On Wednesday Mr. John Morley made an able speech at
a conference held at Leeds to oppose the policy of the Government in the Soudan. Mr. Morley, analysing the reasons given for the advance, said that the first object alleged was the defence of the Egyptian frontier, and then argued that the present frontier was essentially a good one. What was to be the new and improved frontier ? When asked, the Govern- ment answer :—" This is just what we cannot tell you. The good new frontier which we wish to substitute for the old bad one is to be the furthest point that we can reach until we meet a resistance that cannot be overcome by the financial and military resources at our disposal." That sounds a powerful point, but in reality it is only a verbal triumph for Mr. Morley. Mandism once spread like a flood over the whole Soudan, but there is good reason to believe that the flood has receded from a large portion of the country, and especially from the fertile province of Dongola. The Sirdar and his troops are being eent forward to see whether this is a fact. If, like the raven sent from the Ark, they find the waters still out, we shall wait a little longer. If, however, the flood of barbarism has really subsided, we shall reoccupy the land.
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