Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-06-27

Egypt and Her Ruler.
The present position Of the Khedive,
or King, of Egypt, is . very peculiar
one. The once proud empire OF the
Rameses and Pharaohs is now ruled
over by . prince who is not only vas.
sal Of the Sultan of Turkey, to whom
he is forced to pay an annual tribute,
but who is also subject to the control
Of two other foreign nations, England
and France.
Egypt, up to within about seventy
years, was long under the absolute
power of the Turkish Sultans. The
viceroys were Governors appointed by
the Sultans to rule Egypt, just as they
were appointed for Armenia, or any
other Turkish province. But in 1911,
the viceroy then in Egypt, Mehemet
Ali, rebelled against Turkey, took pos
session 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 to
be nominally vassal of Turkey, and
should pay an annual tribute into her
treasury. It was agreed that the SOW
ereignty of Egypt should remain, by
hereditary succession, in Mehemet's
family. The tribute now paid by Egypt
into the Turkish treasury is about
SO, 00O, 900 year.
About thirteen years ago, the Sultan
was obliged to grant still further con-
cessions to the Viceroy. He permitted
him to take the title Of Khedive," or
King, to maintain armies, and make
treaties with foreign powers, and al
lowed the succession of the Egyptian
throne to pass direct from father to son,
instead of descending, as in Turkey, to
the eldest member of the reigning
family.
The present Khedive of Egypt is a
grandson of MeAemet Ali, the stout old
soldier who won the Land of the Pyra-
mids for his children. He is about
fifty years of age. and man of more
than ordinary intelligence and culture.
Though born and reared in the Egyp-
tian court, he 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 it not
for his red fez, or cap. you would
scarcely take him for an Oriental. His
complexion and hair are lighter than
those of most Egyptians. and his bear
ing is that of Western European.
On ascending the Egyptian throne,
Ismail Pasha gave promise of intro
ducing many reforms in his country.
Such reforms were, indeed, sorely
needed. Egypt had been wretchedly
governed. Her people were ground
down with taxes. The fellahs, or peas
ants, were cruelty oppressed, and the
slave-trade was not only permitted but
encouraged.
It soon appeared, however, that Is
mail Pasha's zeal for reform was pre-
tense. He was seen to be very ambi-
tious man. intent on winning for him.
self an independent crown. He proved
extravagant, and Indifferent to the
wretched condition of his people, who
are still as much oppressed as ever.
He raised armies, and built formi-
dable feet and invaded the countries
south of Egypt, which, one by one, he
annexed. In order to meet the ex-
penses of his operations, he borrowed
large sums from England and France (;
and at last, being unable to pay even
the interest on these debts, he was
obliged to admit English and French
statesmen into his Cabinet to regulate
his affairs.
It is curious fact that the Khedive's
finance and foreign ministers are an
Englishman and a Frenchman, while
English and French men-of-war are
anchored off the Egyptian coast, to COM
pei him to submit to the terms of those
nations, his creditors.
The recent trouble arose from the
Khediveis attempt to cast aside these
foreign advisers, and to rule with o
Cabinet of natives. But in this he was
not successful. He was obliged to re.
store the two Europeans to their places,
and to consent that only those measures
should become law to which they gave
their consent.
The object of England and France in
insisting that the Khedive should re.
tain these officials is to see to it that the
country is so governed as to insure the
payment of the interest on the loans
that have been made to him by them !;
and also, we may guess, that their po-
litical and military interests in the
Eastern Mediterranean may be watched.
-Y0utAs' Companion.
Underground Telegraphy.