DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17756#0006
Yol. LXXXVI.] INTRODUCTION. [January to June, 1884.
PAGE
read a second time. The Bill has passed through Com-
mittee, substantially unchanged, Mr. Woodall’s clause in
favour of including women having been emphatically re-
jected, though supported by some leading men on the
Conservative Benches, and approved, in principle, by many
Liberals. Its third reading in the Lower House is now
imminent.
Among other measures, the London Municipality Bill
was, at last, introduced by Sir William Harcourt on
April 8th. It proposed to form a single municipality for
the whole of the metropolitan area, transferring thereto the
various functions at present exercised by the City Corpora-
tion and a variety of other bodies, excluding, however,
education, police, and poor law administration. But little
time, however, has yet been found for the consideration of
this Bill. Nor have other Governmental measures made
great advance. Mr. Chamberlain’s Merchant Shipping
Bill, introduced on 6th February, and having for its object
the prevention of over-insurance and the nefarious traffic
in unseaworthy ships, has been vehemently opposed by
shipowners. Strong efforts were made to refer it to a Select
Committee, and although Mr. Chamberlain moved the
second reading on 19th May, it has not yet passed that
stage in the Commons. Its prospects, and those of other
Bills, both ministerial and private, are by no means
encouraging.
Mr. Childers’s Budget, introduced on April 24th, shewed
only a small surplus of £113,000, and was not otherwise of
a striking or hope-inspiring character. His proposals for
the withdrawal of the light gold coinage and for giving
currency for a time to token ten-shilling pieces, excited
much adverse, and possibly in some degree prejudiced,
comment.
Ireland has perhaps been a less absorbing topic both in
the House and out of it, than in previous Sessions, but her
parliamentary champions have not shown themselves lack-
ing in powers of obstruction and abuse, whilst the dynamite
party, in the explosions at Victoria Station, St. James’s
Square, and Scotland Yard, have given painful proof of the
continuance of their evil activity.
At the close of last year the destruction of Hicks Pasha’s
army, and other evidences of the growing power of the
Mahdi had further complicated the already sufficiently
perplexing Egyptian Question. The British Government
had “ advised”—and advice in this case practically meant
prohibition—the Khedive not to attempt the reconquest
of the Soudan, but it was felt nevertheless that measures
must be taken to insure the safe withdrawal of the various
Egyptian garrisons in that vast and arid region. In
January the Government, urged thereto, as it appeared, by
clamorous appeals in the Press, despatched the celebrated
“ Chinese Gordon,” a man of the noblest character and
the most extraordinary powers, to arrange for the peaceful
retirement of these garrisons. He proceeded to Khartoum
alone, without either the presence or the prospect of mili-
tary support, was enthusiastically received by the people,
and soon gave proof of his remarkable personal influence,
which it was at first hoped would be equal to a peaceful
solution of the .Soudan difficulty, the extrication of the
garrisons from Khartoum and other towns, and of the
Government from a perplexing dilemma. These roseate
hopes were not destined to be realised. General Gordon
found it impossible to come to terms with the Mahdi,
1
PAGE
and his alternative plans, involving military aid and the
employment of the notorious slave-hunter Zebeiir Pasha,
failed to receive approval or support from the Government
at home. Practically alone and unaided, General Gordon,
in the defence of Khartoum against the hosts of the Mahdi,
which now, it is feared, closely invest it, has again given
proofs of his unshaken courage and unbounded resource.
Khartoum still holds out, but news therefrom has lately
been of an intermittent and somewhat doubtful character.
In the meanwhile, on the Bed Sea coast, Osman Digna,
a lieutenant of the Mahdi, had menaced Suakin and the
garrisons of Sinkat and Tokar, and defeated with great
slaughter an army of Egyptian and Nubian soldiery under
the leadership of Baker Pasha. General Graham, des-
patched with a British force to check Osman Digna,
defeated the Arabs at Teb and Tamasi in February and
March. The desirability of opening up the Suakin-Berber
route to Khartoum was urged upon the Government, but
that course was not decided on. General Graham, after his
two victories, was withdrawn, and Osman Digna, who had
fled, soon renewed his menacing movements in the neigh-
bourhood of the Bed Sea garrisons. The rebels are making
continuous attacks on Suakin, and Berber has fallen into
their hands. An expedition for the relief of Khartoum and
the rescue of General Gordon has been much talked of,
but no decided steps in that direction have yet been taken.
The financial difficulty in Egypt pressed for considera-
tion early in the year, and Lord Granville invited the
European Powers to a Conference thereon. Theffirst meeting
of this Conference is expected to be held immediately. On
the 23rd June a correspondence between the English and
French Foreign Offices, in which is sketched the outline of
a provisional “ Anglo-French Agreement ” on Egyptian
Afl'airs, was laid before the House, but its suggested ar-
rangements have not been very favourably received, and
moreover are dependent upon the outcome of the Conference
itself, which is still extremely uncertain.
In Africa, affairs on the Congo, the rival claims of
explorers of different nationalities, and the proposed treaty
with Portugal recognizing old rights of theirs in that region,
have given rise to much contention, which may probably
lead to more decisive international action. Zululand is still
the scene of struggle and confusion. The Boer delegates
under President Kruger, who, as mentioned in our last
Summary, had come to this country to obtain modifications
in the Pretoria Convention, have succeeded to a large extent
in their efforts, but a British protectorate over Bechuanaland
is to be a condition of the revised Convention.
In the Australian Colonies further steps in the direction
of federation have been taken.
In the United States Mr. Blaine has been nominated as
Bepublican candidate for the Presidency, while Mr. Cleve-
land has been selected by the Democrats, and the autumn
elections are looked forward to with excited interest.
Prince Bismarck’s policy seems to be inspired by a
desire, whether sincere or purely politic, for a rapprochement
with France. In the latter country M. Ferry still remains
first Minister. The discussion of the proposed revision of
the constitution has aroused much feeling. The war with
China has been prosecuted in a somewhat undecided and
intermittent way. The capture of Bac-ninh in March was
followed in May by a provisional treaty between Li Hung
Ciiang and Captain Fournier, on behalf of the French.
PAGE
read a second time. The Bill has passed through Com-
mittee, substantially unchanged, Mr. Woodall’s clause in
favour of including women having been emphatically re-
jected, though supported by some leading men on the
Conservative Benches, and approved, in principle, by many
Liberals. Its third reading in the Lower House is now
imminent.
Among other measures, the London Municipality Bill
was, at last, introduced by Sir William Harcourt on
April 8th. It proposed to form a single municipality for
the whole of the metropolitan area, transferring thereto the
various functions at present exercised by the City Corpora-
tion and a variety of other bodies, excluding, however,
education, police, and poor law administration. But little
time, however, has yet been found for the consideration of
this Bill. Nor have other Governmental measures made
great advance. Mr. Chamberlain’s Merchant Shipping
Bill, introduced on 6th February, and having for its object
the prevention of over-insurance and the nefarious traffic
in unseaworthy ships, has been vehemently opposed by
shipowners. Strong efforts were made to refer it to a Select
Committee, and although Mr. Chamberlain moved the
second reading on 19th May, it has not yet passed that
stage in the Commons. Its prospects, and those of other
Bills, both ministerial and private, are by no means
encouraging.
Mr. Childers’s Budget, introduced on April 24th, shewed
only a small surplus of £113,000, and was not otherwise of
a striking or hope-inspiring character. His proposals for
the withdrawal of the light gold coinage and for giving
currency for a time to token ten-shilling pieces, excited
much adverse, and possibly in some degree prejudiced,
comment.
Ireland has perhaps been a less absorbing topic both in
the House and out of it, than in previous Sessions, but her
parliamentary champions have not shown themselves lack-
ing in powers of obstruction and abuse, whilst the dynamite
party, in the explosions at Victoria Station, St. James’s
Square, and Scotland Yard, have given painful proof of the
continuance of their evil activity.
At the close of last year the destruction of Hicks Pasha’s
army, and other evidences of the growing power of the
Mahdi had further complicated the already sufficiently
perplexing Egyptian Question. The British Government
had “ advised”—and advice in this case practically meant
prohibition—the Khedive not to attempt the reconquest
of the Soudan, but it was felt nevertheless that measures
must be taken to insure the safe withdrawal of the various
Egyptian garrisons in that vast and arid region. In
January the Government, urged thereto, as it appeared, by
clamorous appeals in the Press, despatched the celebrated
“ Chinese Gordon,” a man of the noblest character and
the most extraordinary powers, to arrange for the peaceful
retirement of these garrisons. He proceeded to Khartoum
alone, without either the presence or the prospect of mili-
tary support, was enthusiastically received by the people,
and soon gave proof of his remarkable personal influence,
which it was at first hoped would be equal to a peaceful
solution of the .Soudan difficulty, the extrication of the
garrisons from Khartoum and other towns, and of the
Government from a perplexing dilemma. These roseate
hopes were not destined to be realised. General Gordon
found it impossible to come to terms with the Mahdi,
1
PAGE
and his alternative plans, involving military aid and the
employment of the notorious slave-hunter Zebeiir Pasha,
failed to receive approval or support from the Government
at home. Practically alone and unaided, General Gordon,
in the defence of Khartoum against the hosts of the Mahdi,
which now, it is feared, closely invest it, has again given
proofs of his unshaken courage and unbounded resource.
Khartoum still holds out, but news therefrom has lately
been of an intermittent and somewhat doubtful character.
In the meanwhile, on the Bed Sea coast, Osman Digna,
a lieutenant of the Mahdi, had menaced Suakin and the
garrisons of Sinkat and Tokar, and defeated with great
slaughter an army of Egyptian and Nubian soldiery under
the leadership of Baker Pasha. General Graham, des-
patched with a British force to check Osman Digna,
defeated the Arabs at Teb and Tamasi in February and
March. The desirability of opening up the Suakin-Berber
route to Khartoum was urged upon the Government, but
that course was not decided on. General Graham, after his
two victories, was withdrawn, and Osman Digna, who had
fled, soon renewed his menacing movements in the neigh-
bourhood of the Bed Sea garrisons. The rebels are making
continuous attacks on Suakin, and Berber has fallen into
their hands. An expedition for the relief of Khartoum and
the rescue of General Gordon has been much talked of,
but no decided steps in that direction have yet been taken.
The financial difficulty in Egypt pressed for considera-
tion early in the year, and Lord Granville invited the
European Powers to a Conference thereon. Theffirst meeting
of this Conference is expected to be held immediately. On
the 23rd June a correspondence between the English and
French Foreign Offices, in which is sketched the outline of
a provisional “ Anglo-French Agreement ” on Egyptian
Afl'airs, was laid before the House, but its suggested ar-
rangements have not been very favourably received, and
moreover are dependent upon the outcome of the Conference
itself, which is still extremely uncertain.
In Africa, affairs on the Congo, the rival claims of
explorers of different nationalities, and the proposed treaty
with Portugal recognizing old rights of theirs in that region,
have given rise to much contention, which may probably
lead to more decisive international action. Zululand is still
the scene of struggle and confusion. The Boer delegates
under President Kruger, who, as mentioned in our last
Summary, had come to this country to obtain modifications
in the Pretoria Convention, have succeeded to a large extent
in their efforts, but a British protectorate over Bechuanaland
is to be a condition of the revised Convention.
In the Australian Colonies further steps in the direction
of federation have been taken.
In the United States Mr. Blaine has been nominated as
Bepublican candidate for the Presidency, while Mr. Cleve-
land has been selected by the Democrats, and the autumn
elections are looked forward to with excited interest.
Prince Bismarck’s policy seems to be inspired by a
desire, whether sincere or purely politic, for a rapprochement
with France. In the latter country M. Ferry still remains
first Minister. The discussion of the proposed revision of
the constitution has aroused much feeling. The war with
China has been prosecuted in a somewhat undecided and
intermittent way. The capture of Bac-ninh in March was
followed in May by a provisional treaty between Li Hung
Ciiang and Captain Fournier, on behalf of the French.