Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-24
FRANCE AND EGYPT.

,ther European Government. 1t has indeed
been said that Russia and France both have
Eastern interests also, but they are trifing
to those of Great Britain, and if
It becomes question as to which of the
great powers shall control the canal, it is
certain that France cannot bring any valid
against an English protectorate.
1t Is moreover quite apparent now that
some of the European powers will hence
forth have to protect the canal, either
singly or Jointly, for it has been efectually
demonstrated that the Egyptian Govern
ment possesses neither the stability nor the
power to do so. But the present com.
plants OF the French papers are the more
foolish because it is notorious that Glad
Egypt unless France would cooperate, and
because it is equally notorious that Eng.
land was compelled to undertake the work
single-handed through the unexpected with.
drawal of France at the most critical juno |
ture.
If the policy of the De Freycinet min
istry had been carried out, France would
now have been co operating with England
in the Delta but the French Legislature
refused to irdorse that policy, and however
foolish this conclusion may have been, it
must be presumed to be the expression of
the nation. France, therefore, withdrew
from all participation in the Egyptian bust
meas, and whatever advantages may accrue
to England through her persistence, will
have been fully earned. The fact is, that
the French Government has committed a
great blunder in this connection. A few
years ago the French influence in Egypt
was paramount, and up to the time of the
Alexandria massacre that Government had
kept fully abreast of England. But at that
point some domestic considerations -proba.
bly, in part reaction from the Tunis af
fair, and in part feeling of want of conf
dence in the new army system-interfered
with the foreign policy of the country, and
resulted in the defeat of the De Freycinet
ministry, and the sudden retreat of the
French from the Egyptian operations. Up
| to that moment it had no doubt been sup.
posed in England that the WI ole proceed
| ings would have been undertaken Jointly
The change threw very grave and mo-
mentous responsibility upon England. She
had not been prepared for land campaign.
Naturally she would have expected that
the French, possessing great army, would
furnish the larger part of the land expedi
ton, while the naval work would princi-
pally devolve upon herself.
But she was now called upon either to
follow the French example, and abandon
the whole enterprise, or to take the re-
sponsibility solely upon herself. She
could not do the first, sirce it would not
only have discredited her fatally in Egypt,
but throughout the East. And such dis.
credit might easily involve second mu-
tiny in Hindostan. The ruler of India
is in fact compelled TO maintain her mill
tary prestige at all hazards, and Therefore
there was no course but to advance.
France had left her ally in the lurcli, and
had acted in manner which would rightly
be considered very shabby in mopsrchy,
but which cannot be resented IL l,epub-
lie, because there is there ssS iraiYidual
responsibility: Bss !, ssxaming the entire
r.SeSaseSility Of the campaign England
justly claimed the profits of it. and what.
ever the French press may say, the world
will assuredIy hold her entitled to them.
1t is rule as old az the human race that
the laborer ia worthy of his hire. and
when one power undertakes that which
several have declined to venture upon, the
one power will be justified in demanding
and taking the lions share of the ad-
vantages.
The French papers are probably at bot
tom chsgrined at the action of their own
Legislative body, but that does not Justify
them in accusing their late ally of commit
ting a theft in taking possession of the
Suez Canal. We may be sure that if
France had consented to cooperate In
Egypt she would have found it necessary
to supersede the Canal Company for the
time being, and we may also be sure that
she would have done this without compunc.
ton or hesitation. And she has nobody
but herself to blame for the fact that
British instead of French soldiers are now
holding the canal She would not have it
when it was almost thrust into her hands,
and now the probability is that she cannot
get it. She has in fact lost her prestige in
Egypt and in the East by her inaction, and
her loss is Englands gain. And now that
England has control of the canal it is not
likely that she will again run the risk of
having her communications with India in
terrupted. She may propose joint pro-
tectorate, or it may be forced upon her,
but if she is wise she will not lightly forego
her present vantage ground, and there is
no power in Europe at present that will
quarrel with her upon such an issue.
The opportunity of France has been al.
lowed to pass. That is her lookout, how.
ever. She took the course which the
majority of her legislators thought the
safest, and now the only dignified course
for her is to abide by her own decision.
No person can expect to obtain from
neutrality the same advantages as from
active cooperation in an enterprise Of this
kind. England is doing ali the work, and
she will claim and receive nearly all the
wages. That is only fair, and France can
not seriously object to it. At all events
she should have thought twice about with
drawing if she really wanted to maintain
her prestige in the East. 1t is too late for
regrets, now that the die has been cast
Egypt, in the ordinary course of events,
will go to England henceforth, and France
must be content with Algeris and Tunis,
and her distant Annamese colony.
TIE SUPREME COURT AND THE PRISON
DIRECTORS.
| The Supreme Court has decided that the
Act of the Legislature which gave the
Prison Directors 500 a month each, is
unconstitutional. The RECORD UNION SO
1 II IL nh