The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-02
The Curious state of Things In Egypt.

The Curious state OF Things In Egypt.
BY the little revolution which took place
the other day at Cairo. the Khcdivo OF
Egypt seems to have aimed to rchabiitate
himself ut the expense OF the tax producers
without affronung his foreign creditors.
Tho fact that according to the earlier re-
ports both the English and French NOM
bers OF his Government were instructed
from London and Paris TO retain Office,
shows that the projects OF financial i'm
provement were not abandoned for mo-
mont; though there was reason 10 appre-
hond that the scheme Of popular education
might be allowed to collapse But later
kilograms announce that the great CONNER
cial powers will insist on u reinstatement OF
NUBAR Pasha, which means the most thor
ough and uncompromising reform in all de-
partments Of the state.
Few persons appreciate the enormous bur-
den OF debt under which the Khedives SUBJ
iects labor. The yearly charge entailod by
it represents not less than $3.50 per head
against $3.50 In France and q considerably
smaller tax in England and the United
States. Moreover, the countries named are
tho richest In the world, while Egypt is
one Of the poorest Tho Nile valley has no
mines, no manufactures no source Of wealth
except agriculture, and one OF its main
staples, cotton, scarcely pays at present
rates for cultivation. Yet while the total
volume of exports barely reaches sixty
five million dollars, and the i'm
ports do not exceed thirty, tho revenue
annually cxtortcd from tho wretchcd inhabi-
20 - -G,..,
millions. Such a state Of things is without
parallel among Western nations, and it is
certain that the extreme limit Of taxation
has been attained. 1t is distinctly under
stood that the inadequacy OF the existing
income can be rcmcdied only by the most
rigorous and sweeping economies on the one
hand and by large reduction of interest on
the other. 1t was 10 effect these ends that
the present system Of government wac or
gani2cd by which the Khcdive's authority
was practically vested in trustees In other
words, the throne Of MEHEMEr ALI was
placed In the hands Of a receiver.
II is true that the neutrality-suspicious. OF
Egypt is sustained only by the counte-
nance of the great maritime powers,
but the ruler has heretofore had the
sagacity to comprehend this fact, and
has evinced n creditable willingness TO
concilato his creditors. When the COM
mittec OF inquiry named In the interest
Of the bondholders insisted on the surrender
OF his domain lands or private estate, he
promptly made the sacrifice. When they
suggested that the apportionment and coll
lection of revenue and the whole fiscal bust
ness Of the State might be more efficiently
conducted in foreign hands, he consented 10
take an Englishman, Mr.. RIVERS WILSON,
for his Finance Minister. Presently, nearly
equivalent advantage was conceded to
France by the appointment OF NJ. DE
| BLIGNIEBEs TO the Ministry Of Pub
lie Works, the department which
next 10 finance has the most direct
bearing on the resources OF the country and
the prospects OF its creditors. Some time
previously the Khedive had carried through
"a reform Of the judicial system so thorough
that judgments were obtained with facility
against the sovereign, n phenomenon UNI
parallcled in Eastern tribunals. Now he
went further and introduced the semblanco
Of legislature In the shape OF "A Chamber
II Notablcs, at present assembled In Cairo,
! and whose deliberations are said to be very
| diyertng. But although the role Of these
! Egyptian law makers seems TO have been
farcical enough, the complete loss Of con-
troll over the public purse was serious
business This, however, was not the
| worst. The khediNe's position became
infinitely more embarrassing after he was
| induced by his European advisors TO turn
over the remnant OF his executive functions
To a man personally d.stasteiul the Arme-
Man. NUBAR Pasha. Thencelorward the
ruler became a cipher in the State, and it is
scarcely surprising that, stung by the
Sights 10 which his utter impotence con-
| demned him, he should have tried to resume
part OF his authority
1t is not improbable that the riot which re-
| suited in the displacement Of NUBAR Pasha
| by the Khcdive himself at the head Of his
own Ministry WAS fomented in the palace
| II does not follow that the measures
looking to fiscal reform will be ar
rested. The Egyptian Government darcs
not break faith with England and France.
! BIc II could easily afford TO rcpudiate cove
nants which merely aimed 10 better the
plight Of its unhappy subjects and that was
the precise significance Of the recent news
from Cairo. Messrs. WILSON and De BLlG-
EIEREs were 10 be allowed to collect the
revenue, repair the canals and roads, and
provide, II they could, the interest on the
public debt; but the Khedlve proposed TO
handle the sums intended for all other pur-
poses II appears, however, that the Eng
fish and French Governments esteem the
social Moderation Of a people essential to
the expansion OF its material resources, and
they accordingly join in demanding tho
restoration OF the Armenian statesman to
the head Of the Ministry.
Harvard Instruction Offered to Women.
Tho friends Of female education will be
gratilied to learn that the educational facili-
ties OF our Oldest university are to be vir-
tually thrown open TO women. This is I'M
| dOubtpdlV a lOnO gten baVond any coucae