The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-10-02
Ismail Pacha Of Egypt.

Had providence assigned him to another
sphere than that of Viceroy of Egypt, he
would undoubtedly have made shrewd
cotton speculator at New Orleans, a leading
operator on Wall Street, great railroad
director and manipulation of stocks and
opera-houses conformity, as well as a specu-
lator in produce. For even as Viceroy Of
Egypt, in each and all of these roles he has
successfully figured; and in the magnitude
and profit of these operations pales our
lesser lights, who are consultations here.
If ever there was merchant-prince, Is
mail Pacha of Egypt is entitled to that de-
nomination, and the doctrine of '.Protec-
tion" has found in him its most efficient
and potential advocate. For being at once
ogriculturist, producer, exporter, law-ma-
ker, and controller of the railroad and wa
ter communication, he has been able to reg
ulate production, transport, and price ac-
cording to his own interest, and to reduce
monopoly to a mathematical certainty, to
the utter confusion of all theoretical free
traders in Egypt Thus, owning one
fourth of all the productive land in Egypt,
chiefly cotton and sugar" lands, and COM
manding the labor at his own price-or
none at all, if it so pleases him-he can
produce cheaper than any competition
Then the transit, whether by railroad or
canal, is under his control; and he could
and did, forestall the market-his products
ever having the preference in transmission,
those of his rivals being stopped in transit
by obsequious employees at a hint from
his IIighness. Furthermore he is the
owner of a large fleet of steam-vessels, and
can never have any difficulty in exporting
his produce, and can supply any place that
needs it. The taxation and duties levied
on common mortals, and all the other
nameless expenditures to facilitate ship
ment, are not imposed on the monarch Of
the country, whose goods go ON velvet al
ways; and he is above the laws which
hamper others.
So when it is explained that Ismail Pa
from Egygt, efectually the Merchant
Prince of the Period, his profits may be
imagined, but may not be accurately esti-
mated. An idea of the enormous harvest
he thus reaps may be formed by glance at
the immense development of Egyptian ex-
ports during his reign, of which he gets
the lions share. This increase is chiefly
owing to the impetus given to the produc-
ton and price of Egyptian cotton and rice,
due to the stoppage of the American sup
ply during the war, from 1861 to the pres
ent year. For the expectations of Egypt,
which in 1862 amounted to but 204, 000,0
Of francs in value, had attained to 445, 900, =
600 in 1865, showing an increase of more
than one million and half in four years
time-two of which belonged to the reign
of Said, and two to that of Ismail Pacha.
Of this large income the cotton alone con-
stituted in value 405, 600, 900 francs. The
importations of the country for the same
year QS63) amounted only to 134,00O,000
francs leaving 4 clear balance of trade in
favor of Egypt of $40, 600, 600 francs, equal
to about SS0,000,000, from this source
alone. The same rapid march has taken
place in population as in production and
revenue. Thus Alexandria, which, when
Said mounted the throne in 1854, number
ed a population of not more than SO, 1000,
of whom about &c, 900 only were Europeans,
in 1865 could boast at least 100000, of
whom 100000 We're reigners.--Harper's
Magazine.