The National tribune., 1882-07-22

Under the most favorable circumstances
it viii take more than twenty years to re
store Alexandria to It's former state. In this
simple statement is summed up the practical
results OF the British bombardment. Naval
experts may differ as to the effectiveness Of
the British fire, but it is certain that a single
days cannonading suGiced to reduce the
Egyptian forts to ruins and compel Arab
Pacha to beat hasty retreat with the rem
nants of his army, under the cover Of a flag
of truce, to which he resorted, it seems,
solely to secure time in which to effect his
escape. The destruction of Alexandria,
however, cannot be charged to the operations
OF the fleet, inasmuch as the firing and sack
ing OF the city vas the work Of the Egyptian
iers; and any feeling of sympathy that
int otherwise be aroused for Arab Pacha
ie leader Of tie National party IS likely
checked by the contemplation nf tl'A
a3isy 49, veararaioa which he. displayed,
nerican patriots are not in the habit of
dering and burning their own cities, or
Of ordering an indiscriminate massacre Of
helpless strangers; and even were we dis
posed to champion the cause of the Egyptian
Nationalists, we should be compelled to hang
its leader as the first step towards making it
respectable! As it is, the contest over the
establishment of the authority Of the
Khedive is one that fortunately does not
concern this Republic, and we are not likely
to run any greater risk of being involved il
it than when Admiral Nicholson threatened
to fire back if the Egyptian forts attacked
the hulks under his command. The Admi-
raj evidently had all the pluck Of bis pre-
decessors in the days when we really had 4
navy, but it is fortunate thing that he was
not called upon to make good his word.
Otherwise the sinking Of two American
men Of war would probably have been
among the losses incident to the capture Of
the city.
We suppose there are those who envy
England the position which she occupies as
the arbiter of the de8tinies of nations, and
would like to see our own Republic called
on, once in q while, to settle international
disputes with shell and shrapncI, but to our
thinking we are much better Off as it is.
We have something better to engage our
energies than the partition Of Turkey, the
conquest of Afghanstan, or the su6iugotion
Of the Transvaal The money which other
nations expcnd in keeping mp immense
standing armies and constructing forts and
building navies is in this country needed for
the extension of railroads, the development
of mines and the erection Of manufactures.
The labor that in Europe is impressed for
military purposes is with Us required for
the telling of forests, the tanning of the
wilderness, and the opening up of all our
virgin resources. We have territory enough
already; the greatness of other nations does
not menace our own security; we have no
traditionary supremacy to maintain and no
legendary insults to avenge. 1t is all one to
us whether Bismarck, or G8mbetta holds the
balance Of Continental power; in short there
is no reason why we should envy either
the glory or the power Of England. If, there
fore, any of our fell0w-citizens are disposed
to bewail our lack of influence in the affairs of
the old world and lament that American
cannon were not heard at Alexandria, let
them console themselves with the thought
that we enjoy all the fruits of conquest with
out any of its responsibilities The peace
of Europe is never aught but an armed
truce, liable to be rudely broken at any
moment by the intrigues of diplomats
and the clash of conflicting ambitions, but
with us it is q fixed and stable possession,
born of Government based upon the con-
sent of the governed; and the ever-rising
tide of immigration which breaks upon our
shores testi1ies more strongly to the real
greatness of the new world than all the
triumphs of the sword to the greatness Of