IsiXhosa Intellectual Traditions (IsiXIT) Digital Archive

GENERAL GORDON. FOR the time being it is some- what difficult to write on any other subject than the fall of Khar- toum which, resulting in the death of General GORDON, bids fair to find a place as prominent as that of any other event of its kind in ancient or modern history. The unique character, and the eminent and checkered career of the British officer who has perished in the disastrous fall of the ancient city— have made him an interesting and curious study to millions of people throughout the civilized world. It beseems us, therefore, both in justice to our native readers and to the claims of the noble and wonder- ful life that has closed, that we should not be absolutely mute on this occasion. There have been brilliant military and diplomatic achievements by great and good men which, as exponents of native opinion, it would savour of the superfluous for us to notice at any considerable length but General GORDON'S life, when viewed from a correct stand-point, cannot be con- sidered as exclusively the property (if any life can ever be so viewed) of the English or any European race. That he served his sovereign and his race well at Crimea and in Asia is incontestable, and certainly his exploits in China at the head of the little band which won for itself the truly enviable distinction of the ' Ever Victorious Army,' will not fail to arouse the wonder and ad- miration of the students of history for all time ; but savage Africa is the field in which he has been offered the chance to display the exceptional talents that have as- tonished the world. The inhuman traffic in slaves that was rampant in the Upper Nile was being carried to such lengths that civilization had to lift up her hands in holy horror against it, and the KHEDIVE was moved at all events to affect an earnestness to scatter the abominable traffic to the winds. Sir SAMUEL BAKER was in 18G9 appointed Governor-General of this part of the Egyptian possessions, and at the termination of his term of office, in 1873, he had succeeded in giving it but a blow. It was, however, reserved for GORDON PASHA, who succeeded him, 'to smash' the back of the slave trade in those regions, and though it may, with truth, be said that that nefarious traffic is still extant, it is equally true that it needed but the constant glare of civilization to stop it. When we take into account the manner in which he, alone and single-handed, affected this gigantic task we can but only say he succeeded by and through the resolution which ap- pears in one of his letters from the sphere of his labours—' I will do ' it, for I value my life but as ' naught, and should only leave ' much weariness for perfect peace.' It is not for us to tell the story of his Government of the Soudan— which is the story of misery. It is enough to say it was characterized by the principles which alone can result in success in the Government of savage races—the wining of the confidence of the people and dealing firmly and justly with the proud and strong. He returned from the Soudan in 1879 and in 1881 he accepted an appointment as Private Secretary or virtual Prime Minister, under Lord RIPON who was leaving England as Viceroy of India. Find- ing that he would be considerably fettered in speedily cleansing the India administration of much of the debris that had accumulated for years, and which other men, not possessing his genius, deemed would be removed by time and patience, he resigned his appointment on landing at Bombay. It was not long before he was invited to China where his influence saved that country from a struggle with Russia which promised to be calamitous to the interests of commerce and civi- lization. He subsequently accepted the command of the Colonial Forces with a single eye to establishing a good understanding between the Government of this Colony and the Basutos then in arms against the former, and to suggest a modus vivendi between the Government and the natives in general. But the ministry of the day anxious to have a feather in its cap would not allow the superior talents of General GORDON to have free scope and to unravel the tangled skein of native policy. Of course, the General find- ing he had to work with a rope round , his neck, with his wonted prompti- . tude resigned his position, and with all haste left the Colony to stew in its own broth. Troubles having been brewing in Upper Egypt he was again sent to the Soudan—this time not to return again. Some are already blaming Mr. GLADSTONE | for this untoward event, but this can only be compared to the bar- barous practice of the raw natives, who must have someone smelt out for the death of a person. The English Ministry has done its duty | by the late gallant officer who had every reason to believe that Khartoum could hold out for years ; j but 'inevitable treason' is 'in- evitable treason.'