The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-02-18

ect0LIl class mA!ter:I
20 The soudanese Cause.
aAx OLD REApER" asks the ISrBLLIoEs-
csn whether it regards the sIahdi as "a
real rcbelp and whether thewhole this
newspaper thinks it has treated the Arab
leader with fairness. The INrEluoEScER
embraces the opportunity to say that 1t
regrets very much II any remarks in these
columns have dispsraged General Mo
manned Achmct in the eyes Of the world,
embarrassed him in his operations or
wounded his feelings. We have rather
relied on the embargo and non-intercourse
Of the moment, thinking that his IsTElLI-
osScEn would not reach the guilelass
child Of the burning sand while he is busy
setting squadrons in the field and other
wise employing his mind with "matters
Of great pith and moment"
We recognize in the Atahdi a man OF
great capacity 10 stir up arevolt and thus
farto defy the power of Egypt, Turkey
and England. AS an organizer and leader
OF men he has shown great ability. Meas
ured by the standard Of success in the
field, he is a successful general. He holds
his own, wins victories and occupies new
points Of vantage. Notwithstanding all
this, the sIahdi isa rebel. He is in revolt
against the powers that be. Up. to the
point Of success this is rebellion; alter
ithat, revolution. The participants in .
Successful rebellion become the patriot
soldiers Of a revolution. The cause Of re-
belIion may be sanctiied by the noblest
ibstice, as when the Thirteen Colonies
struck against thsoppression Of the mother
country. II the fathers had failed, their
iossanes and their sacred necks would
haye paid the forfeit.
As we understand the situation the Sou
danese are engaged in about the same sort
Of business, with aggravated conditions.
Then arc coutcnding for The right Of self
government, fighting against the compile
Gated rule Of two alien races, the ruling
race for more than half a century having
now become tile mere puppet Of another
alien inreligion as well. On any princi-
pie Of moral right England has about as
much business in the Soudan as she had
in Afghanistan or Zululand, and that was
az precious little that all the
world Knocked at l.er bloody preten-
sions. In fact England is the great
highway robber Of her time; and the
hghwayman doesn't hesitate to killwhen
life stands between him and his booty,
The soudanese may well resent the inter
ference, as they may well fail to under
stand what interest England has in tho
quarrel. The leaders may know that
Turkey has virtually given up her
suzerainty over Egypt, and that under
pretense OF protecting English holders OF
Egyptian bonds England has taken Egypt
under her wing. The people only know
that they arc in revolt against Turkish
misrule, whicllhas plundered them in the
name Of the government at Cairo.
The moral sense Of the world rcvolts at
tho slaye.hunting and slaye.holding prac-
tjcesof the soudsnese, and largely by rea-
son n this sentiment England commands
aymnatly in this campaign. There is also
n a. race and religions sympathy Which goes
will, her though she has not undertaken a
religious war and the Turkish rulers Of
Ecynt whom she has taken under her
PATRONAGE. arc Of tho same religion as the \
rebels Of the sopdan. In fact il the best
informed are not in error there is no re-
lieion in the war at all. Before setting
ont for The sou,lan Gordon urged this
Wow, declaring tl,at the sIahdi represent
eg 'the nopplsr discomfort and the up.
r,,inc AGAINST the oppression OF Turkish
mid, and that for the purposes ofthe re.
volt avery soudanese Is a potential NIahdi.
II tlo Ens,,sl' IN one Nahli another will
rian IN IN take his place. tfi
staa il, ston tba' Enel;sh have oot them.
op - ~ sss 80, - 90 cs,a.n .s,a;r tha.