DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17758#0322
Vol. LXXXVIIL] INTRODUCTION. [January to Junk, 1885.
PAGE
Supplementary Estimates for 1884-85 having been un-
usually heavy. The state of the revenue was not satis-
factory, and Mr. Childers in these discouraging circum-
stances had to face and provide for an estimated expenditure
for the current year of £100,000,000. This included the
Vote of Credit of £11,000,000 demanded by Mr. Glad-
stone in view of the complications with Russia, which
will presently be referred to.
Mr. Childers’ plans for meeting this financial diffi-
culty, involving as they did an eightpenny Income Tax,
and an equalization of the “ death duties, so as to levy
on land an amount proportioned to that levied on personal
property,” were not well received by the House. The
Tories in particular vigorously denounced the proposed
addition to the charges on land in the absence of long
promised relief to local taxation.
On the 8th June, when the Ohanceller of the Exchequer
moved the second reading of the Budget Bill, Sir Michael
Hicks-Beach moved an amendment. The division resulted
in a defeat of the Government in a thin House by 12 votes
(252 to 264), a result which it was commonly thought the
Ministers had made no very strenuous efforts to avoid. Some
sixty Ministeralists were absent, and the Parnellites com-
bined with the Conservatives. The House adjourned, and
ihe Ministry resigned. Lord Salisbury was summoned to
Balmoral, and ultimately formed an Administration.
Previous to this, however, the Egyptian Question had
assumed a condition of fresh complication. The announce-
ment early in February of the capture of Khartoum by the
Mahdi and the death of General Gordon, coming as it did
after tidings of that hero’s safety had gladdened the heart
of Mr. Punch, and of the public (see the Cartoon “At
Last,” p. 67), roused the bitter grief and anger of the
country. Eighth' or wrongly it was held by many that
ministerial vacillation, in delaying the Relief Expedition,
had led to the sacrifice of the heroic defender of Khartoum.
The Government announced their resolve to overthrow the
Mahdi at Khartoum, to renew operations against Osman
Digna, and to make a railway from Suakin to Berber pre-
paratory7 to a campaign in the autumn. These plans, how-
ever, were ultimately abandoned.
The Opposition did not, of course, fail to take advantage
of the embarrassments of the Government and of the strong
feeling excited in the country by the news of General
Gordon’s death and the failure of the Expedition. On
the 23rd February, Sir STAFFORD Northoote, in the
Commons, moved a Vote of Censure on the Egyptian
policy of the Government. Mr. John Morley moved an
Amendment which, whilst “ waiving any judgment on the
policy of the Government,” expressed regret at the “ decision
to continue the conflict with the Mahdi” (Times Register
of Events). The Conservatives advocated an active prose-
cution of the Egyptian campaign, and declared that the
risks and sacrifices which the Government had encountered,
and appeared still ready to encounter, could only be justified
by a distinct recognition of our responsibility for Egypt,
“ and those portions of the Soudan which are necessary to
its security.” Mr. Gladstone’s party was divided on the
question; it had “a forward and a backward voice,” the
Radicals, for the most part, advocating the earliest possible
withdrawal from Egypt, whilst Mr. Goschen and others
denounced this as “ a policy of scuttle.” The result of
this difference of opinion was seen when, after four nights’
PAGE
keen debate, the division was taken on Sir Stafford
Northoote’s motion, the Government securing only a
narrow majority of 14 (302 votes against 288), whilst 112
of those who voted against the Yote of Censure, showed
their dissatisfaction from their own point of view with the
Ministerial policy by voting for Mr. Morley’s Amendment,
which virtually censured the Government for its resolve
to prosecute the campaign in Egypt.
The Convention concluded with the Great Powers for the
settlement of the Egyptian financial difficulties, by a loan of
£9,000,000 to be issued on an international guarantee, and
the suspension for two years of the Law of Liquidation,
although violently opposed in the House, was ultimately
upheld by a vote of 294 against 246. But the issue of the
loan was delayed until after the change of Ministry.
The Afghan controversy added to the difficulties of the
Government and the dissatisfaction of the country7. Vexa-
tious delays on the side of Russia as regards the delimita-
tion of the frontier culminated in the Russians advancing a
claim to Penjdeh, which the English Government disputed.
Mr. Gladstone, in a memorable speech in the House on the
27th April, in moving for a Yote of Credit of £11,000,000,
said that England was bound in honour to the Ameer, that
he held Russia to her promise, protested against the breach
of “ The Sacred Covenant,” and declared that the country,
until right was done, would not consent “ to close the book
and say we will look into it no more.” (See Cartoon “ The
Broken Covenant,” p. 223.) Before the money was voted,
however, the Government came to an arrangement with
Russia : it was understood that the Ameer was willing to
let Russia take Penjdeh on condition of her surrendering
Zulfikar to him. The King of Denmark was selected to
arbitrate between Russia and England as to the right inter-
pretation of the “Sacred Covenant,” but that question
lapsed in silence, and the award was never made. (See
Cartoon “ Our Protean Premier,” p. 235.)
The issue of certain controversies with Germany can
hardly be said to have strengthened the position of the
Government. Prince Bismarck, in pursuance of his policy
of Colonial expansion, made certain acquisitions near
Angra Pequena and Wallfisch Bay, and also in New
Guinea and elsewhere, and the objections raised by Lord
Derby and Lord Granville were practically ineffective
in most of these cases, though in the questions of St. Lucia
Bay, and of the new Congo State, they acted with more
vigour and success in the assertion of British claims.
France, early7 in the year, had considerable trouble in
Tonquin, the Chinese army defeating General Nidgrier and
recapturing Lang Son. This led to angry dissatisfaction at
home. M. Ferry was driven from power, and was suc-
ceeded by7 M. Brisson, M. de Freycinet becoming Minister
for Foreign Affairs.
In America, under the Presidency of Mr. Cleveland,
political affairs seem to have been on the whole conducted
to the satisfaction of the better part of the community;
official corruption appears to have been minimised, and
commercial prosperity has to some extent revived.
One of the pleasantest incidents of the year has been
the spontaneous offers of assistance made to us during the
Egyptian and Russian difficulties by Canada (see “ Kith
and Kin,” p. 87) and our Colonies. (See Cartoon, “ Mv
Boys ! ” p. 103.) A contingent from New South Wales
actually served with the colours in Egypt. In India also,
PAGE
Supplementary Estimates for 1884-85 having been un-
usually heavy. The state of the revenue was not satis-
factory, and Mr. Childers in these discouraging circum-
stances had to face and provide for an estimated expenditure
for the current year of £100,000,000. This included the
Vote of Credit of £11,000,000 demanded by Mr. Glad-
stone in view of the complications with Russia, which
will presently be referred to.
Mr. Childers’ plans for meeting this financial diffi-
culty, involving as they did an eightpenny Income Tax,
and an equalization of the “ death duties, so as to levy
on land an amount proportioned to that levied on personal
property,” were not well received by the House. The
Tories in particular vigorously denounced the proposed
addition to the charges on land in the absence of long
promised relief to local taxation.
On the 8th June, when the Ohanceller of the Exchequer
moved the second reading of the Budget Bill, Sir Michael
Hicks-Beach moved an amendment. The division resulted
in a defeat of the Government in a thin House by 12 votes
(252 to 264), a result which it was commonly thought the
Ministers had made no very strenuous efforts to avoid. Some
sixty Ministeralists were absent, and the Parnellites com-
bined with the Conservatives. The House adjourned, and
ihe Ministry resigned. Lord Salisbury was summoned to
Balmoral, and ultimately formed an Administration.
Previous to this, however, the Egyptian Question had
assumed a condition of fresh complication. The announce-
ment early in February of the capture of Khartoum by the
Mahdi and the death of General Gordon, coming as it did
after tidings of that hero’s safety had gladdened the heart
of Mr. Punch, and of the public (see the Cartoon “At
Last,” p. 67), roused the bitter grief and anger of the
country. Eighth' or wrongly it was held by many that
ministerial vacillation, in delaying the Relief Expedition,
had led to the sacrifice of the heroic defender of Khartoum.
The Government announced their resolve to overthrow the
Mahdi at Khartoum, to renew operations against Osman
Digna, and to make a railway from Suakin to Berber pre-
paratory7 to a campaign in the autumn. These plans, how-
ever, were ultimately abandoned.
The Opposition did not, of course, fail to take advantage
of the embarrassments of the Government and of the strong
feeling excited in the country by the news of General
Gordon’s death and the failure of the Expedition. On
the 23rd February, Sir STAFFORD Northoote, in the
Commons, moved a Vote of Censure on the Egyptian
policy of the Government. Mr. John Morley moved an
Amendment which, whilst “ waiving any judgment on the
policy of the Government,” expressed regret at the “ decision
to continue the conflict with the Mahdi” (Times Register
of Events). The Conservatives advocated an active prose-
cution of the Egyptian campaign, and declared that the
risks and sacrifices which the Government had encountered,
and appeared still ready to encounter, could only be justified
by a distinct recognition of our responsibility for Egypt,
“ and those portions of the Soudan which are necessary to
its security.” Mr. Gladstone’s party was divided on the
question; it had “a forward and a backward voice,” the
Radicals, for the most part, advocating the earliest possible
withdrawal from Egypt, whilst Mr. Goschen and others
denounced this as “ a policy of scuttle.” The result of
this difference of opinion was seen when, after four nights’
PAGE
keen debate, the division was taken on Sir Stafford
Northoote’s motion, the Government securing only a
narrow majority of 14 (302 votes against 288), whilst 112
of those who voted against the Yote of Censure, showed
their dissatisfaction from their own point of view with the
Ministerial policy by voting for Mr. Morley’s Amendment,
which virtually censured the Government for its resolve
to prosecute the campaign in Egypt.
The Convention concluded with the Great Powers for the
settlement of the Egyptian financial difficulties, by a loan of
£9,000,000 to be issued on an international guarantee, and
the suspension for two years of the Law of Liquidation,
although violently opposed in the House, was ultimately
upheld by a vote of 294 against 246. But the issue of the
loan was delayed until after the change of Ministry.
The Afghan controversy added to the difficulties of the
Government and the dissatisfaction of the country7. Vexa-
tious delays on the side of Russia as regards the delimita-
tion of the frontier culminated in the Russians advancing a
claim to Penjdeh, which the English Government disputed.
Mr. Gladstone, in a memorable speech in the House on the
27th April, in moving for a Yote of Credit of £11,000,000,
said that England was bound in honour to the Ameer, that
he held Russia to her promise, protested against the breach
of “ The Sacred Covenant,” and declared that the country,
until right was done, would not consent “ to close the book
and say we will look into it no more.” (See Cartoon “ The
Broken Covenant,” p. 223.) Before the money was voted,
however, the Government came to an arrangement with
Russia : it was understood that the Ameer was willing to
let Russia take Penjdeh on condition of her surrendering
Zulfikar to him. The King of Denmark was selected to
arbitrate between Russia and England as to the right inter-
pretation of the “Sacred Covenant,” but that question
lapsed in silence, and the award was never made. (See
Cartoon “ Our Protean Premier,” p. 235.)
The issue of certain controversies with Germany can
hardly be said to have strengthened the position of the
Government. Prince Bismarck, in pursuance of his policy
of Colonial expansion, made certain acquisitions near
Angra Pequena and Wallfisch Bay, and also in New
Guinea and elsewhere, and the objections raised by Lord
Derby and Lord Granville were practically ineffective
in most of these cases, though in the questions of St. Lucia
Bay, and of the new Congo State, they acted with more
vigour and success in the assertion of British claims.
France, early7 in the year, had considerable trouble in
Tonquin, the Chinese army defeating General Nidgrier and
recapturing Lang Son. This led to angry dissatisfaction at
home. M. Ferry was driven from power, and was suc-
ceeded by7 M. Brisson, M. de Freycinet becoming Minister
for Foreign Affairs.
In America, under the Presidency of Mr. Cleveland,
political affairs seem to have been on the whole conducted
to the satisfaction of the better part of the community;
official corruption appears to have been minimised, and
commercial prosperity has to some extent revived.
One of the pleasantest incidents of the year has been
the spontaneous offers of assistance made to us during the
Egyptian and Russian difficulties by Canada (see “ Kith
and Kin,” p. 87) and our Colonies. (See Cartoon, “ Mv
Boys ! ” p. 103.) A contingent from New South Wales
actually served with the colours in Egypt. In India also,