Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-03

If Gladstone found less pleasure in the
exercise of power, it is probable that he
would have taken the very strong hint be
received that bis administration no longer
commanded confidence, and retired to
private lite. because the near future has
pretty gloomy look for England. 1t is
prabaDle that she has already entered
upon trouhlous times.
While il is true that the motion of CEN
sure failed to receive a majority, the mar
gin between the majority and minority
was so small as to leave a grave doubt
whether the government can command
majority when it comes to approving the
estimates for the war in the SoudaD. 1t
is not improbable that when the budget
with the cost of the Soudan campaign in
cluded is presented the slender majority
by which the vote of censure was defeated
will disappear, and the government will
be left in very humiliating position.
A large portion OF the English people
do not understand what the government
is trying to accomplish in the SOudan.
The only thing that it is proposed to do is
to ''smash the Mahdi' and retire. Mil
and valuable lives have been sacrificed
in this effort to ''smash the Mahdi," and
very little has been accomplished. In
deed, the Mahdi appears to be about as
vigorous as ever, and the position of the
/ English is far less encouraging than it
was. The English people don't want TO
waste so many lives and so much money
simply to show the Mahdi that they can
whip him. If they break his power they
want to hold his country and get some
compensation for what the war has cost
them.
The government, of course, says that
the English will retire as soon as they
nave taught the Mahdi to respect Eng
lands power, but that they must do this
in order to prevent the Mussulmans of
India from rebelling against English au-
thority. The Mussulmans, however, show
| no signs of disaffectiOn. In fact, it is
probable that they care nothing whatever
| about the Mahdi and the war in Africa.
Mr.. Gladstone, however, uses this posi-
bic Mussulman revolt in India as sort
of bugbear to scare the weakened and
timid into supporting his SOudan policy.
But the gloomy condition of affairs in
Egypt is not the only thing that troubles
! English statesmen. That which has a
far more depressing effect on them is the
| prospect of war with Russia. For a
good while a war with that nation has
been anticipated, and the feeling is grow
inc that it cannot be delayed much longer.
The Russians think that the present is a
good time to extend their possessions
in Afghan. Already they have made
demonstrations in that direction, and Tu-
mors of their intention to occupy Herat
have been plentiful lately. OF course
England will be forced to attack Russia
if she attempts anything of that kind. In
deed, it was said when the Guards left
England, a short while ago, that their
destination was Asia, and not Africa.
England is in no condition to engage in
great war with Russia. Besides the
Soudan trouble, ireland is a source of
constant danger. ireland only waits for
a favorable moment to make desperate
struggle for liberty, and England cannot
with safety fight Russia and the Mahdi
until something is done that will insure
peace in ireland. The immediate future
certainly does not look bright for England.