The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prevalebit. SATURDAY, MAY. 31, 1884. Affairs in Egypt.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1268, 31 May 1884, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prevalebit. SATURDAY, MAY. 31, 1884. Affairs in Egypt.

Although the vote of censure brought before the Imperial Parliament the other day by the Opposition was not carried, the victory was gained by such a narrow majority that it virtually amounted to a defeat. And it is evident that Mr Gladstone has looked upon the question in the same light, as since the debate took place the policy'' of the English Government i 1 regard to Egypt has been entirely reversed. That that policy was contrary to the wishes of the people, whatever their representatives in the Legislature may have thought of it, is only too obvious and in bowing to the popular will Mr Gladstone has acted wisely. To dispatch upon a mission of unparallelled danger a man like Colonel Gordon and afterwards to desert him in his hour of need, was so utterly opposed to the instincts of Britons that one cannot wonder at the howl of execration that rose throughout the country against the Premier when it was learnt that no expedition was to be sent to Khartoum until the fall of the year. The reason given for this delay was that it was impossible for English soldiers to reach the place before the Nile was in a navigable state, and it was argued that it was better that one life should be sacrificed than many. This kind of logic, however, has never been understanded of the people, while military science is generally believed to have been brought to such perfection during recent years that the word “ fail ” has been eliminated from the soldier’s lexicon. At all events, we find now that the expedition, which Mr Gladstone had declared to be impossible, is actually being arranged, and before long Lord Wolseley will be on his way to Khartoum at the head of 10,000 men. Why the hero of Tel-el-Kebir should have been chosen to the chief command of affairs is not easy to see. Except that just at present he appears to be regarded as that impossible thing, a necessary man. That he is a great General nobody will deny, but the defeat of the Mahdiites after the latter had annihilated the forces of Hicks Pasha was at least as notable an achievement as anything done in the Egyptian war. It would therefore have been only justice that Major-General Graham, who has proved himself so capable a commander, should have been afforded an oppor;unity of adding to his reputation. Instead of this we find that he is to be virtually superseded, and Mr Gladstone’s pet soldier is to have charge of an expedition, which, if successful, will place more laurels upon the brow of Lord Wolseley, The chief consideration, however, is that an attempt is to be made immediately to relieve General Gordon from his perilous position, and this news will be received with universal satisfaction by all Her Majesty's subjects throughout the world. The management of the Egyptian question by the Liberal party has not been very creditable, and it is to be hoped that the decision just arrived at, tardy though it be, will mark a turning point in Mr Gladstone’s foreign policy. In the meantime the position of affairs has been somewhat altered on account of an unforeseen circumstance having occurred. Another False Prophet has arisen in the Soudan, and it would appear that he is not lacking in believers, as he has already inflicted a defeat upon the original Mahdi, who is at the root of all the trouble. If the two rival rebels that are now at loggerheads could carry on the work of mutual annihilation, it would be a great advantage in every way, and it is a consummation devoutly to be wished that when Lord Wolseley arrives on the ground he may find nothing there but the dead bodies of the fanatics who have killed each other for the sake of their religion. To use a phrase often enough heard in the bloodless political warfare of civilisation, these Mohammedans can certainly boast of possessing the “ courage of their convictions,” and it is on this courage England may perhaps depend to assist her in solving a most difficult problem.