New-York tribune., 1884-03-08
ORDON AND GLADSTONE.
SLAVE TRADE PROCLAMAT1ON-MR.
GLADSTONE'S POSITION.

GLADSTONE'S POSITION.
NTIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIP TRIBUNE
LONDON February 21.
lerc can be no doubt that General GOrdons
,lamation tOlerating slavery III the Soudan mas
tied a fresh difficulty for the Government. Az
no definite decision has been taken IN the Coh-
yatve camp. but il looks as if the syndicate VINO
supposed to lead the party meant to strike Tor
ty advantage Lord Salisbury dislike ot deS-
ic authority and Lord Randolph ChurcmIls
us adherence of oppression may lead them rntO
,ody knows what quixotic courses In the Nation
larrc and presume in America also, the first
vs. of this proclamation met with
reeulitv and when it became impossible
donht it, the shock 10 the principles
feelings Of English and Americans alike
5 painful one. If there is anything England
made mp its mind about it is slavery. 1t is
e one abuse the English public agrees in
testing. Part of their admiration for General
,rdou sprang from his former anti-slavery efforts
the Soudan. 1t was known that his hope in
cepting from the King of the Belgans the COM
and on the Congo, which he threw up 10 60 to
yvpt was TO 10 strike a blow at the SOudan slave
ade at its sources And now General Gordon is
e patron and protector of slavery all the vast
gion of which he is nominally GOvernor-General.
nd in Khartoum itself where his authority is ap-
lTently absolute.
So much more win be heard Of this
attcr during the next few days that
ot "A word need be said this morning. Ii is not
Acessarv 10 suspect the sincerity of the hatred to
avery which the Tories profess. but 1t is 1mpossl-
enot 10 he struck with the fact thatI is the Jngoes
the last eight years who are now heartbroken
bout the negroes of Central Africa 1t is the LIB
-als the men who stood up for the rights OF the
ative races of Afghauistsn, of the Principallies
nd of south Africa who are the apoiOglsts Oh Ueh-
rsl Gordou's slave-trading policy. If we knew no
lore about the matter than that, the chances are
e should be safe IN giving our sympathles 10 the
liberals ON such a question Nobody can suppose
nat "A party of which Mr.. Gladstone and Mr FOrs-
.r are members can have any policy but one of
tier detestation for slavery. don't know
,hat line either of them is gong
, take. but everything points to their
lstaining Gordon.
Nord vet see why Gordon should not be sup
ortsd Loyalty and firmly. The only crime OF which
p apDears to be gnilty is the crime of recognizing
acts and looking al things they are, and not as
Q would like to have them. He has not gone 10
hartouln to conquer the SOudan. lie has not SOL
Ter with him except the garrison under Coetlogan
acba. heretofore not supposed to he too strong to
old Khartoum itself His first business is TO
ithdraw the gaTlsons there and elsewhere to
lace of safety outside the Soudan. lie can only
overn so far as aud so long he has to govern by
uttng himself on the side OF the people. tie mas
romiscd them independence. tie mas
,ade bonfire of their debts and fed the fame with
ne cOurbashes and other instruments OF Egyptian
nd Turkish cruelty-the most striking tablesu
zen for many a day in the East He has opened
he prison doors. He is the messen ger of peace
ringing tidings of good will TO the people of that
ountrv No doubt he would like to break every
,ttnr and free every slave, but he simply cannot
Us proclamation it is TO be noted. does not appear
} recognize the slave trade In the sense in which
70 understand 1.-THE reduction of free negroes
ato state of servitude. He permits the traffic IN
laves. but a traffic only of those who are already
'aves. 1t may be taken for granted he had
o choice in the matter. He is on the spot. knows
That can be done and what cannot is himself
uown AS an enemy of slavery. and he decides
hat so far as he is concerned, it must be alowedto
xist To all appearance. Gordon has no more real
over to abolish slavery IN the SOudan than he mas
O abolish it in the moon. Being practical man, as
said he takes things as he finds Them and having
he courage of his opinions he states bluntly what
more diplomatic rulers might have passed over III
,ilence Yet it is certain that slavery beng
1urping question in The Sondan and the anxiety Of
'AAe''
10 he had 10 declare himself, incOnvenIent as his
declaration might prove 10 the Government at
home He has begun by emancipating the
naster, of the slaves. The turn OF the
dawes NAV or NAV not come. If the Tories ike 10
undertake the cause OF -Ee negro in Central Atrl-
ca IT viii be the largest job they have had On hand
for some time. good judge estimates that a
recOnquest of the Soudan which must be the
first 81 ep 10 emancipation. would require not less
than 10000 troops. Il the Tories Ike to pledge
themselves to send 10000 English troops up tie
Nile they VIII considerably olong the tenure OF
office now enjoyed by the Liberals If they do
not their criticism on Gordon seems to confer
very ,lght practical benefit Oh the negro.
A letter from Mr. Reginald Brett. which appears
to-day, may perhaps be taken as expressing the
ministerial view of GordOn's purposes:
l. To prevent the import Of slaves into the Sou
dan by arming the tribes in the great slave-Dreedmg
districts of the Congo and leaving them to defend
themselves against the slave-hunters. That is the
object of his great enterprise. Ii he lives to at
tempt il.
. 70 prevent the export Of slaves from the SON
dan by closing the Red sea ports and the road
through Lower Egypt.
g. To register the existing slaves, and TO declare
anv unregistered slaves free men.
Mr. Brett is NJ. p. for Penryn but the exceptional
importance of his letter is due to the fact that he
private secretary to Lord Harrington. In ordinary
time, il might be said that the appearance OF such
a letter from q person holding Mr.. Brett's position
was eouivalent 10 on announcement, though not a
llrecr one of a ministerial decision.
Perhaps may say one word about the opinions
expressed on the Soudan and General Gordo-'s
mission 1y General stone. The American reader.
who Justly respects General stones experience aud
will do well 70 remember that he looks at
this question through pair of Egyptian spectacies
lie was the servant OF the Khediye. The oOudan Is
60 him an Egyptian province. If he thinks General
GordOs former administration OF It a failure, Il, s
because Gordon preferred TO govern the Soudan
with regard mainly the welfare of its inhabitants.
and moi to the Treasury at Cairo. Gordon