The Northern Guardian. — 1898-09-01 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

THURSDAY, SEPTRIII3ER 1, 1896.  THE NILE CA.III:SIGN.  Nothing is more capricious, than tLet public interest so long as no incident of stirring importance brings it to a focus. It was dirliCalt, a few days ago, to decide whether it was centred on the county championship and ti cricket averages, or whether the results of the American victories absorbed it.. At the preent 'moment there is no doubt wiere it ought to be, in spite of the sensation caused by the Czar's message to Europe. It should be following Sir H. Kitchener's splendid force, which in a few slays wit/ be at Khartoum. The Nile campaign is rapidly approaching its, dramatic issue. Probably before another week has elapsed:the Dervish tyranny will have been broken for ever, and the Nile Valley restored to civilisation, progress, and peace,.  The reconquest of the Soudan is a most important incident in the history of the British empire; the future consequences pro,nise even to transcend present results. The victory whieL we have foreseen must await the Sirdar at the junction of the two Niles will free our hands. We shall be able to deal with other pressing miatters cloeely connected with our lEgnltian pclicy. Encouraged by Frame, Abyssinia, flushed with Ler victories over the Italian troops, is expanding westwArd in the 3oudan. How much territory in the direction of the White Nile !Menelik may have already absorbed is not yet known, lyst it is essential to come to an 6173 agement with this powerful ruler before the Abyssinians, save reached the banks of the Upper Nila Until we hold Khartoum and our gunboats Patrol the Nile, we are not in a position to make terms with, him, but after the gall of Khartoum the Nile will practically become a British river, and them Menelik, who appears a singularly sl.rewd and far-seeing person, convinced by the afrgument of accomplished facts, shoulLj he ready to make an amicable settlement.  The Power that holds the great waterway must he paramount in Africa as far as the Great Lakes. Thase, however, are still ouestione, for future cctsideration. As yet their sionifioance is haraty recognised by the public, who are only just beginning to understand that the freeing of the Soudan from bondage mems a great deal more than revenge for Gordon's murder. That the Dervishes would fight with all their accustomed bravery has never been doubted. But the fanatitral heroism which drove the Afai.disba to court death on British bayonets no longer exists. In fact, the great fanatical movement which tore the Soudan from the enfeebled grasp of the Egyptians is spent. The Sondanese. are weary of the Khalifa's tyranny, which haa obliterated the memory oil misg,overnnient unsier •Tirrkish and Egyptian pachas; and the tribesmen, excepting, perhaps, the fierce Baor.a, ra Arabs, who live on plunder and rapine, desire peace.  One cannot help pitying our unlucky enemy, many of whom are presed men, compelled to fizht, and, thrust into the front line of battle, rertre.at nor advanoe wkhout the menace of death. The slaughter of these unlucky wretches at Atbara by our shrapnel was very great ; but in the lyddite shall we have a. new and more terrible engine of war, against which even earthworks are no protection. Still, the prevalent opinion is that the Dervishes "deserve all they get." The ruined and devastated district of Metemmeh, now a at charnel house, full of the festering banes of the cnce-Hourishing Jestlin tribe, who were crushed out of existence by the Dervishes because their loyalty was doubted, fully justihes whatever punishment may fall on their destro-ers in the conflict with civilisation which they have provoked.