The Jasper weekly courier., 1875-06-25

u'r N DOlhg.
says Fraser's Magazine. concerning
Egyptian affairs: II needs but a plance to
show us how peculiar the nosition ~
Egypt m the present day l.. A flourish
Ing province Of a great but decrepit and
dying emp re, IL would long ere now have
thrown on is allegiance and gained III in
dependence but for foreign repression. AT
the time VIII n Mehemet Ali aud his ener-
getic son lbrahim Pacha were pursuing
their cOnquesis and threatening spe div
10 put an end 70 the Turkish Empire. II ala
not suit the political creed OF Western
Europe. the fancied interests Of France or
England. that that empire should be swept
away. France and England eyed each
Other Jealonsly over that strip Of territory
IN the Lower Nile valley. and by the east
ern shore OF the NJ dift rranean. and Pal
merston was constantly giving cheek 10
Louis Philippe and his ministers IN their
designs in that quarter. As was then
thought. too. the only way to keep Russia
out OF COnstantinople was 10 bolster up
the Osmanli on their rickety throne. And
30 Western Europe compelled Ibrahim
Pacha TO turn back from his
march through Asia Minor. and made
his father give up Syria; and Egypt.
forced thus upon herself, has presented
ever since the aspect OF a power chatting
against It's b0unda' les and seeking a new
outlet for iis strength. Bsrnd in toward
the north, il has struggled southwark, and
spreading east and west Of the Nile valley
into Nubia. kordofan. Daifur and the
>oudzn. Under the present ruler espe-
cially claim has been made for Egypt 10
be recognized "a civilized and civilzing
power. Mehemet Ali paved the way for
uhe mex order OF things by destroying the
power Of the Mamelukes and establishing
a despOtic irresponsible power. but il is
70 his descendant, lsmail Pacha, that the
credit Is due OF making a deliberate and
persistent attempt to engraft Western civ
ilization, usages, Institutions and arts on
% the old Mohammedan stock. He has
not ceased to seek c0nquests nor to dream
Of independence. bur has become imbued
with the notion that 70 be powerful he
must do as the French and English do.
Under this motive power Of 4 great ambi-
ton, lsmail has followed the policy Of the
founder OF his race without swerving. and
4 building up an empire within the Nile
basin which. when the territories "an-
nexedT by sir Samuel Baker are absorbed
and consolidated. promises to resemble
one Of he mighty empires Of old.
The key 10 the douhle-lined policy OF
the present ruler OF Egypt is this ambi-
ton: this makes him court alike civiiiza-
tion and extensive dominion. No other
province in the Turkish Empire can at all
compare with Egypt In the orderliness of
the Government or in the extent to which
il has succeeded in introducing ciyilizing
agencies among the people. In this re-
spect the conduct Of Ismail is in marked
contrast TO thar Of his nominal master, the
Sultan and although under him Egypt
has become loaded with vast public debt
-as yet almost the chief monument of
progress in civilization that she has shown
lin nothing is the contrast more marked
than In the uses 10 which Turkey and
Egypt have severally put the money that
has been lent TO them. In the case Of
Turkey. hardly any of il has been used
wisely and the reckless folly and waste
with which. even when a good end was in
view. il has been mispenf. has made the
money borrowed by Turkey a curse to
her. But in the ease of Egypt hardly
any Of her borrowings have been laid
out on foolish purpose. although
much Of il may have been rather
wastefully lavished on good one.
Egypt has. for example according
10 an able little pamphlet recently
printed by an eminent Egyptian banker),
paid about seventeen and half mlllions
on account OF the SueZ canal. which can
not be said 10 have financially benefited
the country as vet. however il may have
its importance. Some twelve
millions have been spent on railways
which now yield considerable return;
and other items. Including loan -mongers'
profits. count up 10 Within some seven mill
lions Of the total funded debt Of the State.
Besides this. however. the viceroy has
himself. in his eagerness to ciyilize. con-
-racted some rather onerous obligations
On the security OF his private domains.
with results rather disastrous than other
wise. The Daira debt. as Il l. called. Is in
Iced one Of the most sinister features Of
he financial position OF Egypt. and the
element of uncertainty which the oblga-
ions, as a whole. throw over the future
VI the country are unquestionably great.
specially when taken along with the fact
hat, however vigorous The administra-
ion, il is still personal and Mohammedan,
md that, therefore. when the present ru-
er dies. there is no safeguard whatever
against the States being plunged into an
lbyss Of anarchy and bankruptcy by
oolish or madcap ruler. Still the fact re-
mains that Egypt has been vigorously
-uled by Ismail. and has progressed far
,eyond what Turkey has done. The
sebts are but an index Of his ambition. of
lis conviction that Egypt has future,
md that 10 fulfill her destiny she mustta
bundle Of leaves from the book Of the
Christian secretaries Of the West.
60
Tho uav Crau