The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-09 00:00:00

THE EMPEROR ON ALGIERS.

The Emperor has addressed the following letter
to Marshal the Duke de Malakoff, Governor-
General of Algeria :
"Monsieur is Marechal,—The Senate will soon
undertake the examination of the general bases of
the constitution of Algeria; but awaiting its deli-
beration, I think it ot the utmost importance to put
an end to the uneasiness excited by so many dis-
cussions on Arab property. Good faith and our
interest, well understood, make this a duty.
" When the Restoration conquered Algiers it
promised the Arabs to respect their religion and
their property. 'lbis solemn engagement is still
binding on us, and I feel bound in honour to fulfil,
as I did for Abd-el-Kader, all that was great and
noble in the promises of the Governments which
preceded me.

"On the other hand, even if justice did not so
command, it seems to me indispensable for the tran-
quillity and prosperity of Algeria, to consolidate
property in the hands of those who hold it. What
hope, indeed, can there be for the pacification of a
country when nearly the whole population is under
constant apprehensions as to the tenure of what it
possesses ? How can prosperity be developed when
the greater part of the territory is struck with dis-
credit by the impossibility of selling or borrowing ?
How can the revenues of the State be augmented
when the value of the Arab real property, which
alone pays taxes, is constantly diminishing ?
"Let us state the facts. In Algeria there are
three millions of Arabs, and 200,000 Europeans, of
whom 120,000 are French. Of an area of about
2,900,000 hectares, composing the Tell, two millions
are cultivated by the natives. The available domain
of the State is 2,690,000 hectares, of which 890,000
are adapted for cultivation, and 1,800,000 are
covered with forests ; lastly, 420,000 hectares have
been granted to European colonisation ; the rest
consists of marshes, lakes, rivers, commons, and
heaths. Out of the 420,000 hectares granted to
colonists, a great portion has been either resold or
let to Arabs by the grantees, and the rest is far
from being all rendered productive. Thole
these figures are only`approximative, it must le
acknowledged that, notwithstanding the laudable
energy of the colonists and the progress realisee•
the efforts of the Europeans are exercised as Set
over a very small extent, and that it will certainly
be long before land is wanting to their activity.
4. In presence of these results, it is impossible to
admit the utility of cautoning the natives, that is
to say, of taking a certain portion of their lands to
extend the area of civilisation.

"The project of cantonment submitted to the
Council of State has therefore been withdrgwo by
unanimous consent. It is now necessary to do more
—ro convince the Arabs that we have not come to
Algeria to oppress and despoil them but to bring
them the benefits of civilisation. Now, the first
condition of civilised society is respect for every
man's rights.

ri It will, perhaps, be objected that the Arabs
have no rights. The Sultan was formerly sole pro-
prietor of the soil, and conquest transferred it to us
with the same title. What ! Should the State avail
itself of the obsolete principles of Mahometaniera
to despoil the old possessors of the soil, and, in st
laud become French, should it invoke the despotic
rights of the Grand Turk ! Such a pretension is
exorbitant ; and were it to be enforced, it would be
necessary to drive back the whole Arab population
into the desert, and inflict on it the fate of the
Ltdians of North America, a measure impossible and
inhuman.
" Let us, therefore, endeavour by every means t°
conciliate that intelligent, proud, warlike, and agri-
cultural race. The law of 1851 consecrated the
rights of property and occupation existing at the
time of the conquest, but the occupation being ill
defined, remained uncertain. The time is net
come to remedy this precarious situation. The ter-
ritory of the tribes being once determined, it will
be divided into douares, which will hereafter admit
the prudent initiative of the administration to in'

troduce the principle of individual property.
Having become absolute owners of their land, the
natives will be able to dispose of it as they please,

and from the multiplicity of transactions, there
will arise between them and the colonists daily re'
lations, more efficacious in bringing them to adopt

our civilisation than all coercive measures.

"There is a vast extent of land in Africa. TO
resources to bs developed are numerous enough for
every one to find room and give full scope to hiB
industry, according to his nature, manners, and
wants.
"To the natives, the breeding of horses and