The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-09-20
THE EGYPTIAN WAR.

One resolute, spirited dash Of British
troops has overthrow the entire fabric
of Arab Pasha's usurped authority. |
The result proves that from the begin
ming to the end the rebellion was mere
revolt of the army, or rather, as the
British government maintains, an at
tempt by the officers of the army to sub
ordinate the civil to the military power
An attempt to play the role of the
Mamelukes
If the population of Egypt sympa-
thized with Arab, it was with a sympa-
thy too Ianguid for revolution. At the
first reverse, the people deserted their
selfconstituted leader. The army it
self seems to have given but half
hearted support to the i'll fated Arab.
Unless we conclude that the rebellion
did not extend beyond the army, We
must assume that the army and the
people of Egypt are without protection
and without spirit.
We may form some idea of the con-
sequences to flow from the war, by not
ing in general way the occasion Of it.
1t will be borne in mind that the politi-
cal relations of Egypt and the Porte,
are due to Mehemet Ali, the lineal an
cestor of the present Khedive. (Arabic
for viceroy.) That great ruler, hav-
ing possessed himself of Syria, and
great part of Asia Minor, threatened
the overthrow of the Sultan. England
and France, dreading the complications
to which such an event would lead, by
forcible interposition, compelled Me-
hemet Ali to restore his conquests to
the Sultan and acknowledge his ultimate
sovereignty over Egypt. This was a
nominal sovereignty, the entire inter
nal administration of Egypt being in
the hands of Mehemet Ali. Ismail, a
grandson Of Mehemet Ali, succeeded
to the throne in 1868, and in 1866 the
Sultan confirmed his title to the throne
and made the viee-royalty hereditary in
the family of Mehemet Ali, subject TO
nominal sovereignty in the Sultan.
During the reign of Ismail the Suez
canal was constructed. He was pro-
gressive ruler; made canals and rail-
roads, established schools and colleges,
created standing army and built a
navy. He resorted to the modern ex-
pedient of raising money by the sale OF
bonds. These bonds were in great part
sold to English and French capitalists
for less than half their nominal amount.
The result was that Ismail entailed a
public debt of more than a hundred
millions of dollars on Egypt. His f.
nances fell into disorder He failed TO
apply the revenues to the debt, and Of
Tended by this means England and
France and had exhibited insubordi-
nation to the Sultan; and, moreover,
was regarded by the Egyptians as an
oppressor. England had bought a
large amount of Suez Canal shares. 1t
was not controlling amount, but was
nevertheless very large. Although the
English had little faith in the Suez
Canal when it was projected, they
speedily realized its overshadowing i'm
portance to their commerce and their
empire in the East. England sends
more ships through the canal than all
Europe and America. Both England
and France, therefore, have an interest
France the same in kind, differing
only in degree) in maintaining stable
and well administered government in
Egypt, and in securing neutrality and
inviolability for the canal. Ismail hav
ing brought Egypt to bankruptcy land the
government to stand still, was at the
instance of England and France, de-
posed by the Sultan, and his son Tew-
fix made viceroy in his stead.
England and France imposed upon
their protege, the condition that he
would allow his revenues to be collected
by commissioners of the two powers
that is, these commissioners were to ap.
point collectors and supervise the col
lections, receive the money, and after
paying certain amount to creditors of
Egypt, to turn the balance into the
treasury. The sway which England
and France thus obtained in Egypt pro-
duced discomfort. The commissioners
abused their powers and infamed the
jealousy of the Egyptians. The pay of
the army, and in fact the army itself
was becoming dependent on the Powers.
Tewfik seemed to be the mere represent
tatiye of England and France. The
army being the only real power in
Egypt, undertook to control the Khe-
dive, and finding it could not control
him, it determined to neutralize his au-
thority, and on the first attempt of the
Khedive 10 assert himself, resolved to
depose him. Arab Pasha was the Khe-
dives minister of war, and backed by
the army, he practically controlled the
government or blocked its wheels.
1t is attributed to him, that he
fomented disorders throughout Egypt,
inaaming the people against the
Khedive, who was held up as the submits
sive slave of foreigners. These disor-
ders could only be suppressed by the
army, and the army was controlled by
Arab, who refused to employ it unless
It's demands were granted. The Khedive
could not dismiss Arab without precipi-
tating a revolt, and could not retain
him without a practical submission
to the army. Egypt was threatened /