The sun., 1878-10-13
The New Administration of Egypt.

The New Administration of Egypt.
According TO recent dispatches. Italy de-
mands to bc represented in the new Egyptian
Ministry, organized by NUBAR Pasha. Such
n fact, which at first sight would seem to
involve gross impertinence may well
direct attention 10 the sweeping. though pa
ciilc revolution which has eliminated in
the khcdiveS dominons within the past
few weeks.
That changes revolutionary in scope may
bc consummated without violence or out
break by the simple fiat OF Il sovereign and
a voluntary act Of self-surrender, was at
tested by the emancipation of the Russian
serf. The concession which reflected honor
on the northern autocrat is more than
parallelcd by the sacrifices OF prerogativc
and of material resources recently made 10y
the master of the Nile valley. Not only has
the khcdve furthered the work Of the Com
mission Of Inquiry sent out from Western
Europe, but he has adopted without shrink
ing the harsh remedies suggested for his
fiscal embarrassments Advised to pro-
pitiate creditors by turning over all the
private estates which had been purchased
with public funds this unique Oriental
|
counsel and To give up property worth
nearly three million dollars "A year. When
he was told, az length. that the only lasting
bulwark against financial difficulties must
bc sought in ministerial reform. the khedive
at once placed the management OF Egypt in
the hands of NUBAR Pasha one Of tho few
public men in Turkey conspicuous for probity
and enlightenment. Very much would have
been gained for starved and trampled
population by the appointment of such
lieutenant. coupled with the solemn engage
mcnt TO govern with and 10y ministers; but
the pledge was decisively confirmed by the
choice Of an Enslishman for finance min
istcr. The place was offered to Mr. RIvERs
WILSON, who, as we now learn will bc
allowed by the British Government TO take
the Office. BY these measures. not only are
the judgment debts against the Khedives
private estate disposed OF. but the whole
business Of government Is intrusted to an
upright statesman and an experienced
iinancier.
A. regards the permaience of the new re-
glnc, il may bee said first, that the sp-called
Daira. or private lands Of the khedive are
irrecUVerahly gone; and secondly, that the
Englishmans tenure of Office seems as
sured by its obvious relation to the Khc-
dives interest. Such an arrangement Is u de-
cidcd Improvement on the situation created
by the compact with 9lessrs. GosCHEN and
JoVBERT two years ago when the fiscal adj
miui-tration Of Egypt was virtually placed
in the hands Of two European controllers
II j. understood that the GOSHEN agree
ment will be allowed by the bondholders TO
remain in abeyance SO long "a the new
scheme is carried out in good faith, and
while either Mr.. WILSON or some equally
competent European- il retained in the Treas
ury Office. The fact that failure would only
rccOmmit him to a stll more stringent and
cxaspcrating form Of foreign supervision
can hardly fail to bind the Khedive to
loyal execution of these reforms
But II henceforward the Nile land is to be
administered on Western principles. and to
u large extent by Western governors. 1t j.
natural that other States besides England
should wish to be represented. A place, for
instance could hardly bee refused to France,
which not only holds large proportion Of
the Egyptian bonds, hut which must be
mainly credited with the creation of the
Suez Canal. That country has hitherto
worked in harmony with England, and con
tributed not n little to that coercive process
Of which we see the full fruits in the khr-
dives recent action. II was impossible,
Therefore, to deny the French request for
portfolio and a seat al the new council o'
Ministers Nor Is IL easy To see how the
Italian claim, Of which we have Just heard,
can be very long deferred 1t Is true that the
special interest Of France in the Nile valley
through the advances of her great financial
corporation, il exceptionally large. Yet Of
the commerce which centre, at Alexandria,
and indeed OF the whole LoVantine trade,
Italy commands larger share than any
other Latin nation. On this account, indeed,
it has been urged that the Italian tongue
should be accepted by common consent as
the mercantile speech OF the East, and that
Western knowledge should be transmitted
through this medium IN the Egyptian
schools. On general grounds, TOO, we should
expect Italy to vindicate for herself the
right OF a ilrst-class power TO Dee consulted
in Il matter Of vital import TO European
commerce. II. as now seems probable, the
Mediterranean is destined at no distant day
to resume its character Of n Latin or at all
events Christian lake, some part of the Mos
lem heritage ought certainly to revert to
the Italian peninsula. Such views are be-
AANN'A " nav 6uib'h mus IL hi'i-hA AAill-
listers in the mysterious negotiations which
have lately taken place in relation TO Tunis
and the regency of Tripoli and the same
resolve is traceable in the demand that Italy
should be recognized, as well rs England
and France in the new Board Of Governors
which promises 10 restore the Egyptian
finances to solvency, and comparative pros
perity to the Egyptian people.
Illegal Fees 10 County Officers.
If any official act is required of any county
oncer for II fee which is inadequate, then
the law should be changed, and the ice in
creased. But while the law remains as it Is,