Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-02-26
WIImIngtOn. Thursday, Feb, 26 1855


People who are mot very clear what the
war IN the eoudan is "all about" will
gam clearer understanding Of the aitu.
Aslon from the New York Naiion's terse
Ssview Of the steps leading up to the
same, as follows:
l.Rsvolt Of the Soudanese against the |
IL, ptian government, which had, since
the conquest in 1868, been little better
than organised robbery. Q. Intellectual
Efforts OF the Egyptian government to
suppress 1t, ending in the destruction Of
Hicks Pasha's army. 8. Refusal Of Bog
land, which had In the meantime taken
charge OF Egypt, TO allow these efforts to
be- r,peated, In view of the condition OF
the Egyptian army and treasury. 4.
Refusal Of the Mahdi to allow the Rgyp-
tau RArrisons in the Soudan to be with
drawn peaceably, followed by loud lingo
cries in England that II was shame 10
leave these brave men TO be mAssaored.
8. Slow acknowledgment Of the Britiah
ministry that something ought to be done
for them IL possible. 6. Appearance OF
General Gordon on the scene, offering to
settle the whole matter single-halded by
going himself To KhArtoum. Z. Accept:
anOe Of his offer by the Ministry, wilt
emphatic warning that An armed expedi.
tion was not contemplated, and that IL he
failed he was to come back. 8. Further
concession Of the Ministry 10 the Jingoes
by sending troops to suAkin, just to Sc.
cure the port against Osman DiRnA. 9.
Complete failure Of Gordon to make any
impression on the soudGnese as 9
deliverer, and his conversion into the
commander Of the Egyptian garrison in
Khartoum. 10. Announcement Of Gordon
that he could not come back, bu,
would stay and ''smash the Mahdi, =" II he
could get some Indian or Turkish troops
or II European and American capitalists
would lend him about . million dollars.
II. Growing impotence Of osmAn DignI
At suakin, leading to sortis Of the gar
rison, and two hghts in which about 6, OOC
men were killed or disabled, Just Il
teach him manners. IL. Gradual block
ade Of Gordon at KhArtoum, accompanied
BY loud lingo cries that it WAS = sham,
to leave such splendid fellow 20 b,
overwhelmed. ID. Gradual breGkini
down Of the ministerial determination
not TO NEEDLE in the SoudGn trouble
partly through fear Of the Jingoss, an
partly through fear Of the effect which
any sign OF timidity might have on Ger
many and France and the Indian Mussul
mans. ID. Determination to send 700
men and spend $50, 100000 in rssouin
Gordon, as splendid specimen Of th
British officer. Is. Death OF Gordo
before the arrival Of the expedition. 16
Determination, since there was no Gordo
to rescue, to prosecute the war, an
''smash the Mahdi" any how, no matte
at what cost in blood or treasure, bu
without any intention Of keeping tn
Soudan.
To which may new be added: Il
Since the Mahdi obstinstely refuses to /
smashed and since IL ia beneath Ii
dignity Of a great power to carry on ho
Utilities simply to avenge the death
Gordon and the fall Of Khartoum, the T,
Lief expedition, with the MAhdis kin
permission, will get out Of Nubia as 800
as the Mahdi will let it, and leave tt
whole condemned country to the Falls
Prophet to do as he pleases with.