Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-09-20
The New Eastern question,

New York Herald
What Napoleon saw with his clear
and almost supernatural vision, was
how to solve the problem which for
centuries had attracted the imagina-
ton and the ambition Of European
rulers. This problem was the short
road to India. Alexander found il
in a long, exhausting and what proved
to be a barren invasion. The Portu-
guese and English could only 60
around the Cape Of Good Hope. In
those days a voyage from Lisbon or
London to India was an infinitely
greater undertaking than for modern
ad~venturerS to 20 around the world.
The genius OF Columbus was awak-
ened by a question which Napoleon
long after him tried to solve By war.
Columbus would find the route to
| India, Il Q direct route, and not cir.
eumnavigate vast continents. Colum.
bus did not find India, but discovered
America, and unconsciously did a
work Of more Importance to civlliza-
ton than if he had realized his hopes
England governs India by virtue Of
conquest and commercial achieve
ments. That dominion depends upon
Egypt. After his fall Napoleon criti-
cised the English for not holding
Alexandria. Five thousand men,
he said, would have garrisoned it."
The trade with Egypt would have en-
riched English merchants. If" he
he continued, speaking to an English
officer, you had kept Alexandria you
would have prevented the French
from obtaining it and of ultimately
gaining possession Of India, which
will certainly follow the possession Of
Egypt" There was no intention,
however, upon the part Of the English
of allowing the French to hold Egypt.
Palmerston was ready to fight when
the successes of an Egyptian pasha in
Syria seemed to foreshadow a French
foothold on the banks Of the Jordan
/, or the Nile. This policy has never
! been abandoned by the English. Eng
land has pursued it by making wal
upon the French as well as by uniting
! with the French to make wal upon
!. Russia. England would unite witt
t Russia to restrain France and witt
Napoleon to restrain the Gar. Blu
= she has never ceased to think of Indii
, and of Egypt as the key to India.
There was something Nspoleonic il
the genius Of Beacons6eld which
prompted his occupation OF Cyprus
: Coming, as it did, after the surrende,
of the Ionian Islands by Gladstone
+ it showed a higher appreciation o
what was necessary to safeguard Eng
t lands splendid empire in the East. |
4 the reader will study the map VIC priH
r this morning it will be seen tina
t whoever holds Cyprus mounts guar,
over Alexandria. From Cyprus Il
Q Alexandria is but two hundred an
a eighty miles over a sea rarely trouble
J. with tempest or storm. An EnglisI
S feet Of modern iron-clads with
speed Of ten miles an hour could ru'
I from Cyprus to the mouth Of the Nil
i in a few hours. This advantage make
e England's naval power paramount
France, no longer disturbed by tn
magnificent dreams Of Napoleon, n
t longer burning for revenge, thinkin
= no more Of empire in Asia an
a America, cares only to eonsolidat
y her republic and press her infuenc
into Africa. Events make her NOR
8 than ever the ally of England. Tn
d triple alliance, the imperial converse
G tions at Dsntzic, the understandin
I between the three German Emperor
Y bode no good TO France and little t
England. France as they see it is
, republic-a volcanic re%public-wit
socialism, communism and every kin
Of ism" seething far down in tn
fiery depths, ready at any hour t
burst through its crater and desolat
g the continent. A republic with Jul
G anniversaries is not a pleasant neigh
Dor. But while the emperors al
e arranging the affairs Of the fiery II
k public aud discussing some means {
y reducing France to the obedient cor
dition of Belgium and SWitzerlan
Of England and France come togethe
ie England, virtually as republican
g France OF the United States, with Z
l fear Of volcanoes, thinking Of empil
India, can offer France the only al
1t that will protect her against the ne
he Holy Alliance. The price Of this Al
will be the support Of the French
ut Egypt.