The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-15
THE LAND OF THE NILE.

AS~~
difficulties were the subject of conversation which
took place yesterday between HERALD reporter and
Mr.. f. E. Farman. at the latter's in the Grand
Central Hotel Mr. Farman sailed from Alexandria on
July Is. and has just reached this city after three
years sojourn Cairo where he held the positions
of Political Agent and Consul General Of the United
States.
"of course you have had good deal of intercourse
with Ismail Pacha" remarked the reporter in open-
ing the conversation.
Eyes. aud always OF most pleasant kind" re-
piled Mr.. Farman. HE is one of the most urbane
and polished men 1 ever met He speaks French
cxcelently. is we'll informed. intelligent and
agreeable talker.'
'What do you think OF the charges Of selfish
ness and extravaganza that have been made against
him?"
I'm speaking of these things am limited by the
necessity OF saying nothing that would infringe the
rules of the department to which belong and
nothing that could give offence to the government
or officials of any European Power. have very de-
cided opinions of my own on Egyptian politics. and
my views differ much from those that have governed
the action OF the Powers toward that country. 1
sent statement Of my ideas to the Department
of State. and they may be made public in due
course but forbidden to anticipate the action OF
my chief. But may say that do not think the de-
posed Khedive selfish for Oriental. and to
the question of his extravaganza. it may be regarded
in two aspects. viz to his private expenditure
and as to what was lavshed on great public works
Now, when it considered that he man OF
high rank and immense fortune. do not that his
private extravagance was in any way out of the COM
mon. He had vast private estates, which he has
mortgaged to the Rothschlds security for public
loan He has also pawned his jewels to raise money
to pay his private debts.
IsMAII. PAsHAs GREATNESS
''What do you think OF the manner in which he
avished the public funds on gigantic undertakings"
''Ismail Pacha is man OF great mind. He is
highly educated. liberal and enlightened. He has
the greatest admiration and for the civi
cation OF the West. lie wanted to engraft it on his
people. He wanted to make Egypt great by provid-
ing IL with the great machinery OF modern progress
As matter OF fact. he has done much to improve
the country. He has supplied it with many material
advantages that it would never have possessed but
for him. OF course all this took money. and he
overestmated the resources of the country and the
readiness with which the people would adapt them
to his reforms. At present some Of his great
works are in successful operation. The completion
the others suspended for the present 0! course
and must remain until the present dreadful bur-
den is removed from tho finances of the country.
The Alexandria and Suez Railroad brings in a net
prof. OF about 100000. which Ii appropriated to
pay the interest on the preferred debt of about
fl7, 000, 900 ster.ing.'
''To what extent were the projects Of the Khedive
feastble?
HE could. of course. introduce many of the pro-
duets OF civilization into the country, all OF which
would be OF some benefit But it is impossible to
engraft European civilization an African stock.
The people don't THINK as we DO, anu nave utterly
different aspirations and tendencies. Then there is
their religion, which is different in spirit from
ours. and to which they are so devoted. You never
hear of II convert from Mohammedansm. The pre-
vang ideas of government different; the habits
of life and thought different from The
life the East and the West irreconcilabe and
il our social and political system to supplant
theirs it would be only after centuries OF patient
propagandism.
..Why was the Khedive SO fond, as he is said to
have been, of having foreigners at his courtY'
Because OF his love of European civilization. He
loved to have those him who were to its man
ner born, and whom he believed to be the best
agents he could get tor the accomplishment Of the
reforms ne desired to make among his subjects
Lately think he began to get tired of them aud he
never had any preference for them over his fellow
countrymen. except on account OF their knowledge
and progressive notions"
..He was vol disposed toward Americans. it is
Very nv N so. Several United States citizens
still hold i'm rtant posts in the country, but since
the financial troubles arose and the policy Of reduc-
ing expenses began the American colony mas neces-
sarily dwindled away much.
TEwFIK PAcHA
"How will Tewhk Pacha be likely to regard Ameri-
can citizensy
"Oh think very WELL OF course there will be
much less opening for them, and. in fact. for any
foreigners than there has been in the past because
all the great works stopped aud the army is re-
duced to the lowest possible point"
"Do you know Tewhk Pacha?"
Yes; he is agreeable. intelligent man. about
twenty six years of age. He speaks French well and
is generally well educated. 1 think he is well in
tentoned and judcious. and may be relied on to 40
Europe. or only once tor short time"
"what chance would the late international Min;
stry have had to adjust the nations affairs If Ismail
had not dismissed them?
"None. When they came there first the moneyed
people thought they would do good. and therefore
supported them. But all the reasons that have
assigned against the success Of the Khedives pro-
jects initiated equally against the success Of any
foreign government unless supported by an armed
force They were utterly at variance with the
people in all their IDEAS and before their fall they be-
came unpopular with all classes OF the population
"what promise do the Ministers who succeeded
them. and who now hold office. show?"
"They are all good men. think they are patriotic
and honorable and know that they possess excel
lent abilities and enlightened views. Sheriff Pacha is
an excellent man-abe and trustworthy"
what do you think OF the enforced change Of
rulers?'
"rhat is a matter cannot speak freely on. OF
course it is known that France was the moving
spirit in the change. England seemed reluctant to
act
'what is the amount of the unified debit"
CAS- well as l remember it is about f60.000. 900.
1t bears rate OF interest OF six per cent. with
per cent for funding purposes; but only 1--WE per
the sinking fund The whole OF this interest has to
out OF the taxation. The public income
Guiding the gross receipts OF the railroads. The
E4,5O0.O allowance that was at first made under
the Gorcheu-Jubert arrangement for the running
expenses of the government has been much reduced
lately. aud the whole resources of the nation
strained to sustain this load OF debt"
''Wherc does the weight chiefly falT'
ION ali classes; but of it hurts the poorer
people most. They just able to live and pay
their taxes in years when there is good Nile. But
they can save nothing and when bad harvest
comes there IL famine and frightful suffering. This
the case last year in Upper Egypt when have
been informed. 10000 people died from the effects
of want
WHERE WERE THE CHARITABLE?
''was much effort made to help these sufferersp"
every little. commissioner was sent up with
some corn; but there money to give any
real help and assistance came from abroad"
Cannot the evils OF low Nile be counteractcd
by canals?"
IL do not think 1t would pay to establish canal
system. The upper country Is too narrow. In
Lower Egypt there is no need OF it, and there In
never famine. With rigid economy and carei al man
about four per cent interest its debt and onehalf
per cent FOR sinking fund toward the ultimate
moval III the load. Many of the bondholders have
paid only forty nifty aud sixty per cent of the face Of
their Solds, aud the country has not received more
than sixty per of the debt. Some of the credit
ors are very urgent. others reasonable; but must