GORDON PASHA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1818, 1 March 1884, Page 2

GORDON PASHA.

Probably no ma 1 at the present moment claims a gie.iter share of the public attention than Geneinl Gordon, the Governor of the Soudan. The following sketch of this remarkable man was wi itten some months ago by the English corres, ponclent of a Southern contemporary :— "A biography is just coming out which will be read with immense interest by every Englishman. Its subject is living now in seclusion and retirement near the Mount of Olives, and is ignorant of the honour which is being done him. Probably if he knew it he would resent it, for a plainer, more unassuming man never walked the earth than "Chinese Gordon." Abroad, and especially in uncivilised countries, all combine to do him honour, but at Home he is a plain officer of Engiuecs, and has never leceived any substantial recognition from the authoiitie*. Gordon's remarkable career began in the Crimea, and he there displayed remarkable aptitude. Subsequently he was engaged in marking out the new frontier ot Russia, Turkey, and Roumania ; from thia work he went to Armenia, and afterwards to China, where he witnessed the sack of the Summer Palace. The Chinese Empire was just tottering, and a false prophet who had arisen a few years before was carrying everything before him, until even Nankin itself was stormed. The Imperial troops could do nothing, and the Government in despair asked for the assistance of a British officer. Gordon was ottered and accepted the post. Only 4000 men were available for service, and the officers were recruited fiom all the adventurers in Europe, but they all found their master, as m time did also the enemy, for the general carried on a kind of Napoleonic warfare, and none knew where his next attack would fall. Thus town after town fell before him, and he led every attack in person, waving only a light cane in hia hand, for he would not cany any weapon ; once he was wounded, but led his men on until he fainted from loss of blood. One of the most striking things in his character is his intense contempt for money. When the Chinese Emperor sent him the Order of the Yellow Jacket and a present in coin of 10,000 taels, Gordon rose angrily, and with his famous stick drove the bearers from his presence. After this extraordinary services he retired Home, worked at Thames fortification, and taught ragged schools in Greenwhich. But his fame had reached to the Nile, and 1874 Ismail offered him the Governorship of the Soudan. Here the same indifference to money showed itselt. The Khedive gave him £10,000 a-year, but Gordon only accepted £2000. The task before him was stupendous. Anarchy reigned over a province larger than half Europe, and slavery reared its head on every side. Yet in five years he carried all befoie him, going unprotected into the wildest districts, and when he retired, as has been well said, "he left an empire where he found a chaos." Had he been permitted to carry out his intentions at the Cape, the difficulties that now exist would have been cleared away, but he was too much of a reformer, and too little of red-tapist, and hence the friction was so great that Gordon retired. People with whom I am acquainted have often met him, and describe him as one of the most assuming of men. Grizzled ml weather-beaten, no one meeting h in would imagine that he was one of the most remarkable men in Europe. The biography of such a mall caunot fail to be of the highest interest, if in anyway authentic.

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