New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-10
THE WEARY 7ITANS BURDENS.


The theory on which the British Government
sought To iustify the abandonment Of the Soudan
was grounded upon the necessity for hmi'ihB
the liabilities Of the Crown. The empire ""'
claimed to be already so vast as 10 eAn"u,v .n1
governing capacities of the English race WIN
India. Australia, Canada, South Africa EsSP'
and great array of smaller colonies ana pro-
teeted States all over the world the puruens
| Of administration were considered 10 De 100
great to admit of an indefinite extension OF re-
snonsibilities from the borders of Lower Egypt
70 the sources of the White Nile. policy of
evacuation was proclaimed the Khedives vast
African Empire won by the genius Of Baker
and Gordon. was restored to state of anarchy
and civil and religious war; and the massacre
of the Egyptian garrisons was followed oy the
indiscriminate slaughter Of tens of thousands OF
natives on the Suakim seaboard and below
Kbartoum. The death of Gordon and the down
fall of Emn at Wadeai were the closing scenes
in chapter Of wanton bloOdSbed and amazing
folly without parallel in English history. The
cowardly attempt to evade responsibilities which
were deliberately assumed when Alexandra
was bombarded and Tel-el-Kebir fought has
wrought incredible misery in the Nile countries,
and multiplied the difficulties and burdens OF
future Governments. Sir Samuel Baker as
our cable letter shows, has eloquently reminded
Englishmen of these facts.
Side by side with this disastrous and wicked
Soudan policy there has been revival OF the
old-tme process of handing over to trading
companies vast territories, for the government
of which England must eventually accept the
full responsibility. Within comparatively re-
cent period four commercial corporations SIM
liar to the East India Company have been Hmeu
with charters and authorized to develop and
govern great tracts in North Borneo, the Niger
Valley. East Africa and Zambesiland. by
these various enterprises the sphere OF British
influence has virtually been extended over
territorial domain nearly equal to the aggregate
area of Germany, France Spain, Italy ana
Austria The trading companies set OIL hght-
heartedly, as did the East India Company IN
ifs time. with the confident expectation OF avoid
ing foreign complications and native upnslngS;
but they carry the English flag with them and
when confronted with risks, dangers and en-
barrassments they will inevitably fall back upon
the Home Government for military aid ana
diplomatic and financial support Responsl-
biIity for these chartered corporations cannot
be evaded. Eventually the burdens of empire
will be transferred from the quasi-sovelelgn
directors to the Ministers of the Grown and to
the Queens most humble and submissive tax
payers.
Here, then, is found the striking anomaly
of a timorous and disgraceful remuneration OF
responsibility in the Soudan, and an assumption
of indil ect liabilities for the government OF en-
preS previously unappropnated in Asa ana
Africa rivalling in extent the western hall OF
Europe. If Gordon or Emn had been at the
head of trading company, with the Duke OF
Abercorn, one or two diamond kings and q
troup of members Of Parliament on the Board
OF Directors the Nile countries would not have
been abandoned to their fate. They would have
been provided with charters, encouraged as the
present rulers Of Zambesiland have been, to
raise and equip native army, and supported
with troops subsidies and diplomatic menaces
to European rivals whenever a crisis arose.
They were not traders and commercial adj
ventnrers mourning liabilities to be hquidated
in the future, but political instruments endowed
with genius for governing barbayous races and
promoting the worlds work of civilization.
With effective support from England they could
have retained control over the khedives AZ
rican Empire released the Nile Valley from the
horrors of slave traffic and religious fanati-
cism. and accomplished beneficent results for
Christian evangehzatiOn and progress. The
support was withheld because Matthew Arnold
weary Titan" was already staggering under
the weight of empire. Responsibilities were
evaded then with consciousness of bloodguilti-
ness, while enormous burdens were assumed
elsewhere in Africa and in Asia with levity and
| indif erence.