The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-12-02
England and Egypt.

England and Egypt.
1t is fashion now to attribute all bold
strokes in European policy to Bsmark; so no
one will be surprised at the statement that
the purchase of the Suez Canal shares by
England was instigated by the Prussian.
Deep motives, which only newspaper corre-
spondents can fathom, are attributed to the
German Chancellor. 1t is said that he wishes
to alarm Prussia, to humiliate France, and to
destroy the cordial feeling which exists be-
tween the two nations which of late have
only been divided by the English channel.
People can believe as much of all this as
they please. 1t is purely conjecture, and
those who wish to be accurate will content
themselves with declaring that the purchase
was stroke of state policy worthy of Bis
mark, and not uncharacteristic of Conser-
vative British Ministry. The Conservative
party in England has ever entertained much
boder foreign policy than has the Liberal.
The opinions as TO the feelings of Russia
and France in regard to the purchase are
something more than surmises. If the great
Northern empire has designs upon the Brit
ish possessions in India it will be bitterly ag-
grieved at a step which secures to England
quick access to those possessions, and enables
her to defend them by comparatively small
expenditures. French enterprise constructed
the Canal, and France can but feel humliated
TO see it pass into the possession of a nation
which strongly opposed its construction, and
which has been the rival of France in Egypt
for century. By patience, dexterity and in
trigue the French recovered, few years
since, the influence they lost in Egypt by the
battle of Aboukir and the defense of Acre.
But they have recovered that influence only
to lose it again. Still they have no great
cause of complaint. A pro!ectorate over
Egypt was only valuable to them while they
were rivals of the English in India. The
question is now only one of sentiment, for
French trade intercourse with Egypt is not
quarter as large as English.
England has apparently every justification
for her action. 1t is necessary for the safety
of her rule in India, in case the Ottoman en-
pre falls to pieces, that she should
exercise a commanding influence in
the councils of the Khedive, and
that no other nation should have the
power to control the route through the Canal
and the Red Sea. Although Egypt is nomi-
nally part of the Ottoman empire, and flies
the Turkish flags and passes the Turkish
coins, she is practically independent. The
frman of 1873 virtually absolved her from
the rule of the Sultan. She has the control
of her army and her finances, the regulation
of the succession to her throne, and an ad|
ministration and code of laws of her own.
Almost the only sign of her subjection, aside
from the coins and-the flags, is the annual
tribute of three millions of dollars which she
pays. In case of the dissolution of the Otto
man empire she would at once proclaim her
entire independence. and be ready to enter
into alliances with other states. So it is
necessary for England's prosperity that she
should be first in the field. The route to
India is not the only interest which the
British empire has in Egypt. The bulk of
the Egyptian debt is held in London, the ex-
ports of Egypt go almost entirely to British
ports, and nearly half of the imports to Egypt
are British products. England has great
stake in the prosperity of the Khedivate, and
wisely takes precautions to secure it.
1T is rather startling to see New York
Herald reporter in the role Of missionary.
That is the occupation which Mr.. Henry
Stanley has lately entered upon, and he
appears to have met with quite as much
success as in exploration, having converted
an African king. The name of the poten-
tate is Mtesa, and he rules over Uganda,
land of 100000 people, near the Victoria
| Niyanza. Mtesa was converted to Islam
by Moslem traveller in 1871. The CONVEX
sion does not appear to have been a thorough
| one, for Mr.. Stanley tells us that "by one
conversation" with the king he ''tumbled the
| newly raised religious fabric to the ground"
induced Mtesa to 'observe the Christian Sab
bath," and taught him the ten command
ments. The explorer thinks that few
missionaries could easily convert the whole
kingdom. He apparently has some doubts
of their reception at first however, for he
| advises each to arm himself with ga sabre,
brace of pistols and suitable ammunition,
good fowling- and rifle of good quail
ity." This idea of promulgating creed by
| firearms is certainly an advance on the Mos
lem plan Of establishing religion, by the
sword. 1t is stated that an enterprise is
already on foot in England to establish a
mission on Lake Nyassa, to be called Living
| stonia.