Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-07

Khartoum having been captured and
the fate Of Gen. Gordon being in doubt,
brief statement of the circumstances
which led to the presence Of the distin-
guished soldier in the fallen city may not
be without interest.
Under Egyptian rule the people of Sou
dan were treated with extreme barbarity.
They were kept poor by burdensome
taxes. The men were tortured and the
women were rayished. The only redeem
ing feature the government had was that
1t attempted to check the slave trade, the
chief industry of the Soudan. The Khe--
dive of Egypt being dissatisfied with the
way the country was governed, appointed
Gen. Gordon GOverrol General OF the
province. Before accepting the appoint
ment Ge'-. Gordon said to the KhedIve
that if he remained long enough in the
sOudan Egypt would never again be able
to govern the country in the old barbarOus
fashion.
To comprehend this remark Of Gen. Cor
don, it is necessary to understand some
thing OF the character of the man. He be-
gan his career as a soldier in the Crimea,
and he won his great reputation ard his
title of "Chinese" Gordon in China.
When but so years of age he was chosen
to lead the Imperial forces Of China
against the rebellious Taipings, under
Chung-Wang, a sort Of Chinese Mahdi,
who threatened the then existing dynasty
with ruin. He was successful beyond his
expectations. He conquered the rebel
lion, and restored peace to the Chinese
Empire. He was afterwards employed in
various enterprises, in all of which he
showed courage and talent. He was very
eccentric, a dreamer and a champion of
human rights. By some he was thought
to be slightly insane.
The Khedive did not heed his warning.
Gen. Gordon remained three years at
KhartOum, and for the first time in long
period the SOudanese understood what
practical justice was. They were re-
lieved OF burdensOme taxes, and they
were given the protection Of a good gov
eminent. They were taught what their
rights were, and they were inspired with
the determination to maintain them.
Gen. GOrdOn's successor attempted to
establish the old system of government.
The attempt was followed by rebellion,
and the rebellion produced Ell Mahdi, the
False Prophet. The rebelliOus tribes
gradually gathered under the banner OF
Ell Mahdi, and they resisted all efforts Of
the Egyptians to conquer them into sub
mission. For three years the war went
on, and, as a rule, unfavOrably to the
Egyptians. England watched the strug-
gle with indifference until Hicks great
army, which had invaded the rebellious
province of Kordofan, was completely
annihilated, and then she commanded
Egypt to eyacUate the SOudan.
In garrisOns throughout the country
were about $4,000 Egyptian soldiers, be-
sides a large number of Egyptian en-
plOyes and women and children. The
English Government said the country
must be evacuated, but it did not point
out the way. The enemy 100000 strong
guarded every avenue Of escape. An at
tempt to leave the fortified towns would
have been followed by a wholesale mas
sacre. The English people saw this, and
they cried out against the cOld-blOOded
policy of the government. In its di-
lemma the Ministry thought of Gen.
Gordon, and remembering his influence
with the SOudanese sent for him and
asked him to go to KhartOUm and arrange
for the peaceful removal of the Egyptian
troops and employees. He undertook the
mission, but he said to the Ministry that
the army could not be moved out of the
SOudan unless with assistance, and that the
thing to be done was to defend KhartOum.
The government, however, insisted on
evacuation, and Gen. Gordon started for
his destination on Jan. Is, 1881. He made
a remarkably quick trip, and on bis ar
rival was greeted with wild demonstra-
tiOns of Joy. His policy was not to fire
gun unless attacked. He wanted to ac-
complish the evacuation without
bloOdshed. He began his task the
day after his arrival. He recognized the
Mahdi as the Sultan of KOrdOfan, and is
sued a proclamation that the Soudan had
become Independent, and in the future
would look after its own affairs without
interference from the Egyptian Govern
ment. Two thousand women and chill
dren were sent down the river to Berber.
rhe SOudanese were told that they could
do as they pleased about the slave trade.
But Gen. Gordon found that the Mahdi
did not intend to permit the Egyptians to
leave peacefully. He thought that if he
could have a personal interview with the
Mahdi he could get him to consent to the
evacuation, but there was no straightfor-
ward way to see him. He arranged to
have himself taken prisoner in order to
get TO the Mahdis camp, but the home
government refused TO sanction the
arrangement. lie was not allowed to risk
his life in that fashion. He then thought
to establish Zebehr, the King of the slave
traders, as ruler in KhartOum, and by
that means make friends with the enemy.
Zebehr is a man of vast resources and
very popular with she SOudanese. This
scheme the home government refused to
sanction, because Of the prejudice against
the slave trade. Gen. Gordon then de-
manded that a sufficient force of cavalry
be sent to open the road from Berber to
the sea, so as to insure the safety OF the
women and children who had been sent
to Berber, and the demand was denied.
In fact, every plan OF GOrdon'S for the
successful accomplishment of his mission
was vetoed, and finally, the government
telegraphed him to come home and leave
the garrison at khartOum to It's fate.
He fatty refused to obey the order.
He declared he would not desert his
garrison. The English Government then
began arrangements to rescue him and
the Egyptians with him. What it has
accomplished those who have followed
the course of events since the landing Of
the English army in Egypt are fully it,
formed.
Gen. Gordon is about 81 years of age.
He has light complexion, is slender in
build and short in stature. His chief
characteristic is his wonderful influence
over those with whom he comes in con-
tact.
The Pavement of the Future.
The question. What is the best mate