The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-18

OF the Mahdlsts. He could do nothing
against the latter without reinforce
ments. The enemy closed in around him.
His position grew 20 be one Of terrible
danger. Press and public redoubled their
outcries. SIN Gordon wavered. At last,
too late, in October. 1854. an English ex-
pedition. under Sir Garnet wolsseley. was
despatched to Kahrtoum Wolseley never
reached Il. When almost within touch
OF the town he learned that Just two
days previous II had been captured by
the Maddlsts.
General Gordon had fallen a victim 10
treachery. Eye witnesses told how his
head had been stricken from his Shout
ders.
The cutlery IN England redoubied. The
more bitter among the opponents OF Glad
stone accused him OF shameful ingrati-
tude. and shameful cowardice. On the
top wave OF tho political tempest that
followed Lord Salisbury and conscrva-
tive ministry rode into power. But from
being the attackers they now became the
attacked. The promised vengeance was
sun delayed. Like the liberals the con-
servatlves found themselves handicapped
by reason OF home politics.
Lord Sallsbury's first cabinet practi-
cally accepted the situation created by It's
predecessor. Between midsummer day,
1870, when II came into power. and the
spring Of 1895. when Il reversed the whole
policy in the Nile valley, II had been IN
power some seven years at staccato In
tervas. During that time II acquired no
~
ance in a status quo policy save a reten-
ton Of the recognized" frontier at Wadi
Halfa. What fighting there was during
those eleven years was purely defensive
The state of Egyptian finances, it claim
ed, precluded anything more.
But there was a man even then in
Egypt who knew that economy was
wealth.
This was Sir Herbert, now Lord Kitcn-
ener. He had been in the Soudan off and
on since 1883. He had risen to be Sirdard
or comma nder-in-chief of the EgyDtian
army in 1890. He had created six briigades
OF matchless infantry out of the unprom-
Using material of Negro-Arabs. a natur-
ally timorous race. all believing al the
outset that they were no match for the
Mahdists. In a score OF hard fought
skirmishes these 1900 black troups, led
by their indomitable commander. had
never known defeat. though pitted
against fanatics who firmly believed that
II killed in battle they would go straight
to Paradise. Their pay. only fourteen
shilings month and rations. seemed to
them almost incredible in It's munihcence.
They had been taught 10 believe that 10
be white is never to know rear They
had seen many an English officer die
by bullet and by steel. but they had never
seen one of the white race show fear
They had been trained to emulate this
example. Their proudest boast was. I'VE
are like the Engllshmen; we are never
afraid"
And then the time arrived when over
in England the unionlst members of the
cabinet came to share the opinion of the
Tory members that it was impossible for
Egypt any longer to bear the strain OF
the permanent presence of q brutal and
irrecOnciliable horde OF barbarians al
ways menacing its fronties. They grew
to recognize that Egypt had right to
demand from England. her protecting
ever present danger.
So when the third government of the
Marquis of Salisbury entered upon IT'S
first real session with a majority so large
as to leave it no excuse for falling to do
its duty because of its consequences In
home politics, word was egiven to do
what had long been waiting to be done.
Kitchener and his blacks were sent into
the stronghold OF the Khalifa, the
Mahd.'s successor. to aVenge the out
RACES committed by both. On the very
day when Queen Victoria passed the
period of the previous longest reign IN
British history. on September o. 1896.
news was flashed over to the British
capital from Africa that Dongola had
fallen. Once more the Egyptian flag over
the best regions of the Nile. after an in
terval Of eleven years. But this was
only the beginning. Two years later
Kitchener organized his final irresista bic
advance against the Khalifa. which re-
suited in the latter's utter defeat. al On
durham, in September. 1885, the Subse-
duent capture of Khartoum. and added an
African empire to the British domnions.
II is true that the raising Of the Union
Jack on the spot where Gordon fell did
not involve am immediate change in the
Egyptian situation. 1t Is tue that the
policy of governing Egypt hy English
brains and Egyptian hands Is still main
tanned. 1t Is true that annexation VIII
not Immediately follow. But notice mas
been given to the world that the occnpa-
ton Of Egypt and the Nile valla; by
Great Britain Is permanent, and TINT she
will no more evacuate that countr" than
the French will evacuate Tunis.
She had INDICATED her national self-re-
spect. She had avenged Gordon. She
had assured the security of Egypt.
Egypt alone" says Mr.. Stevens,
could ny no miracle saved herself from
utter destruction by Mahdist invasion.
We have saved her-and Herewith we
have paid off the nurbind. sincere under
takings If M. Gladstone. We undertook
to leave Egypt. We have redeemed the
promise in an unforeseen manner. but we
have redeemed il amply. II we under
took 10 evacUate the cid Egypt. We have
fathered a new one, saved from im-ni-
ncnt extinction by our gold and by our
sword. Without lis there would have
been no Egypt today. What We made
we shall keep
True. And yet-and yet-the-e = st!ll
10 be reckoned with the message from the
poor dumb lips of the Mahdi's head
a.