Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-06-16
Consul General Butler.
From tbo N " Tndanondanf Tuna lkth


The following shocking account of official
misconduct calls for the immediate attention of
our government. 1t is written from Alexandria
by prominent American missionary in Egypt.
He is well known TO many of the Christian
people of this country and Europe, aud most
kindly remembered by his brother soldiers of
our late war. To those who know him these
facts will come as the statement Of a man of
cool, clear judgment and superior discrimina-
ton. Can our government afford TO continue in
office man against whom such shameful con-
duct can be proved2 Rev. Mr.. Strang writes:
Knowing that the people, whether we wish
it or not, intimately associate the American
mission with the American consulate YOU NAV
form some idea of how deeply we are interested
in having a respectable consul general one
who shall make the name American honorable
IN this land; not despiSed as II is to-day in the
chief towns of Egypt through the misconduct of
Colonel George H. Butler, our present consul
general. 1t would make this letter too long 10
tell you in detail how he has accomplished so
much in one year; but you can afford to read a
few of the items. 1t may not be amss to state
TO you that when he first came he was polite
enough to the members of the mission; that l.
with others, was invited 70 his fourth of July
reception, was pleased with it and wrote favor
able account of it TO one of our church papers
So favorable was the impression produced at
first, that when we heard of scandals connected
with his Office we took for granted he was i'm
posed upon by men whose language he did not
understand, and that the only thing necessary
TO secure reform was TO inform him of the
abuses.
every shortly after Mr.. Buffers advent in
| Egypt the consular agents in the various towns
received notices informing them that their offices
| had expired with that of the consul general by
| whom they were appointed. AS their official po-
| sition secured them certain rank and privileges
| and caused them to be heartily envied by their
less fortunate neighbors, they were panic struck,
| and several of them FASTENED to Alexandria to
| beg renewal of their appointments Coming
| here, they were not able to converse with him
without an interpreter, and generally they had
| little opportunity to converse with him at all.
| They were met in the office by an Arab named
| Hassan and wandering Jew named Strologo.
| The former, who speaks several languages, told
| them that the latter was Mr., Buffers confiden-
| tial agent; that he had bought the consulate
general for Mr.. Butler in America, and would
now attend to retailing the agencies in Egypt.
The retail prices ranged from $500 to $500;
and they We're told that on payment of these
sums to MIR. Strologo he would give them re-
ceipt which they could exchange within two
days for proper certificate of office.
f'These things were reported to Col. Butler
in letter signed by every male member of the
mission then in Egypt. l was the bearer of
the letter. He gave it respectful attention and
soon after pleased us by setting Mr.. Strologo
aside. He assured us he was ready TO appoint
men recommended by the missionaries, and that
this members of the mission went again and
again with men in whose appointment they felt
friendly interest; but all action was delayed on
some frivolous preteXt till they made up their
minds to the Swindle dictated by MIR. Strologo.
Then the applicant went, with an Arab inter-
prefer only, and finished business at one setting.
Only few weeks ago. according TO paragraph
| saw in the local papers, Mr.. Felix Walmass,
worthy old man, a gentleman and scholar,
was set out OF the vice consulate in Cairo, and
his successor is this infamous A. ID. Strologo
Persons pretty well informed believe that the
only consular agent who got his place without
paying a specific priceis man in Tanta, who
earned his appointment by entertaining the con-
sul-general in three days drunken revel.
when - was in Egypt short time since,
he and Butler and StrolOgo visited the upper
country and several towns of the Delta together.
To secure proper consideration in such worthy
companions, letters were sent telling the agents
TO prepare for the reception of distinguished
American officials; and the deluded Egyptians
thought that IN the person of - they
were entertaining one of the highest digntaries
of the great republic. And snch entertainment!
AT Tanta the striking feature was company of
dancing women performing an pltrtS ndtuTdtl6ttS.
At Mausoora they asked for dancing women, but
neither the consular agent nor the chief OF police
would procure them. They met with a similar re-
fusal from WASH al Khayyat, the agent in Osioot,
on whom they called Sabbath evening. But
they were not to be defeated, and they procured
the damsels by means of their own interpreter.
Mr.. Lane, who spent some years studying the
language and customs OF the Modern Egyptians,
and whose book is world wide authority, says
these dancing women are the lowest courtesans
of Egypt. Our distinguished American Off
cials" had, perhaps, not read Mr.. Lanes testi-
mony, or had doubts of its accuracy. At any
rate, they escorted the frail females to their
homes, where they probably found sufficient
light on the subject This affair is notorious
among the natives throughout Egypt, and it is
commonly said the dancers have not enjoyed
such patronage since royal rake went up the
river two years ago.
"The distinguishing feature, thus far, of Mr..
Buffers official course has been his prosecution
of what is known as the 'Kindineco case,' in
which Greek named Klndineco claims from
the Egyptian government the enormous sum of
$4,000 900. How de dares TO prosecute it at all
is mystery to us, who know that the total rot
tonnes of the claim was exposed to the state
department by the late consul-general, Mr.. Hale.
The sham citizenship of the plaintiff was pro-
cured after the complaint began, and for the
purpose of its prosecution. With full knOwl-
edge of the facts, Mr.. Butler urges the case, and
makes American citizenship Odous in Egypt
l could write you more, but my time is short,
and this is enough, at least, for the present.
"Yours truly, DAVID STRANG.
Alexandria, Egypt May 5, 1871"