Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-12-17
AParIiument in Egypt.

A recent cable dispatch surprised us with
the news that the Egyptian Parliament had
been opened by the Viceroy, and a few days
later we were informed that the Egyptian
Council had eulogiZed the officers OF the
Egyptian army which is fighting against
the insurgents of Gambia. Thus, it seems,
Parliamentary rule is establishing itself
among the MOhammedans In the far East a
reform the importance of hich, ifit proves
success, can hardly be overestimated.
Nothing can be better calculated TO break
down the tanatical conservatism of the
Mohammedan world, with its more than
100,000,000 inhabitants, than the successful
working of modern Institutions in one OF
their own countries.
The land of the Pharaohs and Ptolemics
was well qualified to become the pioneer OF
constitutional reform among the adherents
of I>lam. Though dependency OF Tur-
key, it is comparatively the most pro-
gressive and most prosperous of the East
ern countries. The glories of the past have
never lost altogether their inspiriting in
fluence, and the residence in the country of
numerous scholars and merchants from the
more civilized portions of the world has
not failed to diffuse an interest In political
and social improvements. Alexandria has
grown with u rapidty not exceeded by any
city in Europe, and Is now one OF the first
commercial cities of the Old World, with
population of 100000; while the progress
of the Canal of SueZ has opened the ey es of
the Government and the people to the
highly advantageous position Of their
country.
The founder OF the ruling dynasty, Me-
hUmet Ali, an Albanian adventurer. who
was elevated to the post of Pasha of Egypt
in 1905, was known as an enlightened
and energetic reformer. He thoroughly
reorganiZed the army and navy and
the entire system of administration,
and would have achieved complete indie
pendence of Turkey but for the interference
OF the European Powers who were anxious
to avert the overthrow of the Ottoman EN-
pire. He died in 1S49. The fourth son of
Mehemet Said Pasha, who reigned from
1854 to 1863, carried out the enlightened
plans of his father, with some moditica-
tions of certain objectional features by
which they were defaced, and under his
auspices Egypt steadily advanced toward a
higher position among the nations. The
present ruler, Ismail Pasha, grandson of
MehemeG, and son of Ibrahim Pasha, the
celebrated soldier, is likewise friend of
reform. and has now crowned the work of
his predecessors by granting Conslitu-
tion. The fact of a Constitution having
been allowed to Egypt is, in itself, mat
ter of great curiosity; but what is still
more remarkable is its liberal basis. The
Viceroy, without any outside pressure,
grants, indirectly, universal suffrage, and
places the native Christians (the Copts) on
an equal footing with the Mussulmans-a
liberality which may well shame most of
the European Governments.
The present population of Egypt is esti-
mated at 5,000.000 of whom about 10000
are Copts, and $4,000 domiciled Europeans.
| Its commerce israpidly growing-the eX-
ports to Great Britain lone'amounting in
1864 to f19,000,00O. The weakness of all
the neighboring countries gives to the rul-
er OF Egypt an opportunity for building up
large empire, which energetic men like
Mehemet Ali and Said Pasha will, in the
course of time, not fail to turn to advantage.
-Neao York Tribune. ..