Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-06-28
THE COMPLICATIONS IN EGYPT.

Egyptian question:, SO-called, and It's
material bearings, it is first necessary to
recall briefly the events which have TAX
en- place within the last half-dozen years
in connection with the ADMINISTRATION of
the Egyptian Government In the year
1876 the alarming condition of the affairs
OF Egypt, financial and administrative,
seemed to call for the Intervention of the
powers of Europe in behalf of the inter
ests of the holders of Egyptian bonds.
England and France also felt ,that their
supremacy over the Suez Canal, if not in
any immediate peril, was, at least, likely
threatened. At this time, the Khedive,
Ismai[ Pasha, was welding absolute and
despotic sway over the land. By his reck-
less prodigality he had brought the coun-
try on the brink of bankruptcy, and mat
ters were going from bad to worse. The
debts amounted to EGO, 100000 and was
constantly increasing. The whole of this
amonnt had been incurred in fourteen
years. In the meantime the people were
groaning beneath a yoke of taxatioA and
tyranny that was slavery save in name
England and France came to the rescue.
1t was intimated to the Khedive that he
must reform his government. This he
engaged to do, saying in a note to Eng
land that in his future rule he would act
in concurrence with and under the ad-
vice of his Ministers. But IsmaiI failed
to carry out his agreement, still making
his own will the law, and exercising it in
the old despotic way, Finally, in 1878,
a high commission was appointed on be-
half of the powers, which made inquiry
into the administration of the govern
ment, and presented a report, setting
forth all that could be learned concerning
the Khedives oppressive rule aud its ru-
inous effects upon the country and the f.
nances. The principle was recognized
that any amelioration of the finances
must be accompanied by good govern
ment.
In 1879, Ismail Khedive was compell-
ed to abdicate in favor of his nephew,
Tewfik Pasha, the present Khedive, and
since the accession of Tewfk the admin
istration of affairs has been carried on
under the supervision of England and
France, with Germany, Austria and Italy
behind them. In this supervision Eng
land and France are represented each by
a "Comptroller General" who ranks as a
Minister, and is invested with extraordin-
ary powers. The Controllers have full
authority to inquire into "every public
service, including the public debt; the
departments all report to them; they pre-
pare the budget; they can be removed
only by their own Governments. In adj
dition, in 1880, Commission ofLiquida
ton was appointed. Under the "Con-
troP' and the Commission much has been
accomplished in the direction of amelior-
ating the condition of the country This
is the "status quo" which is to-day
threatened, and which powers desire to
see maintained
On the other hand. party has been
recently formed in Egypt calling itself
the National party, which is led by Arab
Bey, the Minister of War, and the army
Whether this party embraces any consid-
erable portion of the population is as yet
an unanswered question outside of Egypt.
Arab Bey, the army, and the Nationals
clamor for the constitutional government
Yet, while they do so, they aim their
shafts at the Control" which has secur-
ed for the people all the constitutional
privileges that they have enjoyed. When
the new Ministry, with Arab Bey as
Minister of War, came into office, the
first article of its programme was to place
the budget into the hands of the chamber
of notables.
This body is composed of about seventy
five persons, nominated by local officers,
and chosen from the influential and mon
eyed natives Hitherto its powers have
been very limited and unimportant. 1t
is contended that the Chamber is entire
ly subservient to Arab Bey and the army,
and that placing the budget in its hands
would amount practically to turning it
over to the army. All this while the army
menaces the Control and the Khe
dive which stands with the "Control;"
and the powers can not look on with
complacency when so much is at stake.
The army, it is claimed, has grown to
proportions that cannot be justified by a
condition of peace, and it will be shown
that the efforts to bring up the finances
of the country have already been ham,
pered by the increased military expendi-
tnre. The army is composed of all ele-
ments of the Egyptian population except
Iu0 SOpLlC, IuO f1IdUo
The Copts are excluded. A correspond
ent of the Nation, referring to Arab Bey,
remarks that he is by no means born
leader, and cannot in any light be looked
upon as a Cromwell or Washington.
This view of him gives color to the as
sertion that he is in degreee acting un
der the influence of others.
What the end will be no one can pre-
dict. In case of absolute revolution in
Egypt, England may close her control
over her great waterway to India. Would
she then occupy Egypt? In that case
other complications would arise. The
Suez Canal was built by French enter
prise and French capitalists, and is own
ed by French shareholders. France
would have. something to say.-Prooi-
dence Journal.
SHIPPING. LUMBER TO ENGLAND.-A