Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-10
wolseley and His Critics.


What friend would term er-pos
.facfo criticisms Of General WoLsE
LEY's management of the expedition
for the rescue of GORDON continue
with undated vigor. From these crit.
cisms it would appear that WoLsELEy
is the one solitary individual that was
not fit to prosecute the campaign. II
he were half the soldier that any one OF
his critics assumes to be he would
have rescued GORDON long ago-in
fact, he would not only have fore
seen the unexpected. but would
have accomplished the impossible.
While he has been making one Of the
most difficult marches of modern times
those not connected with the expedition
have been to Khartoum and back half a
dozen times ION paper, and have ami
Inflated time and space. We know Of
nothing more beautiful than some of the
plans by which Khartoum has been
theoretically relieved and the Mahdi
has been theoretically smashed. How
ever, there is one gratifying phase of the
situation after all. Although those
who are gifted with prophetic
vision only little less acute than
that of the MahdiLand which, had it
been possessed by WOLsELEY, might
have led to the destruction of his gal
liant little army by massacre, famine,
and thirSt-difler among themselves as
to the very best campaign plan, there
is one point on which there is but little
diversity of opinion. 1t is generally
conceded that England must hold on in
the Soudan-that the civilized world
cannot afford to see her let go her grip.
Whatever may be said of the right or
wrong Of her course as an original
proposition, the sympathy of civili-
zation is with her in the pre-
sent crisis. The position of the
press in respect Of this matter is the
old story-blood is thicker than water.
The New York Times says the fight
has now resolved itself into struggle
between civilization and barbarism, and |
no man should hesitate as to which side
to take. The Times might have added |
that the struggle is one between Chris
tianity and Mohammedanism, for
such, in a sense, it is. The question
is no longer confined to the res
cuing of GORDON, if he be alive,
or the punishment of his murder
ers, if he be dead. 1t is no
longer restricted to the pacification
Of the Soudan and the settlement
of the Egyptian question. 1t has
broadened out into question of
English prestige, of in
surfing the onward march Of civilization;
and of keeping the desolating fires of
from breaking out all over
he East. Any weakening on the part
If England at this juncture might be
he signal for the wholesale massacre
If Christians in every Mohammedan
country. For some time past spirit
If rcstlcssness has prevailed among
he Mohammedans of certain portions
# India, and a little spark of en-
enlargement might start rebel
ion that would spread throughout
slam. Even Frances wcll-known an
agonism to England must be abated
n the face of these facts, for a
dohammedan uprising of any magni-
ude in India would doubtless be re-
ponded to by an outbreak in Northern
Africa. 1t is therefore safe to say that,
10 matter what may be the opinions of
NoLsELEY's critics, he is the GEN.
raj figure in the worlds gaze to-day.
)pon him, owing to circumstances that ,
ould not be foreseen, rests re-
possibility such as falls to few
nen to be burdened with. Upon
Us generalship, discretion, and pluck
nay rest not only the lives of his own G
title band, but the lives of thousands
{ others. If he holds out until re-
lforcements reach him, OF if he strikes /.
blow that will neutralize the effect of /,
he fall Of Khartoum, he will, we a
nagine, be able to stand all the blame p
hose who have shifted the campaign o
ON afar have heaped upon him. a