The sun., 1900-04-10

ner In which II ls being worked out are we'll
worth following. A Ainiltary government IN ust
Of course. be maintained for a long timo, for
the Dervishes and the blacks know no argu-
ment but force. The slave trade Ia one OF the
most difficult features OF the situation and
again the British Government finds itself
compelled. or 70 II Ia represented to tolerate
slavery In a portion OF its dominions for time
at least The Omdurman correspondent OF
the Tunes says Of this subject:
THE severe penalties. amounting 'oa maxi
mum OF seven years imprisonment against
kidnapping and traf'lckIng In slaves form a
prominent feature al the Soudan Penal Code.
The problem Of slavery IL nowhere In our
African Empire more difficult thnn II Is in the
Soudan Slavery In sanctioned by ths Mn-
hom.dan religion: IL IL a universal institution
among Arab races: II reached specially hiRh
degree OF organization under the Khallfa's
rule To abolish II. II that were possible.
would be TO dislocats the labor and convulse
the domestic life OF the country. In many
eases tho slaves themselves would he the
creates, sufferers by enforced freedom and tho
last persons 10 desire the boon The abolition
Of slavery Is o general principle not immedi-
ately applicable to :he special circumstances OF
the Soutsn without In any way abandoning 1t
as principle OF our empire We must be con-
tent in this case 10 recgate II 10 the future and
10 prepare for u Indirectly by civilizing the
inhabitants in other ways and by gradually
raising their conception OF the dignity OF the
human persOn
1T Is quite another thing TO strike at the
evils OF tho slave trade. and In this the Govern
ment has already embarked on an energetic
course OF action Three things arc illeRal-the
kidnapping. tho buying or selling. and the Ill
treatment. oyerworking. or enforced detention
Of a human being. Cavalry. camel corps and
police patrols are actively Oh tho watch to
check the traffic in slaves, especially the i'm.
portation by Arab merchants OF kidnapped
black slave girls from the south. The markets
are watched to prevent Illicit bargains under
cover of transactions in goods. The caravan
routes arc guarded and caravans examined
for slaves about to be exported from the
ports Of the Red Sea. Tho black battalons
everywhere spread the news among their
enslaved kinsmen that they are legally free.
In the domestic sphere the status OF slavery
s not officially recognized: The Government
wrote Lord Kitchener In his instructions TO
his officers. does not recognize greater rights
on the part OF the master as against his slaves
than are recognized az against any other
servant On the other hand. slaves or SER
wants must be acquired somehow, and It is
most unlikely that they are often acquired for
nothing. No inquiry Is held. after they have
been acquired into the mode OF their acquisi-
ton; their is No limit to their number"
Another dilemma is with regard to revenue.
The Egyptian treasury bears heavy Soudan
deficit which must tie reducei at once. Never.
thelcss the country IL for the present in pow
erty and almost without immediate resources.
Gen. Wingate faces the delicate problem how
az once TO tax the people and TO enrich them.
He has followed the policy of keeping pace with
the inclpient revival OF trade by imposing
fresh taxes at short intervals Already nine
taxes have been imposed-a house tax for
towns, a boat tax. herd tax: ROYALTIES Of 20
per cent on gum. ivory. tobacco. lndiarubber.
ostrich feathers aud rhinoceros horns; licenses
for the carriage Of firearms. for liquor
Establishments, for ferries. auctioneers. and
pedleis. and. lastly. weighing, slaughtering
and market dues OF those taxes the majority
are com paratiyely insignificant "a regards re-
suits. The important ones are the land tax.
OF the south.
Deficits will continue for some time. but II Is
confidently asserted that the rescued Soudan
is naturally a rich country and that within
few years It will become q very prosperous
one. For whose benefit? is tho question which
they will soon be asking with jealous envy on
the other side OF the English Channel
II