Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-17

The existing government of Egypt began
in Mohammed Ali, who assumed the COVER
norship in 1906. The first act of his reign
was the complete determination ofthe Name
| luke power, which had oppressed the people
since 4. D. Ill. He next organized and
| disciplined an army and a feet after which
he bestowed much attention upon the more
| substantial elements Of strength, such as the
natural wealth of the country. Agriculture
was patronized the cultivation of sugar cane,
indigo and cotton was introduced, canals
were dug, and everything promised hope
ful future. But here came in the evil effects
| of the government. Whatever may have
been the good intentions of the Governor,
the ultimate aims were selfaggrandizement
and afiluence. Instead of being a govern
ment for the general welfare of its subjects,
it was nothing more than a gigantic system
of labor for the enrichment of the ruling
power. The people, their lives and fortunes
were all sub,ervient to the will of
single man. The Governor built numerous
manufactures in different parts of the coun-
try, but allowed no competition, and forced
the natives to work in them as slaves. But
ruinous as this was, the tyranny imposed
upon the agricultural population was still
more oppressive. By certain law the
whole produce of the labors of this class was
required to be sold to the Governor at a GER
tain price, and the same parties were obliged,
for their own consumption, to buy back again
the same supplies from the government de-
pots, and at an advanced rate. \ system of
commerce was inaugurated, but only for the
benefit of the Governor. Schools were
founded, certain number of young Egyp-
tians were instructed in an English educa-
ton, telegraphs were built, the country was
newly divided, 4 civil law was pronounced
and other progressive measures were adopted,
and though the benefits accrued to the reign
ing power the results were not without some
good TO the people.
In addition to his internal labors, Moham-
med Ali also reaped no small amount Of
military glory. An army, commanded by
his adopted son, Ibrahim Pasha, in 1916,
conquered Arabia, Nubia, SEMINAR and Kor-
dofan, and annexed them to Egypt as PROV
inces. Afterwards the Egyptian forces as
sisted the Porte against Greece. Mohammed
Ali next turned his arms against the Porte
himself, undertaking to conquer Syria and
to build up a new empire, of which Egypt
should be the centre. In 1881 the Egyptians
had triumphed over the Turks, and the plans
Of the in.urgent Governor were about con-
summated, when the interference of Euro
pean powers compelled him to allegiance,
and the treaty of Kintahia limited Moham-
med Ali merely to the Vice Regency Of Syria.
Inthe following year the war broke out afresh,
and the Turks we're again conquered; the Eu-
ropean powers again interposed, and restored
the Porte to his lost ascendency. The treaty
which followed is at present the arrange
ment which exists between Egypt and the
Porte. IL was stipulated Inat 10 the niaI,
descendants of Mohammed Ali-the first
born enjoying the first right-the hereditary
government Of Egypt and the countries Of
the Upper Nile is secured, with the title Of
Niccroy but with no prerogative beyond
the other Niziers of the kingdom. In all
matters Of treaties, administrative law and
increase OF taxation the consent of the Sui
tan Is necessary. Annually the Viceroy is re-
quired topay tribute to the Porte. Eighteen
thousand troops is the maximum force per-
mitted, and the Niceroy toappoint his officers
up to the rank of colonel while the Sultan
chooses the commanders.
After Mohammed Ali was brought to this
final settlement he turned his whole attention
10 affairs within his kingdom, but with very
little benefit to his subjects. In lS47 lbra-
him Pasha succeeded to the vice royal Office
but died -ithin a few months after, when
Abbas Pasha succeeded, but also died soon
after, and SAID Pasha assumed the govern
mcnt. His successor was Ismail Pasha, the
present Niceroy. This prince is also posses
sed of liberal views and is gifted with a
spirit of enterprise far in excess of even the
progressive tendency Of his predecessors.
1t was during the rule Of the last two
Niceroys that the present railroad system
was inaugurated and carried out No radical
reform, however, in the government and in
ternal administration may be looked for so
long as the weak and rotten system of Turkey
is at the head, controlling and checking
every effort at progress.
The wealth of Egypt is exclusively agri-
cultural. The country is nothing more than
an extensive oasis, surrounded by deserts
The valley of the Nile included in Egypt
stretches from the Mediterranean Sea TO the
first cataract, a distance of five hundred and
fifty miles from north to south, between the
sea and Cairo a width OF fifty miles, and
south of the latter point not over FIVE miles
on an average. Egypt has NJ other river
than the Nile, and the wonderful fertility Of
its banks is attributable TO the annual inun-
dations which overflow the banks and drop
upon the surface the rich sediment brought