The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-05-30

The present position Of the Khedive
or King. OF Egypt. Is very peculiar
one The once proud empire Of the
Rameses and Pharaohs il now ruled
over by prince who Is not only yas.
sal Of the Sultan Of Turkey, to whom
he Il forced to pay an annual tribute
but who Is also subject 10 the control ~
two other foreign nations. England and
France.
Egypt. up TO within about 20 years
was long under the absolute power AZ
the Turkish Sultans. The yicerov.
were Governors appointed BY the Sui.
tans 10 rule Egypt, just ~ they were
appointed for Armenia, or any other
Turkish province But in 1911, the
viceroy then in Egypt. Mehemet Ali.
rebelled against Turkey, took posses.
sion Of the country by force OF arms, and
assumed independent authority.
Mehemet's authority Was, some years
afterwards, recognized by the Sultan.
on condition that he should continue 10
be nominally yassal Of Turkey, and
should pay an annual tribute into her
treasury. Il was agreed that the sover-
eighty Of Egypt should remain, by
hereditary succession. in Mehemet's
family. The tribute now paid by Egypt
into the Turkish Treasury is about sS.-
600, 900 year.
About IS years ago the Sultan was
obliged 70 grant still further concessions
to the viceroy. He permitted him to
take the title of +" khedive," or King. 70
maintain armies, and make treaties with
foreign powers. and allowed the sue
cession OF the Egyptian throne to pass
direct from father 10 son, instead Of de-
scending. as in Turkey. to the eldest
member Of the reigning family.
The present Khediye Of Egypt il a
grandson OF Mehemet Ali. the stout old
soldier who won the Land Of the Psra-
mids for his children. He is about 50
years Of age, and man of more than
ordinary intelligence and culture.
Though born and reared in the Egvp-
tian court, be passed some years in
Paris, engaged in study, and there &C
quired much Of the French polish and
elegance in manners
In personal appearance, were il not
for his red fez, or cap, you would scarce
" take him for an Oriental. His com
plexion and hair are lighter than those
Of most Egyptians, and his bearing il
that Of Western European.
On ascending the Egyptian throne,
Ismail Pasha gave promise Of introduc-
ing many reforms into the country.
Such reforms were. indeed, sorely need
ed Egypt had been wretchedly gov
erned- Her people were ground down
with taxes. The fellahs, or peasants,
were cruelty oppressed, and the
slave trade was not only per-
mitted, but encouraged. II soon
appeared, however, that Ismail Pasha's
re Al for reform was pretense. He was
seen 20 be very ambitious man. intent
on winning for himself an independent
crown He proved extravagant and in
different TO the wre;ched condition OF
his people, who are still as much OPP
pressed As ever. He raised armies and
built formidable feet; and invaded
The countries south Of Egypt, which,
Dne BY one. he annexed. In order TO
meet the expenses Of his operations, he
borrowed large sums from England and
France; and II last, being unable 70
pay even the interest on these de-ts, he
Vas obliged to admit English and
French statesmen into his Cabinet TO
regulate his affairs.
The recent trouble arose from the
attempt 10 cast aside these
ioreign advisers, and TO rule with Cab
net Of natives.
The object Of England AM rance in
insisting that the khedive should retain
hese officials j. 10 see TO il tha; the
country i so governed IS to insure the
payment Of the interest on the loans
hat have been made to him by them;
md also, We may guess, that their poIiti-
Al and military interests in the Eastern
may be watched
ToriA's Companion