Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-02-24

limperatively necessary to the interest OF
1.-THE British Empire and the Egyptian peo-
pie that the Government should distinctly
recognize, and take decided measures to
| fulfill. the responsibility now incumbent
upon them in good and stable govern
ment for Egypt and those portions of the
| Soudan necessary for its security. North
cote said he was aware that the making OF
the motion involved serious responsibility
to himself, but was prepared to assert that
the Government had failed 10 conduct at
| fairs in the Egyptian matter satisfactory to
the public or beneficial to Egypt. The
Government had not taken, nor was ii now
| taking steps to establish a stable govern
ment in Egypt. Twice last year the
House of Commons, to a certain extent.
acquitted the Government, and many MEM
bers felt bound to support the Government,
although dissatisfied in their own minds
| with the manner in which the affairs in
Egypt were conducted He was led 10 be-
lieve satisfactory operations were being I'M
dertaken, but so far his expectations had
been largely, if not entirely, disappointed.
The Government had been compelled to
change entirely the military position as
sumed last year, having failed TO attain the
object desired. The result was due not to
particular faults here and there, but to the
|
Crown conducted matters. [Cheers]
Northcote, continuing, said " Unless a
complete and entire change takes place in
the spirit of the Government, it will still be
our lot to fail, whatever we may be called
upon to do. While the brave soldiers were
going to Egypt there was voice proceed
ing from the councils of Her Majesty that
deprived the expedition of half lis
strength-a voice of uncertainty concerning
what the Government was trying to attain
in Egypt Success was impossible, unless
the Government distinctly laid down what
it was fighting for, and declared determi-
nation to attain that object The Minis
ters' words hitherto had implied that the
great object was to make the stay of the
troops in Egypt as short as possible. Moth
| ing was more dangerous to the interests of
England than such declaration"
| Continuing Sir Stafford said 20 Our gal
liant troops occupy a position which is caus-
lug much anxiety. Any talk about with
| drawing them as soon as possible is cacu-
lated to dishearten and discourage the
| troops, and make serious impression upon
| the native chiefs. who, like the Mudir OF
| Dongola, have been loyal"
| Sir Stafford referred to the gallant con-
| duct of General Gordon and said While
we felt proud of his courage, we have at
!
mention of his name" Cheers from the
Conservatives.
Northcote quoted from General Gordon S
message of April 10th: g If troops are not
sent, it will leave upon the Government
the indellible disgrace of abandoning the
garrisons, with the certainty of being com
PEELED eventually to submit to Mahdi.'
Have not these prophesies come to pass ~
asked Northcote. Are we sure that the
treachery was not caused or brought on by
! the action of the Government, which weak
ened and almost paralyzed Egypt"
Sir Stafford Northcote closed as follows
The country has heard quite enough of
the policy of Rescue and retire In fact,
we have been too much slave to phrases.
Hicks Pasha's unhappy expedition should
have been prevented, or made more effect
i've. The Government has conducted the
whole business with the fatal drawback of
having to proclaim that its mission was
! only temporary. Now some distinct an
nouncement is demanded. Is the war one
of vengeance, or for the purpose of attain
| ing some useful object? 1t was, he said,
| impossible to retain confidence in the Gov
| eminent with the fear always uppernost
that it would, by is after course, destroy
by words the effect of what was doing.
| The Government must drop the habit of
evading troubles by the adoption of few
smart phrases. We are getting daily into
| deeper water, and whatever the consequences
may be, | feel compelled to summon the
| House to pronounce verdict in our case
| the same II has done on previous occasions,
with the additional experience of the value
of the Ministry's promise and the success of
the Ministry's action. 1t is impossible for
any Government to command success when
| it is dependent on the support of two sec
| tions-one urging abandonment, the other
supporting its policy of advance. The
greatest difficulty among the many which
| England has to encounter is in the hearts
of her Majesty's Ministers" Cheers
John Morley Iiberal) offered an amend
ment to the motion of Censure III favor of
| the evacuation of the Soudan. He refrained
| from expressing an opinion on the policy
Of the Government, but regretted its de-
cision to smash Mahdi He said the Tories
were partially blamable for the death of
General Gordon, through importuning the
| Government with questions and preventing
| a compliance with General Gordon's re-
| quest for the assistance of Zebeehr Pasha
Something might still be done, he thought
by negotiating with Mahdi, but the Soudan
| must be left to the Soudanese.
THE PREMIER's REPLY.
Gladstone paid tribute to the devotion of
General Gordon, saving his one object in
life was to do good to all, irrespective of
race. color or creed Gladstone repeated
what Morey had said regarding Zebeehr
Pasha, and denied that the Government
had any reason last year to suppose Gen.
Gordon was in imminent danger General
Gordons dispatches, said Gladstone, had
led the Government to believe that he
would retreat with the garrison southwark
if possible. The Government had not
changed hairs breadth from the covenant
to send General Gordon assistance when
necessary and when possible to do so. He
| referred to the statements of General Cor
don's Colonies, that under no cir
| timely, as Farag had long ago
agreed to betray Khartoum as soon as
| the British arrived. Gladstone said he
fully shared in the regret for the loss of the
gallant officer, General Gordon. but there
was some comfort in believing that no
great ef1usion of blood had occurred at
khartoum. England'S mission in the Sou
dan was the safety of Egypt The Govern
ment might have committed errors of
judgment, but throughout ii had acted with
honesty of purpose He felt satisfied that
no other course was open to them. He
referred to the better government and other
reforms established III Egypt, anu Sdlu
there was no longer any danger of a
rupture with France, which had cordially
assisted in a measure which he hoped
in few days to see formally completed,
and which would save Egypt from bank
ruptcy If Sir Stafford Northcote wanted
to establish good stable government in
the Soudan, such covenant was not COM
patible with common prudence because 1t
meant the establishment of British Chris
tan Government over MohammedanS.
This would entail an endless struggle, for
the people were courageous by birth, AID
were made reckless by fanaticism. The
Government declines to enter into any COW
enant not reasonable and prudent. Even
without the determination to smash Mahdi,
the Suakim expedition was necessary to
secure the retirement of the troops. If
the House thought the Government had
failed in its duty the latter would cheer
fully accept the verdict, but if they believed
it had acted with good intentions, and
without palpable errors of judgment, he
hoped they would give expression to their
confidence and thus strengthen the hands
Al