, 1892-10-12

49, 0LC ~ 1uSLSIIAS
on the return Of MWanga to Mengo, the CAPT
tai, ne saved the country from falling into a
condition OF anarchy, and thus in truth, help
ed the Catholics as we'll as the Professionals.
The conduct Of the Roman Catholic missiona.
RES has clearly very little to be said for it.
The Bishop and the Fathers accented CAPTAIN
Lugard's protection and hospitality duringthe
war, and the bishop pledged himself when he
left that protection to do all he could to induce
MWauga to return to Mengo, and SO end the
war. Instead Of doing this, it appears that
he used his IN fuence IN an exactly contrary
direction, and was even privy to the efforts
that Wele made to prevent Mwanga's return.
The incident IS not a pleasant one, and we
prefer TO refrain from comment, except to
note the explanation of The conduct Of the
Catholic party given by Captain Lugard. He
believes that a party of French priests. who
came to Uganda III January, brought news
that the Company intended to evacuate the
country, and thatthls made the King and those
OF the Catholic chiefs who had been inclined
to support the Company; decide to throw in
Their lot with the extreme Catholic party. and
TO attack the Protestants. If the Company
was soon going to depart, it was not worth
while to consider their wishes.
These facts show how evil was the effect Of
the mere proposal to abandon Uganda. Inf
nltely more disastrous would be the result Of
really evacuating the HinterIand Of Mombas-
sa, and o%onhhlng the effective influence Of
England to the strip Of coast. That the poll
oy Of allo wing the East African Company to
set up as a sovereign State at Mombassa was
most unWl8e, we have no doubt, We have repeat
edly pointedout that the Home Government.un-
der the sovereign company system, avoids no
real responsibility, and incurs Just as heavy a
burden as if it had directly undertaken the ad-
mnlstration Of our newly acquired spheres of
influence" Hence, while we admit that it
will now be necessary to do something to help
the Company IN it, difficulties, we hold that
Parliament should absolutely refuse to sane
ton any extension of the system SO rashly
adopted seven years ago. What would hap
pen If the Company were now to eyacuato
Uganda, has only to be stated to make it OBJ
yious that a~bandonmentlis out of the question.
In the first place, the Protestant converts
would fly with US, and this would break up the
Protestant missions, upon which 80 much de-
votion has been expended. The Catholics
by themselves would not however, be able
to maintain themselves against the Mahom-
medan faction, and the country would there
fore be overrun at once by the Mahommedans
anti a vast number Of its inhabitants sold in
to slavery. The effect Of our withdrawal ia
the territories round and near Uganda would
be equally disastrous, and would be certain
to lead to the slaughter and destruction of
those natives who have sided with us, and
now need our protection. Further, we should
be losing for the Anglo-Saxon one Of the most
vital parts Of Africa. The key Of Central
Africa-indeed, Of Africa as a whole-is the
great water-system Of the lakes aud the upper
valley Of the Nile. The possession Of Uganda
gives us access to both these mein arteries Of
trade. To hold a piece Of the shore Of the VIC
toria Nyanza is like holding a piece OF the
Caspian or 4 portion Of Lake Erie. Not less
important is the possession Of at lea, one
bank Of the Upper Nile. Some day-possl-
bly, sooner than the world expects-the Sou
dan will again be open % trade. and then the
right of access to the Upper Nile will be Of
the utmost importance. Under these circum-
stances, it is impossible for us to abandon
Uganda. How, then are we to arrange the re-
lations of the Imperial Government and the
Company? In our opinion, the best plan will
be to separate the administrative and military
functions of the Company from the CONNER
cial, and to assume the former, leaving only
the latter to the Company. The cost Of the
change may at first have to fall upon the I'm
perial Government, but power should be taken
to make the support of the Government q first
charge on the Company's revenue. Again, 1t
will probably be necessary to lend the Com
pany enough money to make a portion Of
fha railway from the coast to the Lakes but