The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1882-08-10
EGYPTIAN POLITICS.
A Review of Events that Led to the Present
War

The political phases of the struggle in Egypt
have already been considered. The person.
al, commercial, and religious elements enter
ing into the complications, play quite as I'M
portant part as the political intrigues, and
demand as much attention.
The present khedive, Mohammed Tewik,
is the son of Ismail |, and is about thirty
years of age. He succeeded to the throne
August 8, 1879, committed to the administers
tive reforms proposed by England and France.
He is an earnest and devout Mehammedan,
and thoroughly Egyptian in his feelings. He
has regarded the plans of his European coun-
sellers AS means OF progress, but outside his
international obligations, has been jealous OF
foreign influence. He has been credited
with an ambition to educate Egyptians up to
such point in administrative ability as will
enable him1o dispense with European man
agement, and to escape from European inter-
medding. He is therefore in sympathy with
many of the aims of the national party.
The founder of the dynasty was Mehemet
Ali. who reigned from 1911 TO 1S4S, and who,
for the greater part of his reign, was engaged
in struggle to establish the independence
of the country and TO extend its boundaries
and influence. This was the military epoch
of the new dynasty which promised the re-
generation of Egypt.
His grandson. Abbas, VINO reigned from
lSiS TO 1884. and his son, Said Pasha. whowa
at the head of the government from 1854 TO
1868. represented the era of commercial ac-
tiyity, and it was in this era that the Suez
canal movement was organized aud many
railroads built.
I.mai I, father of the present khediye,
succeeded to the throne in 1868. and his reign
at first promised to be an era of military as
well rs commercial activity. He underworld
to carry out the dream of Mehemet Ali, as to
independence and conquest, aud the schemes
of Said rs to the control of trad. lie intro
duced new industries, encouraged cotton
growing in the southern provinces, employed
ex-confede ate and other officers 10 reorgan-
iza his army, and undertook, in connection
with Sir Samuel Baker, expeditions into the
White Nile country and Central Africa. He
attempted to negotiate DECENTRALIZATION oil
the SueZ canal in his own interest, and nego-
tiated loans on his owns responsibility. The
end was political and financial bankruptcy,
and in 1879 England and France iDterfered in
the interest Of his creditors, and abdicated
in favor of his son. Tewfk. Ismail, now
about 80 years Of age, has been living abroad
since his abdication, but he is credited with
desire to return to the throne, and rumor
has II that he has encouraged Arab Bey and
other nationalist leaders, with this possibili-
ty, in mind.
Another line of personal influence is to be
traced from Constantinople. Abdul Hamid
III, the present sultan, succeeded his brother
in 1876, through an intrigue, and has been
accused of playing double part IN several
instances. Certain it is, that he Is great
schemer. \ year ago it was discovered that,
while he was openly and secretly encouraS-
ing the khedive, he was entertaining the
scheme of Hafyz Pasha, to recognize Egypt
as a privileged autonomous province. on the
model of Lebanon, and at the same time plot
ting with Prince Hamil, uncle of lsmail, to
supplant Tewfk on the throne, this to be
done with the consent of England and
France.
When Tewfik came into power, Riaz Pa
sha was made his prime minister, and Osman
Reski Pasha, minister of war, with General
Stone tan American) chief of staff. All Of
these were accused Of being under Turkish
influence, and in February, 1881, Arab Bey
led in the revolt against them. They were
compelled to retire, and a new ministry with
Sheriff Pasha as prime minister, was appoint
ed Sheriff is one of the leading Egyptian
statesmen. He was educated in Paris, but is
a Mohammedan, and was supposed to be in
thorough sympathy with the nationalist
party.
In the course of year, Arab Bey was
made Pasha, and became Minister OF war.
Then the Turkish faction in the army and at
Cairo began intriguing against him. Arab
had about fifty of the army officers who had
been adherents of RIM Pasha arrested,
court.martialed, and sentenced to be shorn
of their rank, and sent in exile to Soudan.
The khedive modified the sentence to one of
simple exile, and the ministry interposed an
objection accompanied with threat, that
unless the original sentence was carried out
the khediye would be deposed. This was
OH the 10th of May, last, and the parties
friendly TO the khediye ON the one hand, and
the Arab Bey ON the other, arrayed them
selves against each other, and they have
been since that time the centres of Oriental
and European intrigue.