.
In conclusion General Stone paid
handsome tribute to General Gordon
n soldier and a man, but strongly depre
Gated the act of the English government
in compelling him to submit to the dan
gers of his mission in going slngl
handed and alone to Khartoum.