The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-03-21

owners. An ingenious theory was put
forward some time ago by a French
writer that the Mahdi was only the crea-
ture of the great slave-holding Bazaar and
families of Darfour at the same time
that he derived some. religious authority
brotherhood, of whom the head resides
at Tangiers. 1t would be difficult to re-
flute it, although it may appear far fetch
ed to those who believe fanaticsm to be
a spontaneous and ill-directed growth;
but there can be no doubt that the Mahd;
and his followers are fighting from prac-
tical considerations as we'll as through
religious ferver. When the Mahdi first
appeared upon the scene, five years ago,
he was regarded as religious zealot, to
whose movements no particular import
ance attached. Yet his advent followed
close upon the formation of so-called
National party at Cairo, and it is possible
that the same considerations, which made
the Colonel Aribi Bay a mutineer and
the leader of party drew Mahomed
Ahmed, the recluse, from his retreat on
the island of Abba. 1t was in 1881, the
year that witnessed the mutiny of the
colonies, that the Mahdi struck his first
blow in the vast region which he has
succeeded in convulsing. Being called
upon to disclaim certain proclamations
issued against the Government in his
name, he refused, and when Reouf Pacha,
the governor general, sent regiment
against him the troops were defeated and
many of the men attached themselves to
the side of the pretender In five later
engagements, marked by great courage
and the indiscriminate slaughter of those
who refused to accept the new Prophet,
he was equally victorious.
THE MAHDI's PROGRESS.
In the spring of 1882 he acquired pos
session of Obeid and made it his capital.
1t was evident that the Egyptian Govern
ment on its own resources could not cope
with the Mahdi, and it was even doubt
full whether the city of khartoum would
be able to resist his attack. Up to this
point the English Government had not
bestowed a thought on the Soudan; but
after Tel-el-Kebir and the capture of
Arab the pressing demands for aid re-
ceived from khartoum compelled the re-
luctant attention of those who would
willingly have ignored responsibility
until it had approached much more close
ly than Obeid. Still some step was inev-
liable, and as no one then counselled the
abandonment of the Soudan, much less
of khartoum, there was practically no
alternative to sending reinforcements to
the encouragement and deciding what
should be done to oppose and, if possible,
check the onward progress of the Mahdi.
1t was in the Autumn of 1882, there
fore, that the responsibilities of Mr.. Glad
stones government first began in the
Soudan, where, be it remembered, the
authority of the Mahdi had by that time
become supreme and firmly established
in the region south of Khartoum. The
first step they took was Of tentative
character. They sent the late Col. Stew
art to make report on the condition of
Soudan, and, in consequence of his re-
port, which detailed the necessary rail-
ways and administrative reforms for the
maintenance of the Khedive's rule, but
never supposed such thing as retreat
to be possible, an expedition was decided
upon, not to check the Mahdi, but TO
expel him from Obeid.
TINE TO TAKE HIM IN HAND.
There was then sufficient discrimina-
ton to perceive that the only way to deal
with this formidable adventurer was by
| a vigorous offensive. Considerable diff
Guilty was experienced in procuring men
for so dangerous and distasteful an en-
| terprise, but in the summer of 1888 Col.
Hicks was appointed to the command of
| force of 5000 men at Khartoum. and
he was joined later on by about 5000
| more at Duem, on the White Nile. The
expedition started from Omdurman in
| August and liz November the force was
annihilated at Kashgat. south of Obeid.
| 1t was then that the formidable charac-
ter of the Mahdi revolt became known
to the world beyond the possibility of
concealmeut, but the gravity of the posi-
ton, far from inspiring the government
with increased fortitude and firmer re-
solve to crush the Instruction, suggest
ed ideas of retreat and strengthened the
counsels of the pusllanimous. The old
way of arguing was that the greater the
disaster the more energetic should be the
attempt at retrieval. 1t was thus Eng
land argued after the Walcheren
fiasco and the Northern states after Bull
Run. Not so Mr.. Gladstone. He would
have men show resignation under defeat,
but if they will. despite his influence.
assert their own human instincts he
would make the achievement of victor
| as costly as possible to them and ass,--