The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-03-06

Niles, and the system of fortificatior
in its rear, running from river to rive
He had, moreover, UNNECESSARILY il
creased the strength of his position b
? digging mines in all directions, whic
+ had proved so destructive that the en-
} envy months ago learned to keep at
, respectful distance. During all tn
months of this noble defense there ha
been but one real danger to fear
the danger of treachery. And tina
evil has befallen him when
would seem that the reason TO fear
had wholly passed, when the fidelity o
Gordon's troops might have beef
thought established beyond a doubt b,
year of faithfulness amounting al
most to devotion. These troops have
indeed, at times shown a self-regard
lessness almost equaling Gordon's owl
conservation, and last summer he
wrote home concerning them that they
would not leave Khartoum because il
was impossible for the civil employees
and their families to go too. The de.
ceit has probably come now, not from
Gordon's old garrison, but from the
natives whom he has taken into his
service there through too great conf
dence in their honesty; for shrewd and
practical though Gordon is, he has in
other places displayed a peculiar ina
bility to weigh character against pro-
! testations.
But melancholy as is the end of the
struggle. disaster can not rob it of its
heroic character. This year-long de-
Tense of half savage town by man
who plunged into the desert almost
alone, and armed only with an intense
love of humanity and trust in his God,
must become memorable in history.
His mission was purely humane one;
it was not to fight, but to rescue men
and women whose lives were threaten
ed, and to restore the country to the
chiefs from whom the Egyptians stole
it. Had he gone earlier he would have
succeeded. As it is, though the
Mahdi's own desire for power has
thwarted Gordon's purpose, he has
done much; he has not only held the
Mahdi in check, but it should not be
forgotten that he has succeeded in
getting some thousands of people safe
ly out of the country. Unhappily,
u,
and it is mournful to think of their
probable fate.
The news of this disaster will fall
with terrible effect upon the world, and |
all the more because so short a time |
ago this suspense was thought to be |
over. When Gordon sent word the
other day that he could hold the town
for another year, it was universally |
believed that all the danger was pass
ed. There will be harsh judgments in
England now upon the conduct of the
which was week ago so
oudly praised; wild passions will be
and there will be fierce cries
or vengeance. There is an added
ting in the thought that if Wolsley
lad not refused advice, and had not
chung to his determination
o struggle up the Nile. he would have
cached Khartoum and saved it. But
is well to be calm, and to remember
hat the fate which has overtaken
Ihartoum was not from its nature a
oreseen evil to demand haste, and the
eaching of that town was not VOL
ley's only mission. Khartoum has
cen lost, not by bad generalship, but
y one of the accidents of war, that
evertheless affect military reputa-
ons.
What England will do now, it is too
arly to tell until the fate of Gordon
known. If he is alive, all immediate
forts will be directed to securing his
berty. If he is dead, it is pretty safe
, prophesy that there will be war to 4
lie death in the Soudan. That cry for
engeance Gladstone will have no
over to resist, even if he should have
le desire; it will be well for England
he is able to meet and beat back
e clamor which will surely be more
Id more urgent now, that the Soudan
, not only chastised. but subjugated.
he misfortune which has overtaken
ngland in Upper Egypt, should
lasten and not enrage her. She is
lying the penalty of greed. She L
ver mad any real business in Egypt,
ID the present entanglements, which
gan with the wicked Interference in
'abi's rebellion, are the direct and
fetched outcome of wicked trade,
duced by avarice and maintained by
,akness.-St. Louis Globe Democrat.