Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-22
The Motion to Censurc Gladstone

The Motion TO Censurc Gladstone
Tomorrow is the day fixed for begin
ming the debate IN the English Parliament
on Sir Stafford NOrthcote's motion to GEN.
sure the Gladstone government. The de-
bate is TO continue until Friday, when the
! vote viii be taken. The government ex-
/ presses its ability TO defeat the motion
even if the ParneAites should vote with
/ the opposition, and It is stated that they
have expressed their intention to vote
with the opposition unless the govern
ment pledges itself against a renewal of
! the crimes act in Ireland.
The news from Egypt within the next
few days may have very great influence
on the vote. From present indications
no very good news can he reasonably ex-
/ pected. The English army is acting on
| the defensive, and the three divisions of
/ 1t are1n danger Of being destroyed before
| relnforcemeuts can be received, and, in
fact, before the different divisions can at
/ ford each other support.
Gen. Butler has abandoned Gubat and
has reached Abu Klea ON his way to Join
Gen. WOlseley at Korti. 1t is a question
whether he Will succeed in reaching
korti, as a very large division of the
AahdPs forces is opposing his progress in
that direction. lfGen. Buffers command
should be destroyed the enemy would
doubtless attack Gen. Wolseley at Korti
and also Gen. Brackenburg, who is on the
Nile marching towards Abu Hamed.
If bad news should be received from
Egypt before Friday, it is probable that
the motion Of censure would be lost, be-
cause it would not be considered wise,
perhaps, to bring about a change in the
! government in the face of disaster.
The English people are in favor, doubt
less, Of vigorous prosecution of the
war. and the people and the government
are in harmony On that point. Already
more ammOnition and projectiles have
been ordered than were used by the Eng
fish in the entire Crimean war. But it is
doubtful if the people and the govern
ment are in harmony with respect to the
policy to be pursued after the destruction
Of the Mahdrs power.
Mr.. Gladstone has always been, and is
supposed to be now, unalterably opposed
TO the requirement of any more territory
in the East. He condemned in unmeasured
terms the policy of his predecessor,
BeacOnstield, by which a large block Of
SueZ canal shares was acquired, and
during the existence of the Beaconsfield
Government he objected to the Joint con-
troll in Egypt which England maintained
with France.
His speeches doubtless were read IN
Egypt as we'll as in England, and when
he became Prime Minister there were
those in Egypt who undertook at once to
test his sincerity. He was elevated to
the Premiership in April, 1880, and Arab
Pasha headed military riot at Cairo,
Feb. l, 1881. Arab abolished the Anglo
French control and got along pretty well
until the riot at Alexandria, June H. fol-
lowing, when England interfered to put
down the rebellion.
More than a year, however, before
England had interfered in Egypt the
Mahdi had raised the standard of revolt
against the Khediye's authority in Sou
dan. The fighting between the Khedive's
forces ard those of the Mahdi continued
with varying fortune until the Mahdi de-
strOyed Hicks army near FL Obeid in
November, 1888. The result of that battle
induced England to require the Khediye
to abandon S0udan ana permit the Sou
danese to manage their own affairs. When
it became apparent that the Egyptians
couldn't get out Of the country Gen. Cor
don was sent to conduct the evacuation.
Mr.. GladstOne's policy has been to have
as little to do with Egyptian affairs as
possible. If he remains in power it is a
question whether he viii change his pol
icy. Already the lives of three Generals,
several other officers and many soldiers
have been sacrificed and a vast expense
incurred. 1t is plain that before the
Mahdi is conquered there will be q very
much greater loss Of life and expenditure
Of treasure. 1t is hardly probable that
England will consent to abandon SOudan
without some compensation. If Mr..
Gladstone sticks to his policy it is prOba-
bic that, if the motion of censure is not
adopted next Friday, he will be forced to
retire at an early day.
If the reports concerning his health are
true. he may Geem it wise to retire imme-
diately, even though Parliament should
sustain him.