New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-16
TIE EGYPTIAN CRISIS.

The Egyptian crisis now has the aspect of
Dolitical conflict rather than dynastic IcvOlu
ton. Arab knew that his main reliance must
be placed upon the Army, but for the sake of
conciatine national sentiment and OF dlsarm-
ing foreign criticism he was anxious to substl-
tute q civil for a military coup detdt If the
sovereign was to be cOcrced into resembling
decree, or was to be deposed outright, the AS
scmbly of Notables, which proved plant in
strumcnt of his will few months ago, would
be more serviceable agent than mob of
soldiers clamOring before the gates of the
Palace. lie accordingly cOnvOked the AS
sembly in order to lay his grievance before
I" the representatives of the people" His grev-
ance was the communication of the sentences of
the cOurt-martial which had tried certain
officers and civilians who were accused of plot
ting against his life. The Khediye had perceived
that the verdict had been dictated by the Min
lister of War, and acting under the advice of
the foreign Controllers he had overruled it.
The Assembly was called upon to enforce the
original sentence and to depose the Khedive if he
should offer any further resistance to the de-
mands of his Ministers. Its members, however,
are startled 10y the glaring irTegularity of the
summons, which comes from the Ministry and
not from the sovereign. Their president even
advises the Ministry to resign, and majority
of the body are apparently unwilling to sup
port the revolutionary programme. The pro-
jected civil coup detdt must, therefore, be
abandoned. Arab must either make military
demonstration at once. or effect some tempo
rary compromise by which the political crisis
can be deferred to a more convenient season,
when the Assembly can take his part without
doing violence to what they consider cOnstitu-
tiona warrants.
Meanwhile the elements OF complex pOpula-
ton are ranging themselves in opposite political
camps, being assured that while civil war and
anarchy may he temporarily agcrted, great
crisis is close at hand. Arab represents not
only the Army but the National party, which
includes the educated Mussulmans, the Arab
merchants, the village shekhs and as many of
the felaheen and delta Bedouins as take any in
terest whatever in political affairs. On the
other side are mustered the European commune
ity, which is mainly French and Italian, with
the Greek mOney-lenders, the Syrian Chris
tans, the Circassians and many influential
Turks. To these must be added the desert
Bedouins, upon whose support the Khedive
seems to count If the Army rises in, revolt
against him. Here are forces which are mo-
mentarily kept under control, but a crisis must
soon come in which they will he measured
against each other. A change of dynasty, with
Arab on the throne in place of Tewfk, would
be less of a menace to Europe than the political
anarchy which may be the outcome of a pro-
tracted civil war. Anarchy might carry with it |
the loss of national independence, and that
would involve the insecurity of the great water
way which is SO essential to the commercial
prosperity of England. Until Egypt is made |
the prize of general European war it will be
jealousy guarded by the two Powers which are
now sending their fleets to Alexandria. The |
moment it ceases to be nation and reverts to
its former condition of Turkish dependency, |
governed by a group of thieyish and blood |
thirsty Pachas, it becomes the true geographic |
cal centre OF the British Empire, the objective |
point of French diplomacy, and the common
ground Of European intrigue and discord.