Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-07-01

among SONIC OF the most lmp0rtan
characters outside the royal family
will notice a few who viii probably b
in the future las they have been il
the past) frequently mentioned.
Nubar Pasha, an Armenian, ha
filled nearly every civil office of i'm
portance within the gift of the khe
dive, was recently prime minister, anC
deposed.
i NJ. De B%lignieres, a Frenchman
was first appointed under the fnancia
arrangement effected by Mr.. Goscher
in 1876, keeper of the caisse (treas
urer) in conjunction with an English.
man, Mr.. Romano. These two wer,
to receive all moneys collected by thu
tax g~atherers, and see to their faithful
disbursement, so that the bondholder.
should get their share. Mr.. Rivers.
Wilson seems to have taken Mr.. Ro.
names place since | left Egypt, and
subsequently became a cabinet minis
ter, and was deposed along with Nubar
Pasha. The emeute in the streets of
Cairo, the indignities offered to Nubar
lPasha, River Wilson, and De Big
nieres on the 18th and 10Th of Febru-
airy last, are all well known to your
readers. In consequence of these
disturbances the khedive dismissed
the gentlemen above named and APP
pointed a new ministry, as he said, to
appease the dissatisfaction of his peo-
pie. Foreigners in Egypt think the
khedive brought about the disturb
ances himself. What is the real truth
is one of the Egyptian mysteries
which | am not able to solve at this
distance.
Subsequent to the ministerial
changes just noticed there have been
heard the low mutterings Of a brew
ing storm, which has recently burst,
in the shape of a formal demand for
the abdication of the khedive. and
the withdrawal from the country of
his sons.
Egypt is a very defensible country,
as has been shown in many past wars.
Its natural facilities for resisting an
invading army are fine. Its marshy
coast line and few good harbors are in
its favor; its numberless canals and
dikes and %leyies behind which a few
men could battle against a
host. are In its favor. Its hot climate
and soorching sun, and their inevitable
effects upon soldiers from a more
northern country are in its favor. The
khediye may be able to arouse his peo-
pie to enthusiasm by raising the ban
ner Of the prophet, aRd may unite his
seven millions of Moslems in a death
defying resistance to the dogs of
Christendom." He may stir up the.
Jealousy of Russia. He may get the
assistance of the porte in return for
the help he gave the sick man when
the Russian bear was about to stran-
gle him in his embrace. All these
things may make the history of coming
events Of more than usual interest.
Yet | myself cannot but think that if
war does come there is but little room
for doubt as to the speedy result. My
experience with the Egyptian troops
in Abyssinia convinced me that they
were the poorest soldiers ID the world.
They know how to work, how to
march, bow to drill, how to obey, how
to submit to hardship, trials and
cruelty, and are not even ab9Ormally
afraid to die, but they do not know
how to fight. They are the slaves of
many generations, and absolutely alb
ject and without manly qualities, An
English or French regiment would
an army of such troops as we
bad in Abyssinia, who allowed even
halt armed sem -barbarians to cut
them down by th0qsapds without even
to save their lives.
In 1875, the khedive paid (S55, 000,-
O0O) fifty-6ve millions OF dollars inter-
est on his bonded debt and had a re-
fund for current expenses Of
government. The receipts from
exports Of that year were 1865, 0OO, O0O)
sixty five millions Of dollars. This
will give you some idea 81 the enor-
nous wealth of the country eoun-
Try whose arabic area is far less than
of Tennessee, in fact it is just
about equal 70 so much of the alluvial
lands Of the Mississippi aud its tribu-
taries as lie within tRe STATE Of Lou
The khedive's debt foladly
is about six hundred million Of
dollars. He originally contracted to
pay as high as ten per cent. on most Of.
tbis eebt. subsequently the interest
was reduced by mutual agreement be-
tween the khedive and tie boGdbold-
to seven per cent, and think
there has been a still further reduc-
ton. If We can judge Of the oanaoitv
OF Egypt for raising and paying out
money by what she did the two years
l vas in the country, it seems 20 he
possible for the khediye to meet his.
annual obligations Oh ipterest. But it
Is O. fearful strain upon his Door.
taxed Ito death, tax-ridden people. and
it is doubtful whether they. or he
could stand it for many wears
to come.
You have now, Mr.. Editor, some of
the most salient points and important
elements in the Egyptian question. |
have not given You an account of how
this trouble was brought on the
khediye by his reckless extrayaaances
and apparently foolish expenditures.
That is a long story, and being one of
the past would not probably interest
your readers. Should you and they
desire anything more on that subject.
l ana yours to command.
f. s, II. LocKETT.
Late Colonel Of Engineers, Egyptian
Army.
ARKANSAS.
Inc prospects for big crops were
better in Western Arkansas