Mr. Balfour's defence of Lord Kitchener was excellent both in
matter and manner. He dwelt upon the necessity of making the overthrow of Mandism final, and on the danger to which our officers and troops would have been exposed by a recrudescence of fanaticism. There were still large bodies of Dervishes in the Soudan, and Lord Kitchener believed that if he did not take the course he did take, these tribes, instead of throwing in their lot with us, would have continued to follow Mandism. Mandism rested on two things,—on the strength of - the Khalifa's military forces, and on the superstitious belief in the supernatural character of the prophet. Lord Kitchener destroyed the first foundation of Mandism in battle, the second by his action in regard to the Mandi's remains. The defence could not be better put. Political considerations called for the destruction of the Mandi's remains, and as that destruction involved no act of cruelty or barbarity to any living person, it was perfectly right and just to take the necessary action. In the end 51 Members voted with Mr. Morley, and 393 against,—a majority of 342. Lord Kitchener may rest assured that in the country the proportion of persons who judge his action as Mr. Morley judges it is even smaller than in the House of Commons.
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