DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26876#0022
20
W. E. G., 12th Feb. 1884. | General Gordon, 27th Feb. 1884.
“ These (i a., the Soudanese rebels) axe people struggling “ This is the actual state of affairs : two-thirds of the
to be free, and they are struggling rightly to be free.” people are terrorised over by one-third, excited by emis-
(Hansard, 288, col. 55). I saries of the Mahdi.” (Egypt, No. 12, 1884, page 150.)
Commento.ry: 27th Feb. 1885. W. E. Forster 3ays :—“My right hon. friend (i.e., the G. 0. M.) convinces himself,
and he convinces others, but he does not always convince facts.”
W. E. G., 1st May 1884. j W. E. Forster, 13th May 1884.
“ There is no military danger at the present moment j “Every one but the Prime Minister is convinced of
besetting Khartoum. ” j General Gordon's danger.”
nth May.—Although there is “ no military danger,” prayers are offered up in the churches throughout England for
the safety of General Gordon.
12th May.—Granville to Egerton.—“ General Gordon is enjoined to adopt measures for his own removal.”
I2th May.—By a majority of 28 on a proposed vote of censure, the Automaton Radical majority vote for further
abandonment, and a continuance of the Micawber policy of waiting for something to turn up.
19th May.—The Grand Old Mystifier says :—“Whatever measures the Government take will be in the direction of
making effective arrangements with regard to rringing all the difficulties to an end. ” [The Gladstonese
equivalent for “ doing nothing.”]
“ Promise, pause, prepare, postpone,
And end by leaving things alone. ”
20th May.—The Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, interrogated, “Knows nothing except that communication with
General Gordon is cut off.” [Yet he was in no danger.] On.another point the Gladstonian-trained Under-
secretary is questioned, and replies, “I daresay I shall be able to answer it to-morrow.” [Probably!]
20th May.—-Messrs Gladstone & Co. negotiate with Messrs Cook, the tourists’ providers, for a cheap third-class return,
ticket for Lord Wolseley to Khartoum and back.—[Hansard, 288, col. 1010.)
[“ Peace, Retrenchment, and Reform”—especially Retrenchment.]
23rd May.—The G. O. M. says “The intelligence from Khartoum is re-assuring,” although, according to the Under-
Secretary, there had been absolutely “ no intelligence ” since the 10th April.—[Hansard, 288, cols. 1181-2.)
25th May.—"While maintaining that General Gordon i3 not in danger, the G. O. M. & Co. offer £200 for an answer to
their telegram to the General at Khartoum. (Egypt, No. 24, p. 75.) [The bribe didn’t take, as no Arab could
be get to run the risk or trust Her Majesty’s Government to that extent.]
27th May.—Lord Granville displays his ignorance of his own business by declaring, “ so far as I know, the Mahdi
resides somewhere in the interior of Africa. ” [Hansard, 288, col. 1454.) [Probably in the Cameroon? or at Angra
Pequena.]
GORDON FORGOTTEN.
May, June.—Gordon forgotten—“knowingly, willingly, and heartlessly,” because the Government is engaged
on the Franchise Bill and in an attack upon the House of Lords. “How scandalously unjust were the
suspicions entertained by some that the prolonged silence of General Gordon arose from offended pride.
It was the enforced silence of an English officer so closely beleaguered that no messenger from without was
able to bring tidings to the besieged. During these long summer months General Gordon was battling for
his life against overwhelming odds, the bullets falling incessantly into his palace from every side.”
[9th September.—General Gordon writes:—“While you are eating, drinking, and resting in good beds, we
soldiers and servants are watching by night and day, endeavouring to quell the movement of this false Mahdi.”]
W. E. G., 12th Feb. 1884. | General Gordon, 27th Feb. 1884.
“ These (i a., the Soudanese rebels) axe people struggling “ This is the actual state of affairs : two-thirds of the
to be free, and they are struggling rightly to be free.” people are terrorised over by one-third, excited by emis-
(Hansard, 288, col. 55). I saries of the Mahdi.” (Egypt, No. 12, 1884, page 150.)
Commento.ry: 27th Feb. 1885. W. E. Forster 3ays :—“My right hon. friend (i.e., the G. 0. M.) convinces himself,
and he convinces others, but he does not always convince facts.”
W. E. G., 1st May 1884. j W. E. Forster, 13th May 1884.
“ There is no military danger at the present moment j “Every one but the Prime Minister is convinced of
besetting Khartoum. ” j General Gordon's danger.”
nth May.—Although there is “ no military danger,” prayers are offered up in the churches throughout England for
the safety of General Gordon.
12th May.—Granville to Egerton.—“ General Gordon is enjoined to adopt measures for his own removal.”
I2th May.—By a majority of 28 on a proposed vote of censure, the Automaton Radical majority vote for further
abandonment, and a continuance of the Micawber policy of waiting for something to turn up.
19th May.—The Grand Old Mystifier says :—“Whatever measures the Government take will be in the direction of
making effective arrangements with regard to rringing all the difficulties to an end. ” [The Gladstonese
equivalent for “ doing nothing.”]
“ Promise, pause, prepare, postpone,
And end by leaving things alone. ”
20th May.—The Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, interrogated, “Knows nothing except that communication with
General Gordon is cut off.” [Yet he was in no danger.] On.another point the Gladstonian-trained Under-
secretary is questioned, and replies, “I daresay I shall be able to answer it to-morrow.” [Probably!]
20th May.—-Messrs Gladstone & Co. negotiate with Messrs Cook, the tourists’ providers, for a cheap third-class return,
ticket for Lord Wolseley to Khartoum and back.—[Hansard, 288, col. 1010.)
[“ Peace, Retrenchment, and Reform”—especially Retrenchment.]
23rd May.—The G. O. M. says “The intelligence from Khartoum is re-assuring,” although, according to the Under-
Secretary, there had been absolutely “ no intelligence ” since the 10th April.—[Hansard, 288, cols. 1181-2.)
25th May.—"While maintaining that General Gordon i3 not in danger, the G. O. M. & Co. offer £200 for an answer to
their telegram to the General at Khartoum. (Egypt, No. 24, p. 75.) [The bribe didn’t take, as no Arab could
be get to run the risk or trust Her Majesty’s Government to that extent.]
27th May.—Lord Granville displays his ignorance of his own business by declaring, “ so far as I know, the Mahdi
resides somewhere in the interior of Africa. ” [Hansard, 288, col. 1454.) [Probably in the Cameroon? or at Angra
Pequena.]
GORDON FORGOTTEN.
May, June.—Gordon forgotten—“knowingly, willingly, and heartlessly,” because the Government is engaged
on the Franchise Bill and in an attack upon the House of Lords. “How scandalously unjust were the
suspicions entertained by some that the prolonged silence of General Gordon arose from offended pride.
It was the enforced silence of an English officer so closely beleaguered that no messenger from without was
able to bring tidings to the besieged. During these long summer months General Gordon was battling for
his life against overwhelming odds, the bullets falling incessantly into his palace from every side.”
[9th September.—General Gordon writes:—“While you are eating, drinking, and resting in good beds, we
soldiers and servants are watching by night and day, endeavouring to quell the movement of this false Mahdi.”]