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97.
The opposition to the Sudan cumpaipn 1884-5.
There was a much greater Liberal outcry against a war in
the Sudan $ following the fall of Khartoum in February 1885, and
the Government's announcement that they intended to carry on
the campaign. The opposition was strong in apito of the
pressures of the Gordon cult and the emotional fooling that the
fall of Khartoum was a national humiliation. Unil definite
news of Gordon's death was received on 11th February, moat
Liberal ti. Ps, took a "rescue and retire" lines
(I)
but as
time wont on the "retire" aspect received the most emphasis.
A few Liberals such as E. Itarjoribanks F. P. for Berwickshire
and R. T. Reid t4, P, for Hereford, were prepared to approve of
occupation of the Sudan an a logical conse If once of
intervention in Egypt.
(2)
This approach was only really
convincing if the Hahdi seriously threatened invasion of
Egypt, and as time wont on this became less probable. Apart
from the desire to vonge Gordon$ which most Liberals
deprecated, a war i the Sudan could only be useful if it wore
intended to occupy the country permanently* and neither
Liberal statesmen nor Liberal supporters in the Country wanted to
(1) This was the line taken by Thomas Burt and the two Oldham
1Z. 1'se UU. J. fibbert and E. L. Stanley, - the Times, 7th
February i885, & firms e Daily Post
$ 10th February 1885.
(2) : cow l 16th February, 25th February-1885,