The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-09-22
THE EGYPTIAN COLLAPSE.

There seems little DOUBT tnat the Egypt
ian affair Is ended. The brief battle at Tel
ell Kebir crushed Arabi's rebellion. There
remains In revolt Damietta. the commander
Of which Is evidently negotiating with a
view TO surrender. Arab Is a prisoner, his
army disbanded and his cause a failure.
The campaign of General Wolseley has been
short, sharp and decisive. Arab made no
fight. In the name of Egypt he hoisted the
colors of rebellion and proclaimed hostility
to foreign domination. But he yet gave
homage to Turkey, abandoned Alexandra
to destruction almost without a contest, and
after months of entrenching, recruiting and
preparation, permitted bis army, superior in
and cut off ct Tel ell Kebir. Perhaps all the
truth of the affair Is not yet known. Egyptian
chiefs are mercenary and British gold is
made In broad pieces. Or 1t may he that
caught between rebellion TO the Khedive
and fidelity to the Sultan, he who boldly re-
belled against the one - meekly vie lded
when the other took the English pill Of SUBJ
mission. The nations are not the worse OF
this result except as witnessing the doInina.
ton Of q great power over weaker one, a
result that looked inevitable from the begin
ming with but the possible circumstance of
Intervention or the instigation Of religious
war. England represents the most advanced
civilization; Egypt the lowest. But English
civilization is subject TO English money get
ting, and the same spirit that inspired the
levy Of stamp duties on the American colo
MES hundred years ago, prompted the war
to compel In Egypt payment Of the debts of
q spendthrift Khedive, who squa.dered mil
lions on selfish follies, and was deposed and
exiled, while a tax ridden people remained
to pay the exsctions Of the alien government.
The American colonies succeeded in their
revolt: the Egyptians failed. Success covers
all sins: failure multiplIes them.
When Russia few years since In the
name Of Christian knighthood overran Tur-
key and carved with we'll hewn swords the
Russian way to the Mediterranean, Eng
land sat down In the councils Of victory at
San Stefano and turned triumph into practi-
cal defeat. The conclusions Of war were
revised by the determinations of diplomacy.
Will such be the case now? Will France
that stepped out Of the Egyptian war after
the gauntlet had been thrown, and LEFT Eng
land to fight 1t out, now demand or be ac-
corded equal status In adjusting the new or
der Of things on the Nile? Will Turkey that
encouraged Arab while he bad hope to
win and that outlawed him when the claw
Of the british lion sunk into its flesh, be
sustained In its Egyptian dominion for the
sake Of peace and preservation Of the bal
ance Of power' Will Russia let its opportu-
nifty for revenge passp These are the ques-
tons Europe hiss now to consider and Is con-
sidering. An emeute Is possible but q salts
factory adjustment probable. England is too
powerful for humlliating demands to be
made upon; too discreet to offend her little
less powerful neighbor. The raiment OF
Egypt will be portioned out to Europe:
Arab will be exiled with . fat allowance:
wolseley will be honored and titled: Eng
land will be elated and the poor devils OF
Egyptian fallaheens will pay the indemnity
and the taxes. No war IS justiiable in the
eyes Of the world unless II succeeds.