Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

12 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

I -I THE FATE OF GENERAL GORDON.!…

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

THE FATE OF GENERAL GORDON. THE last ten days have been occupied by all lovers of their country and well-wishers for the world's progress in civilization and general advancement, in regretting the sad turn which in the upper valley of the Nile have tak- The fall of Khartoum, which was publicly uiiiuunced on February 5th, and the consequent uncertainty which prevailed for nearly a week afterwards with regard to the fate of General GORDON, have 0 had a most depressing, and to some extent bewildering influence on the minds of nearly all. That uncertainty has now been dis- polled, and it is sad to reflect that only the memory of past actions is all that is left of that great and noble man. There can be little doubt that he perished through the treachery of the race whom he had wished and striven to benefit, and so even the most sanguine and the most hopeful feel them- selves compelled to admit that the gallant soldier, the Christian hero, and the chival- rous warlior has fought his last fight, has finished his earthly course, and has passed away to that land where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest. But he has died in his harness, and is regret- ted as few men are. In that far-off land, where science had its birth, religion its home, and superstition its cradle, he sleeps the sleep of the dead. It may be that as yet he lies in no henoured grave, but what does that matter ? He is enshrouded in the hearts of millions. In the hearts of millions in every country, of every continent, for in the heart of every one who can esteem loyalty, who can appreciate devotion, and who can admire such bravery and valour as the world has rarely seen, there is his memory enshrouded, and the cenotaphs of kings, marble though they may be, and surroanded though they may be with all the pomp of wealth and the glitter of a royal pageantry, are as nothing when compared with a manly heart which beats in a form that is animated by a spirit which is the direct reflex of its CILEATOR. In sadness and in sorrow do we write, for a great man has fallen, and a bitter reverse has obstructed the previous glorious progress of the British I army through the land of the PHAROAHS. And it is well for humanity that at times it should suffer. There is no crown where there is no cross, and it is from the trials and mis- fortunes of the present that a new vigour and an enhanced strength is gathered which enable man to encounter and to triumph over the difficulties and the trials of the future. So not all in sorrow 1st us remain, but Jet us as a nation try to realize our position and to use our best endeavours to retrieve the past, to make the best of the present, and to pro- vide as well as we can for the future. Each day as it passes brings us further details of this most unwelcome compaign. When it became known to Englishmen that! that part of Africa known as the Soudan, and which was nominally at least under the government of the KHEDIVE, was in a state of rebellion, and that the garrisons of Egyptian | soldiers stationed in the various fortified towns were in extreme danger, a cry arose through the length and breadth of the land that England ought to attempt to rescue the soldiers and pacify the country. A consensus of opinion pointed out General GORDON as the most fitting person to ente" into negotia- tions with the MARDI, the head of the rebels. The English Government then sent out GORDON on a purely pacific mission, but after many vain endeavours on the part of this wonderful man for a peaceful solution of the difficulty, the MAHDI rejected all his offers and returned all his presents. GORDON then applied for Turkish troops, for the appoint- ment of ZEDERR PASHA as governor of the Soudan, and for English troops to smash the MAIIDI. All these applications were refused by Lord GBANVILLE, upon which GORDON sent that memorable despatch throwing on the Government the indelible disgrace of abandoning the besieged garrisons. Thus compelled tno lCnn"lish Government sent out a relief force under Lord WOLSELEY, and the nation has anxiously followed each portion of it in its difficult and dangerous route towards Khartoum, where GORDON, who bad defeated the MAHDI'S forces, had established himself. Nearly every one will be familiar with the events of the last few days. How high was the expectation and hope that each succeeding day would bring the welcome news that our faithful and willing troops had reached that long-looked-for city at the junction of the Blue and White Niles, and that our coura- geous countryman had walked out of the beleaguered fortress, accompanied by those trusted adherents—men, women, and children —whom, even to save his own life, he would not desert. But alas! when our advanced guard, hoping to reach Khartoum in time to 0 wish the brave General the good old English wish of many happy returns of his birth- day," came near the longed-for city, no Egyptian ensign could be seeu flying from the palace, no friendly forms were visible, but the streets and plains were observed to be crowded with dervishes with flaunting ban- ners. The steamers which had gone so often up and down the great river with cheery, messages from the besieged to the rescuers were seen lying on the banks, surrounded by crowds of rebels. Everything confirmed the sad story of treachery on the part of oue of the trusted ollicers of the garrison, and ilie harrowing news li. s now reached us of the r.ithless massacre of noble men and helpless women and children. It would bo a miracle if in this melee the brave inspirer of all this resistance should have been spared, but of this there is no hope. There remains no aliernative now but to use all the resources of this great nation at whatever cost to overthrow the MAIIDI and subdue his adherence. Our material interests, as well as the interests of civilizatioa, demand this, and willingly or unwillingly we must make these'half-barbarians to knew that Eng- land ran and will avenge the cruel deeds done to her OO'JS, even though they be com- mitted on the burning sanus of Africa.

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RHYL PETTY SESSIONS.

"PLEASANT EVENINGS."

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ST. ASAPH DEBATING SOCIETY.

__ FOOTBALL NOTES.

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WELSH BREVITIES.

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