Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-24
The Under Dog ia the Fight.


Reports continue to b. sent cut from Alexandria
that there is great suffering and destituton out
side OF that city, in the vicinity OF Arab Pashas
forces Some of these statements go SO far as TO
say that large numbers OF natives are already
dying Of starvation. These stories, which are
clearly circulated for the purpose OF pretudicing
Arabi and his cause in the mind OF the civilized
world, may possibly te true. 1t Is WELL however
% receive them with good many grains OF allow
ance. II not wholly false. they are doubtless
greatly exaggerated. The delta of the Me- from
the sea to Cairo, is as rich and productive garden
spot as there is the face OF the earth. Three
heavy crops are gathered there annually. and two
OF these have already been secured this year. The
population OF that section is dense as to
nave consumed It's enormous yield at this early
period, nor any large part OF it; no unusual
expectations have been made meanwhile; nor is
ArabfS force large enough to have made any
serious drain on the vast accommodations from two
karyests Besides. 1t must be remembered that
his army and Its corps OF followers consist largely
Of the native population OF that immediate
locality, and that thus but little if anything has
been added TO its usual number of consumers. IL
Is apparent therefore, that these reports sent out
In the interests OF the British. must b.. if not
wholly fictitious, at least wide Of the truth.
But even II 1t were proved that starva-
ton Is common, and restitution and suffer-
Ing the rule the fault Is not ATabIS: and neither
he nor his followers should be held responsible for
state OF things which they not only did not bring
about but which they were pOwerlesS to prevent.
The awful suffering which unquestionabIy exists
IN Egypt at ali times, and OF which SO much ac-
count is now sought to be made, is the cause, not
the effect, or Arabs present attitude tow rl the
rulers, real ard pretended, OF that unhappy and
afflicted country. 1t has been no uncommon cx-
perence OF travellers In Egypt IN periods OF peace
and comparative plenty to see scores OF her native
born population literally and absolutely starving
10 IcfT7.
enjoyment OF imperial salaries were collecting her
revenues and administering her affairs for the
benefit OF English and French bondEOlders. and
without taking any account or the rights or lives
OF the people from whom the excessive taxes were
wrung. It'll safe to say that no people have ever
borne more hardship and oppression than those
OF Egypt nave suffered from the combined eX-
actions Of the line OF weak wicked and absolute
uespots who have ruled over them, aided and
aDetted by the very powers who are now plotting
for her downfall and ACKNOWLEDGMENT. The won
der Is not that a revolt has come, but that it has
been so long delayed.
As must always be the case when a downtrod-
den race is endeavoring TO throw of It's yoke,
many things are likely to be done by the Eyyp-
tlans which cannot be Justified; but a general
cause should not be condemned for occasional ex-
ceSSeS Let any other people put themselves In
che place OF these poor creatures, and answer how
long they would submit TO what they have borne
tree themselves.
There is great deal Of bosh talked and written
about the European powers acting in the interest
OF CIVILIZATION and all that sort OF thing This is
an Old ana worn out story. Ali the world knows
better. The relations which have existed between
the powers and the uSurpng rulers OF Egypt have
been simply those OF greedy pawn-broking money
lenders and bankrupt spendthrift The people OF
Egypt were no party 10 their transactions and have
received DO benefit from them. On the other hand.
their burden has been steadily increased I'm con-
quence until at last 10 has become too heavy 10 be
longer borne With the people OF that country II
IS now simply aquestlon Cf revolution or extermf-
nation The latter may be their fate and It looks
row as though It must be- Still the end Is not vet
In sight; and the world has seen stranger Fights
than IL would be to see the Turk the Br;;an and
the frank all driven out OF that country and her
INDUSTRIOUS, down-tIodden natives left to WORK
out their own destiny Ia their own way Born
rulers cannot always rule.
The action OF portion OF the strikers at Cleye
land In resuming work at the terms offered by tho
mills seems TO have broken the backbone of the
resistance, and the beliei EOw Is that all the ern
ployes VIII at once return 10 their former places
In fact, the president OF the Amalgamated Asso-
Citation OF Iron Workers declares his intention OF
advising the men TO accept The terms proposed by
the mills. Taking advantage OF the necessities
which compelled the work,EaL TO yield the mill
o"He's i-1'S Lapc>c.i CONDITIONS upon the former
which a.e undoubtedly designed to punish them
tor having struc,- Ii IL is dcsira BILE to restore
mutual good feeling between capital and labor
this course OF the mli prOprietors certainly is not
O wise one.
Now that IL has been officially reported 70 this
government that there arc no longer any AmerI-
cans IN danger in Egypt, the best thing the Secre-
tary OF the Navy DO is TO order Admiral Mich
olson away from Alexandria. His exploits there
are the best exenpihcGtion possible or the truth
OF Watts lines that