The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-09
The Resurrection of Egypt.

The Resurrection of Egypt.
The purport aud consequences OF Eng
lands purchase of the KhedIve's shares in
the Sucz Canal are sufficiently obvious.
We are naturally led to sean the status
and prospects OF that Nile valley which
has been made the pivot of a shrewd dip
lomacy, and may one day become the the
atre OF decisive events.
The characteristic feature OF Egypt Is
the impenetrable homogenelty OF its popu-
lutiou. The Copts and Fellahs, who form
the bulk of the Inhabitants, however di-
vergent in religious faith, are Of one stock.
They are no mongrcl race stripped of ira
ditions and hereditary aptitudos, but in
spite OF the successive conquests which
have swept over their heads, remain the
lineal descendants of those artisans and
laborers who reared the pyramids aud dug
the reservoirs of the PnARAoHS 1t is
owing TO the tenacious vitality ard in
veterate industry of this people, coupled
with favorable conditions of coil and
climate, that Egypt is able to revive ms il
by magic at the first CLEAN Of order aud
wise rule.
Since the epoch of the ProLEMIEs-aud
we do not overlook the fitful splendor OF
the FATIMTDE caliphs-Egypt has never
| been so well governed, or enjoyed 80 much
material prosperity, rs under the present
dynasty The merits of MoHAMNED ALI
are i'll appreciated by those who gauge his
conduct by Western standards; and In
similar exactng spirit the Khedive is ar
raigncd for extravaganza in building and
entertaining 1t Is true that magnificent
| undertakings and lavish civil list have
lately eliminated In financial embarrass-
ment. Yet II we survey Egypt without
| prejudice, as she was ut the beginning OF
this century, and az she now II, we must
acknowledge an astonishing advance in all
directions. The Suez Canal itself, although
| indebted to France for its Initiative, sheds
lustre on the reigning house, since it has
been carried through Egyptian soil by
Egyptian workmen and To great extent
by Egyptian capital; but we would more
especially direct attention TO the numerous
other canals, ms well us the bridges, nque-
ducts, railways and telegraph lines which
checker the whole country. The new
bridge, for instance, which spans the river
ut KaiIr-el Nil, ranks among the most cost
ly and admirable achievements in that
| utlu VI NhpItuNtl, Eltit III
petus has been impaired to agriculture,
and the growing OF cotton, introduced by
the first Niceroy, has EXPANDED until the
annual crop now reaches 1901 bales. An
other index OF prosperity Is the gain in
population. Alexandria, which the French
reckoned in 1903 TO contain less than six
thousand souls, has now more than two
hundred thousand, while the inhabitants
of Egypt aggregate Ave millions, having
exactly doubled in seventy-five years. OF
course, we would not infer from au in
creased population the augmented we'll
being OF individuals or single families, and
on this latter point something should be
said
The total absence OF family life has
hitherto constituted Il bar to the moral re-
Mobilization OF Egypt. No Mohammedau
State could over knit itself into coherent
whole, or attain the permanence of modern
European nations, because the conditions
of internal stability, and the root OF that
national sentiment which we call patriot
ism, We're wanting. Tho Moslem knows
no country but his religion, aud only dis
eliminates between the land of the GiaOur
and that of the true believer. With po-
} lygamy domestic unity is incompatible
hence II rigorous enforcement of monog-
ANY, and the abolition of arbitrary di-
vorcc, are the prerequisites OF social pro-
gress. The Khedive has taken n step in
this direction, since although he personally
retains several wives, none of the younger
princes, nor even his own sons, are allowed
to contract second marriage, or TO have
recourse to ungrounded divorce; and this
example has found imtators among the
higher Mohammedan officials. Unluckily
both practices are sanctioned by the Koran
But just rs in Christian countries many
) injunctions of the Mosaic and canon law
are oyerruled, so in Egypt the prescrlp-
tlons Of the Moslcm Bible might be con-
trolled by a civil code. Already the pre-
cedents ana principles of European legisla.
' | ton have secured Judgment in the land
through the recent establishment of an in-
l ternational court.
Even with the Introduction OF monog-
I amy, the moral framework OF the State
must remain essentially defective so long
, as women are not thoroughly emancipated.
= Hitherto the Mohammedan wife may be
y said to have received no education; she wa.
$ little better than slave; and u she some.
I times achieved place and voice in her
= husbands house, or oftener In her sons
tas lpstepeY were exceptional Ter