, 1882-05-27
The Egyptian Muddle.

The Mediterranean, which is usually
quiet bit OF water, Is q. present in a very
excited condition, caused by the disturb
anee IN Egypt The sqpadrcns of France
and England are either already at Alexan-
dria o. on their way there, and several
Turkish ironelads expect TO cooperate
with them. TIE present crisis has been
long foreshadoxed. Wien the sgents OF
England and France took charge cf the
Egyptian hnancies in 1873 they aroused
all there was of national and Moham-
medan feeling IN the Country. TLis grew
and gathered strength, and finally ended
III the attempt OF tie Assembly of Nota-
bles, which passes for Parliament in
that semi-absolute country, to regulate
the buiget Of revenue and expediture
careful Y prepared by the representatives
of the two great Western Powers. As
this was a dangerous precedent, and
might lead to Reputation, the two
nations III whose charge Europe had
placed the bonds representing the nation
al indebtedness, and to whom it looked
for heir payment, strenuously objected.
Soon after this CAME the revolt oi the
army, which procured the promotion of
Arab Bey, whom the khedive, Tewfik
Pashs, was compelled to make Minister
Of War. Bu. this concession did not
satisfy the army, which insisted ON the
right to name Its Own officers, and ciamor-
ed mu;inops!y fer tie payment cf its wages.
The bitter feeling against Europeans be-
came intensified Parties began TO gather
shape. There Vas the party of the Sultan,
tie party OF the xkhedYe (which is said
to carry with it strong Mohammedan
elemenD, the party of the fanatical 5lo-
hammedans (who hate everything Eu-
ropean and Christian) and the party of
Arab Bay, which is supposed to include
most OF the army, and those progressive
Egyptians who believe that they are able
to govern themselves. These political
elements do not constitute what In other
countries would be called parties, but they
represent certain aggregates OF feeling and
prejudice which would be active and pow
erful under certain circumstances. The
Assembly Of Notables, which has refused
70 come together al the request of the re-
bellious ministry, WIS appointed by the
ex- khediye while he WAS borrowing money
of every country in Europe that would
lend it to him, and pilins up the indebt-
edness which now weighs the country to
the earth.
England and France may be supported
by all Europe III their Intervention, for
every continental people is a creditor Of
Ely pit. and were matters further romph-
Gated the money might be lost. Russia
is almost the only one from whose citizens
Ism.el Pasha did not borrow hberaily,
when he was in power, and II may see mt
to raise objections The Sultan OF Tur-
key is IN the good graees of Germany,
which nay push his claims further than
England and France may be willing to
recognize them. Spain, which has for
several years made little SIR in politics
sees an opportunity for coming again to
the front. The Sraniards are the tradi-
tional enemies # TIE Moors, and II France
annexes Algiers and Tunis, why should
not Spain annex Morocco Lest this
should not sufficiently complicate the
affairs of Northern Africa, :. sacred war
is again threatened by the wild arabs OF
the Atlas mountains, the Sahara and the
Souian. 1t has long been brewing, and
only needs leader to render II effective.
A rising in Middle Egypt, leti by proph-
e,. or Mohdi, was announced III the news
paters some days aga, which may be the
beginning of a general movement for
which the Mohammedan millions have
long been yanting.-S. +. Chfo"'c'e-