Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-01-12
"Iam dying, Egypt, dying"


exclaim in the language of LYTLEs
poem:
liam dying, Egypt dying"
~ Yes, dying under our governmental
policy of protecting those of its rivals in
Egypt, India and Brazil. Selling the
occasion of our war, these countries
rushed into the cotton growing business
and preserved manufacturing Europe
from the horrors of cotton famine.
They did more. They developed fact
before that time in dispute, that the
Z monopoly Of cotton could be wrenched
from this country. And it is beyond dis
pute now, that the scepter has departed
from us. It's a matter of fact that the
cotton operations of the world can be
carried On without a solitary pound
from the fields Of the South. But, as
ifatn icomplete the triumph of other
countries over our own, Congress
leyies tax on home cotton. 1t
operates as protection to all rivals, by
discouraging the business here and fright
ening capital into other pursuits. 1t is
the general sentiment of planters that
they cannot grow cotton at twenty-five
cents per pound and pay the Government
fifteen dollars ON the bale. They have
tried it and found it to be losing bust
ness. And besides, there is no guarantee
that the price will not descend below that
figure.
Now, mark the difference in the policy
OF this country and that of Egypt. The
crop of that country for 1866, it is esti.
mated, will yield one hundred million
dollars. 1t is said that the present Pasha
foreseeing the advantages to be derived
from our recent troubles, wisely pre-
pared to seize the opportunity, and in
troduced on his own very large domains,
improved farming implements, machin-
cry, ETC., and by this means stimulated
the whole people to increased activity in
the cultivation of the soil is stated
that he borrowed from the Anglo-Egyp-
tan Bank over six millions of dollars
for the purpose. and that his purpose is
to develop the great resources of that
country, to productive capacity hereto
fore unknown. 1t must occur to every
sensible man that the ruler Of that coun-
try is either wiser, or less malignant
than those who control our fortunes.
The vast commercial power, a
recent writer observes, resulting from
the growth Of this great staple, is to be
given up that the laborer may nominally
possess political privileges, that they are
incaple to enjoy or to exercise with
safety to the country. The great bot
toms of the Mississippi, now flooded
by the destruction of the leyees during
the war, are permitted to become an i'm
mense dismal swamp again and thus a
large area Of country, unsurpassed for
productive capacity, and capable beyond
any agricultural region on the face of the
earth to contributeto the public revenues,
is to be abandoned 70 its original desola-
ton. Egypt, Brazil, and the Indies, are
to be permitted to seize from the United
States the greatest known prize 70 indus
try and commerce, whilst the American
Congress seeks in vain for tokens that
g the war is not over, and labors 10 per-
petuate the power of a party. The in
terests Of this great country, material
and political, and Of the Union itself,
are put to hazard, that the negro, con-
fessedly unqualified to exercise power,
may enjoy The right Of suffrage.