New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-24
THE WORLUS POLICEMAN.

Euronc Asia. Africa and the Isles of the Sea,
has met with many an ugly affair, but rarely
with one more incOnvcnient or untlmey than
the riot in Egypt. 1t came just when the
pcrplexcd policeman was trying to quell some
thing very like a mutiny in his own household,
not with conspicuous success as yet. 1t came
when leading men of all parties were In
state of unusual uncertainty as to the future
and peplexity ms to their own course, and
when the party now in power had extraordl-
nary reasons for wishing to avoid general
election. But it is clear already that the lead
crs of that party are compelled to do some
thing about the Egyptian business, that they
are not agreed as to what to do, and that 1t Is
quite uncertain what course the British public,
if appealed to, will just now be disposed
to sustain. At any ordinary time, the
British public would undoubtedly sus-
tain an extremely vigorous course,
when British citizens had been mobbed and
murdered and the British flag insulted by a
mob in an African city. But the one thing
certain Just at this time is that the Irish por-
ton of the British public will not sustain any
thing. The great party which followed Mr.
Dsraeli to defeat in the "JingO" struggle,
eager as it was then to maintain what was
called British honor, at any cost, will be
strongly tempted to avenge the blows then re-
ceived from Mr. Gladstone. OF his own asso-
GATES too, Mr. Gladstone finds some who are
sincerely opposed to a further discharge of the
functions of policeman for all nations, and
some who welcome an opportunity to set up
in business for themselves as party leaders.
There has been great deal of harsh criticism
of British intermeddling III the affairs of all
nations, Of which criticism some part at least,
has been unwarranted. The mother country,
though often III the wrong, has had one most
honorable reason for putting forth its power
full arm on many OCCASIONS Great Britain has
FOR many years been often the sole representa-
tive of order and law in quarters OF the world
where civilization and Justice must other
wise have been trampled under foot completely.
But the interference has very often been not
at all gratuitous, but virtually compelled by
the duty of the British Government to its own
subjects The function of night Waterman
and guardian of the peace In all the dark ana
disorderly places of the earth is not so de-
sirabe that nation is apt to "ssuIne II IN
sheer wantonness. A vast debt, costly navy,
standing army and the hearty hatred of
many neighbOis are among the fruits OF 1t for
Great Britain. And yet, what is Government
for if not to protect the rights of It's subjects
British subjects go everywhere. The com
merce and the industry of the nation compel
them to he found in every land where there is
ANYTHING fit to be bought, or anybody able to
bny. TO every such Land too, British money
goes of necessity, to carry on enterprises and
commerce upon which industries at home de
pend Though employed abroad, the money Is
working for Great Britain, belongs to Great
Britain, and carries with it rights OF
property Just as the living British sub
iect carries with him rights of citizen
ship. If the nation did not protect these
rights of property and of citizenship the
men and the money would quickly seek shell
ter under some other flag, for there Is not
opportunity on the narrow British islands for
the employment of nearly all the energy or
the accumulated wealth of the people. Indeed,
that wealth could not have been accumulated
nor could the nation have drawn to Itself so
much OF the enterprise and skill of the world,
had not the nation jealousy defended every
where on earth the rights of British men and
money.
Going everywhere, oustinS rivals by supe-
bv command of superior capital, British sub
iects have unavoidably required great deal
of protection in all lands where order and
law do not prevail. SO it has come to pass
in very many cases, that British interference
in foreign affairs has originated in the use of
force to protect British subjects. In such
cases the course of the mother country de
serves from US not censure, but emulation
The United States has much reason
to be ashamed of itself because
pettifOgging partisans and shallow dema-
gogues have made it hazardous for an
American statesman to care for the rights of
American citizens abroad Great Britain how
ever, has gone much further. 1t has abored
nightly to prevent wars between nations with
which il had commercial interests or to cstab-
lish or maintain stable and orderly Govern
ments in such nations, and this also has been
often a service to mankind. No one will for
yet that many times the motives have been
less honorable, or the methods utterly indie
fcnsible Bullying and tyranny, conquest and
rapine, have not been unknown in British
dealings with other Powers But the Great
Britain that we know and honor, the mother
country that has done so much for the civil
zation and Contamination of the world could
not have existed, and would not now exist, if
its Government had not been quick to care
for the rights and interests of its citizens in
every part of the world.
Whoever wishes 10 rule Great Britain Will
have to find a way to keep some sort of order
in Egypt 1t is a hard decree. But British
interests in India, and in the Suez Canal as
the pathway to India. make order in Egypt a
necessity to Great Britain. The commercial
classes will at last appeal, in this instance
with tremendous effect, to the sense Of national