, 1885-05-12
OPPOSITION RAMPANT.
The Conservatives Anxious to
Give a Vote of Censure
To Prime Minister Gladstone
For His Method
Of Dealing With the India
War Question.

LONDON, May 1l.-Lord Harrington
said in the house of commons, this even
ing, that the government had no inten-
ton of evacuating Suakim until some
arrangement could be effected for holding
it against the hostile Arabs, either by
England or some other civilized nation.
At present Suakim could not be held
without a fight. Osman Digna, El
Mahdi's chief lieutenant, for many
months past has been besieging the place
and has frequently declared himself de-
termined upon driving the garrison into
the Red sea. Therefore the holding of
Suakim wa a military and not a political
question. In regard to the projected rail-
way from Suakim to Berber, Lord Hart
ington said he was unable to state what
was the definite intention OF the govern
ment, but he thought he could soon be
able to make a statement of their inten-
ton.
Henry Chaplin, Conservative, for Mid
Lincolnshire, asked how much the govern
ment had spent on the Khartoum expe-
dition and il the sum was greater than
the so. 500. 600 mentioned in the s55.-
100000, as the sum requested for the
Soudan account?
Gladstone replied to this interropatoy
and said the had already
spent a great deal of money in the Sou
dan, but was unable to say at present
whether any portion of the $50. 500. 900
would be saved. Gladstone then moved
for a second reading Of the consolidated
fund bill Ohe $55, 600. 900 credit.) He
urged his motion in a speecm in which he
declared he was unable to understand the
differences which existed on this subject
between the opposition and fhe govern
ment. He urged the house to avoid every
unnecessary issue just now.
No sooner had Mr.. Gladstone quit speak
ing. than the Conservatives opened upon
him and his government the bitterest at
tack within their power to make. This
was led by Lord George Francis Hamilton,
member from Middlesex. Lord Hamil-
ton is being strongly pushed forward by
the Tones as the leader in the commons.
He was under secretary for India from
1874 to 1878, and spoke with some degree
of authority. He secured the occasion for
making his attack by moving the consid-
Grafton of the amendment given notice of
by Sir Stofford Northcote, present Con
s~ervative leader in the commons, on FRI
day. This amendment is on the second
reading of the consolidated fund bill for a
fresh vote of censure against the govern
ment, and concludes in the following
words: The house having shown their
readiness to vote supplies, refuse their
consent until informed of the present
policy and purpose for which the money
to be granted is to be applied" Lord
Hamilton in moving consideration of his
amendment said: 1.-The right honorable
the marquis of Harrington, secretary Of
state for war, has just made the most ex-
~traordinary statement which ever fell from
a minister in this house. After announce
ing their intention of taking Khartoum,
the government have announced tonight
the abandoning of the Soudan, after hay
ing murdered six or ten thousand men,
vet the government expects the house to
acauiesce silently in their policy. The
greatest danger TO the country is the m
capacity of the men in Office. tConserva-
tivos cheer). The government have
surrendered every one of the questions
between them and Russia. The prime
minister has altogether abandoned the at
titude By which the government obtained
a vote Of credit. The great objection |
have from the premier policy, is that
from the very day he assumed office unit
now, he has shown a readiness to sacrifice
ANYBODY and everything to save himself.
lOIles D, near near
ShamDerihn' pres,uen' u 'ne poaru u
| frauC INuntCQ IOlu NtOIEt IldIillIlI