Mr. J. Morley on Monday raised another debate on the
defence of Suakin, which ended in nothing, and was important only because it turned upon a suggestion repeatedly put forward that it would be possible to negotiate with the tribes around. That was the argument put forward by all serious assailants of the Government, and is not only reasonable, but probably true, the moment the tribes are free. Mr. Morley, who blows history, ought to know quite well that to negotiate pith fanatics while convinced that their cause is favoured by Heaven is simply impossible, that the dervishes are such fanatics, and that other Mussulman tribes of their own race cannot, till the dervishes are beaten, act as free agents. The tribes are not only afraid of the "Saints," but have a vague but harassing idea that they ought to be afraid of them, that they are traitors in not joining them, and that to adhere to infidels against such men when their banner is displayed, may be positively wicked. When the dervishes are beaten, then all is clear, because if their master had been the chosen Messenger of the Most High, they would not have been beaten. It is an odd condition of mind ; but Mr. Morley not only understands it, but could, we doubt not, produce at least three European analogies,—viz., the feeling of the later Crusaders, the feeling of Cromwell and his Ironsides, and the feeling of the majority —not all—of the Covenanters.
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