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Ireland, General Gordon and a New Political Party The first Boer War began in 1880. The Transvaal led by Paul Kruger rebelled against British rule. The Boers forced the British to the conference table. By the treaty of Pretoria Convention the Transvaal became self-governing. By 1885 Gladstone's Liberal Party was split. Lord Randolph Churchill suggested to Parnell that if the Conservatives were returned they would abolish the Coercion Act passed to stop up-risings in Ireland. The Irish vote swung behind the Tories. Gladstone went and Lord Salisbury became Prime Minister. He did not last long and Gladstone was returned. He changed his mind and became a campaigner for Home Rule for Ireland. He knew he could not persuade his party the Liberals and kept his ideas secret. This secret was leaked to the newspapers and two days later the whole country knew. He presented his Home Rule Bill to the House. It was thrown out and so was Gladstone. Salisbury was back. The Irish Question remained unanswered. General Gordon meanwhile was sent to Khartoum to rescue the garrisons there - he expected the Government to send a relief force. Gladstone's Cabinet dithered. Gordon held out for 10 months but shortly before the force finally arrived Gordon was killed. The British people held Gladstone responsible. The Sudan remained in rebel hands until General Kitchener was victorious at the Battle of Omdurman in 1898.
"The eye wandered over groups of statesmen, writers, orators, famous soldiers and sailors, ermine-clad judges, divines in rarely-worn vestments, Asiatic princes gleaming with jewels, forms and faces as fair as they were royal and noble, a bench crowded with Kings and the heirs of Kings. "The centre to which the gaze constantly returned as the reason and interpretation of the whole was the figure seated, solitary [still dressed in mourning for her husband], in all that sunshine of splendour, on her chair of state. On her account alone, the rest were there, whatever their degree. "They were met together to attest the judgement of Great Britain and the world that Queen Victoria had redeemed the pledge she accepted on that throne, beside the altar, half a century ago."
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