The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-04-04

derv1shes have drawn Gordon within
enter, and out of which not even news
can pass.
So much for the situation in the Sou
dan itself. 1t may be assumed that it's
reconquest would be almost as easy now
as it's successful defense fifteen ysars ago
would have been difficult The only OBJ
stscles to the return of the Soudanese to
decent government and the enjoyment of
at least standardization are political,
and they arise. not in Egypt itself, but in
far-away Europe.
The whole situation in the Soudan
problem was changed, ANA it was hope
full change, when the italian Ministry
fell en- account of the Abyssinian victory
at Adowa. If the Rudini Cabinet is wise
and patriotic, it may after show of hos
litios, until the wsr fever iis stilled in Italy
itself, make peace on easy terms with
King Menelek, and with him attack the
Mahdists from the east. Menelek would
be very willing to do this; his people
have been Christians longer than any
European nation save the Italians, and
they cherish undying hatred toward the
Mohammedans, who, for 1000 years, en-
tirely surrounded their country, isolating
it from the rest of Christendom. Their
resentment has more recent causes. When
the Mahdist power was at it's height-it
has declined materially in the last ten
years-A byssinia was in fair way to adj
vance rapidly in civilization and prosper
ity: but upon the King John of that day,
predecessor of the King John who died in
1887, the Mahdists fell with crushing
force. defeating his armies and Staying
the King himself, although the fight was
SO hotly contested that since that time
the dervishes have usually been willing
to let the Abyssiuians alone. King Meme
lex has more than 1000 men under
arms in the field and in garisons, he has
arsenals and artifloers whereas the
Khalifa has neither, at least of any degree
at least no better armed than they were
fifteen years ago, perhaps not SO well.
There have been queer stories afoat in
Europe of Russian assistance, 10th Of
money and of arms, extended to King
Kenelek. They have been exaggerated.
The money Menelek could undoubtedly
use, and the arms, but he has both in
reasonable plenty. Yet the recent decor
alton of Menelek by the Gear is signif-
can't.
The A byssiDians present a strange COM
bination of civilization and savagery, OF
Paris gowns and tables without forks or
napery; but they can fight, as the Ital-
ians are abundantly able to- testify. If,
on the ground of common belief in Chris
tianity, the italian Cabinet could recon-
ole TO the public of Italy an alliance with
their so recent foes, both interest and in
clination might prompt a descent upon
the derYishes from the east, and the SUBJ
secuent partition of portion of the terri
cory between the viotors. The armies of
the Congo Free State have been for some
time surreptitiously active on the western
borders of the Mahdist's domain, although
the fact long escaped the attention of
Europe in the diversion OF public interest
to the other end of the dark continent
by Jameson's raid.
An italian arrangement with Menelek
may not yet be possible, but there is very
little doubt that the movement in the
Congo Free State is undertaken in con-
cert with Egypt; nor is there any doubt
that these two allies could, without the