Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-08-10
THE PORTE.
The Egyptian Problems Which
PerpIex the sultan.

ConTtantinople Letter in St. James Gazette.
The Ministers have been in delibe-
ration at Yildiz Kiosk ever since the
first shot was fred, only allowing
themselves the necessary leisure for
sleeping and eating, and yet we know
as little of what has been going on
as ifthey were a European conference.
neither the result of their delibera-
tlons be that Turkish troops be sent to
Egypt or not, it will always be inter-
esting to know hal the matter has
been the subject of warm discussion;
that the majority of Ministers
we're in favor Of it, while
the objections to it arose chiefly
on the part of the Sultan him
self; and it may be no less interesting
to review the arguments which were
to be urged pro and con. Those who
advocated the dispatch of an expedi-
ton were influenced probably by the
following considerations: To allow
warlike operations to be carried on
between the English and the Egypt
tians, without Turkish military inter
ventions, would imply an abdication
on the part Of the Sultan of his sover-
eign rights; might be regarded as an
evidence of weakness, and give the
National party the right to negotiate
their own terms, independently of the
supreme authority, when the time
came to make them, and when inter
ference on the part of Turkey might
become impossible.
Again, the advocates of interven-
ton might urge that Turkish troops,
once landed, would stay; that no more
opportune occasion was likely to arise
Of thwarting the French policy, which
feared a Turkish occupation of Egypt;
and that arrangements might possibly
be made with England now, defining
the authority of the Sultan in Egypt
in a manner opposed to French inter-
ests in that country; and such an ar
rangement might form the basis of an
understanding with England in re.
gard not merely to Egyptian but to
Eastern affairs which should finally
associate France from her ally. The
Porte might fairly claim from En-
gland, in return for a Turkish expedi-
ton, an understanding of this sort;
and there cannot be the slightest
doubt that if the result of the opera
tions in Egypt should lead to a new
departure in u policy which should
once more link it with that of Turkey,
Germany and Austria, the Egyptian
embrogliO will not have been an un.
mixed evil. But unless our govern
ment is prepared to make advances to
the Porte in this direction, they are
playing into the hands of those who
oppose the notion of Turkish military
nterference-which they do, probably,
on hefollowing grounds: They foresee
that Turkish troops landingin Egypt
even if they could do so now under our
guns without opposition, which is no
doubt the case-must march to Cairo
and establish the Khedive there, while
Arab is either made prisoner or com
PEELED to flee the country; no cooper
alton with England is possible except
under these conditions. They foresee
also that any such cooperation would
furnish evidence, which the national
party would not be slow to avail them.
selves of, that Turkey was acting at
the dictation of England; and this
would impair the spiritual authority
of the Sultan, and give the Arabs the
opportunity they are seeking of pro-
claiming a rival Oaliph. 1t is possible
that the Turkish troops under these
circumstances would meet with re-
~sistance before reaching Cairo; that
this resistance would rally all the
isdaffected Arabs to the standard of
Arab, and might be the signal of a
rebellion which might extend all
through Arabia and Syria and the
Asiatic dominions of the Sultan where
the Turkish element did not FREEDOM
mate. Moreover, rumors have not
been wanting that the Turkish sol.
diery might be lackingin loyalty under
such circumstances, and be more in.
clined to f~raternise with than to fire
upon their Arab co religionists.
The consequences to the Ottoman
Empire which must result from the
failure Of a Turkish expedition ia
Egypt are more serious than people in
England imagine; for they might in
volve its utter overthrow. If it be
true, as the most recent events suggest,
that the religious fanaticism in Egypt
is perfectly uncomfortable, and the
whole Of Semitic Islam is prepared to
rise in revolt against Turkish authority
with the hope Of Wrestling from it the
Caliphate, then we can we'll under.
stand why the Sultan should hesitate.
no matter what the inducements hello
out to him from the other side may be
to invite a struggle of this kind, anC
why his inclination should not rather
be to endeayOr to retain his hold upor