The Portland daily press., 1885-02-27
BRITISH PARLIAMENT.
Yesterdays Proceedings-Discuss the
Vote of Censure.
THE LORDS.

/ LONDON, Feb. 26.-In the House OF Lords
I this evening the Marquis of Salisbury moved a
vote of censure on the governments Egyptian
policy. The motion was greeted with loud
\ cheers.
Lord Salisbury said the government had
j acted throughout as if unwilling to arrive at a
decision until the very last moment They al
ways waited until external pressure had forced
them to form some kind OF decision. The
result OF these hastily conceived measures had
been throughout, deplorable. In the absence
of any fixed policy, the government had adopt
ed the absurd plan of taking advantage of the
chivalry and self devotion of one of the no
blest spirits Of the age, to accomplish by mere
words and promises what they lacked courage
to accomplish by force of arms. The govern
ment, he declared, knew Gen. Gordon was in
danger, and yet held back from sending him
suceor, thereby incurring the penalty of the
present indelible disgrace. Their conduct had
been, all along, an alienation between periods
Of slumber and periods OF rush. The rush,
though however vehement it was, was invari-
ably too unprepared and too unintelligent to
repair the damages done during its periods of
slumber. He would not say that the govern
ment's policy had been bad because the gov
ernment had had no policy worthy of name.
Were they going to hold the Soudan, or we're
they going to abandon it2 The speaker
thought the government themselves did not
know. The Conservatives would insist that
the influence of England should be kept prom
inent in Egypt, They were determined that
consistent policy was absolutely necessary, and
without such policy there was no safety.
Bat such policy could not be expected
from ministry hopelessly hating as the
present one. If it continued in power Eng
land must expect to lose her prestige in the
eyes of the world and be drawn to an irrepar-
able disaster and disgrace which could never
be effaced. (Oheers.)
Baron Wentworth QLiberal) moved an
amendment to the vote of censure declaring
Her Majesty forces should not occupy the
Soudan any longer than necessary and that in
the interests of Egypt and the British Empire
it is undesirable to prevent the Egyptian peo-
pie from exercising the right to select their
own government.
The Earl of Northbrook, first lord OF the
Admiralty, said he thought the immediate ex-
position Of the governments policy in regard
to Egypt would be in opportune and in fact
highly dangerous.
The Duke of Richmond CONSERVATIVE pre-
dieted that unless the government changed its
policy the indignant voico of the country
would drive them from office.
Lord SaulsburY's declaration IN the House
of Lords this evening which was practically
in favor of an English protectorate over Egypt
and indefinite occupation Of the Soudan has
restored the chances of success of the govern
ment on the censure motion. The progress lof
the whips negotiations inIthe lobby has dis
closed strong tendency on the part of the
doubtful radicals to ahere to the government
they seeing that the Tories obtained power a
peace or evacuation policy will be far remote.
The government whips are now confident Of
thirty majority.
/ No vote was reached.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
In the House Of Commons this evening Mr..
Chaplain, Conservative, resumed the debaGe on
the motion of censure. He declared that the en-
terprise in which the nation was now engaged
must be concluded. Not many months must
be allowed to elapse before the accumulated
errors and craven conduct of treachery toward
Gen. Gordon should meet with their righteous
and just reward in the deep and bitter execra-
tion Of the outraged and indignant nation.
(Cheers.)
No vote was taken.