Morning journal and courier., 1882-07-13
Arabi Pacha.
Judge Batcheller's Opinion of the

the international tribunal in Egypt, and now in this country on visit, made an interest ing statement regar ding affairs in Egypt to representative of the New York Za16une the other day. That portion of it which sketch es Arabi Pacha's rise to power is of special interest
 ''The present aspect of the Egyptian ques- tion," said Judge Batcheller, lis transito- ry, and it's issue uncertain, that it would be impossible to decide whether this movement will result in the amelioration or ruin of the condition of Egypt. One thing is certain that the original movement of Arabi Pacha was that of 8 patriot seeking to relieve his countrymsn of foreign oppression, and to establish what is popularly known IS home rule. His partisans style themselves the tional party, and their watcoword is, 'EgS pt for the Egyptians The@ movement bears some analogy to that in Ireland, and by many Arabi is styled the Parnell of Egypt. Wheth- CT he is patriot or demagogue and bully depends on the standpoint of those who esti- mate and judge his actions. There is no
 oubt that nine tenths of the better class of the Egyptians, including the local Christians (Copts Syrians and Armenians), sustain his movem ments.
 s'Arabi Pacha is about 45 years of age I should say, pure Arab and born in Arabia while his parents were on a pilgrimage to Mecca-hence his name, Arabi. He has ris- en from the lower ranks of the people to his present station, and is what we would call here self made man. He received what we would term common school education, and then entered the army in of it's lowest grades. He gradually advanced to the rank of major. He has always manifested great desire for learning and has read extensively the histories of the western governments, and especially has studied the clements of their constitutional organization. He is said also to have mastered military science and excellent officer, in fact SO good an officer that Khedive Ismail, contrary to the rule that none but Turks should occupy commanding positions in the Egyptian army, few years ago advanced him to the grade of colonel (bey) and gave him command of regiment. At this point Arabi began to man. fest his superior qualities, and gradually succeeded in advancing two of his colleagues to the rank of colonel aEd command of regi- ments. Finding himself and two other Arabs in command of nearly all the effective troops at Cairo, he began to develop 8 plan for the promotion of Arabs, instead of Turks or Circassians, to the higher grades of the army. Hitherto the Khedives of Egypt had taken care to surround themselves with Turks or Janissaries. It should be always understood that the Khedive's family and the governing Pachas of Egypt are Turks, and that the population are Arabs, that the two races are essentially different, that the Arabs feel themselves superior, and are, in fact, supe- rior to the Turks. The Arabs have schools and universities, literature, art and architec-
 
 influences of society, whereas the Turk is a Tartar, with no literature, and only distin- guished for brute force and intrigue.
 ''In February, 1ssO the then minister of war of Egypt, a Turk, made number of promotions in the army, advancing Turks to higher grades to the exclusion of Arabs, and at the same time he dismissed numerous Arabs for his ministry and replaced them by Turks. This brought out firm but respect full remonstrance from Arabi and his associate colonels. It simply asked that promotions should be made according to grade, and that the Arabs should receive their share of the positions and emoluments of the military administration. This remonstrance was treated by the ministry act of in subordination and Arabi ordered to re- port to the minister of war for discipline. court martial was then sitting to try him for insubordination. Before leaving his regi- ment he told his men that if he didn't return soon they might know he being tried for having circulated this remonstrance He did not return and his regiment went armed to the ministry, broke open the doors drove out the minister of war, overturned the tables of the court, beat and assaulted the officers constituting it and bore Arabi back in tri- umph to his quarters This was the first overt act on the part of the military or of Arabl, and the government instead of pun ishing the offenders as such, compromised with Arabi, restored to him his position and dismissed the minister of war.
 ''Should the powers make terms with Arabi he would probably not object to the mainte nance of supervisory inspection of their financial administration by England and France, but he would not restore them to power. What his dreams may be as to the future do not know. It is probable that he has aspirations for Arabic nation with caliph president at it's head. He has caused to be printed in Arabic and circulated the constitution of the United States. and has in- quired earnestly as to the details of our gov ernment and it's institutions, and he has re- peatedly declared that his people were not yet ready for self government to the extent of republic. He modelled his government of last September substantially the Eng fish plan-a parliament and a responsible ministry. At time has he shown dispo- sition to throw off the suzerainty of the Sul- tan or repudiate the tribute payable to him. Doubtless the Sultan has encouraged him in his revolution, but only to have an excuse to intervene for the establishment of peace with single eye upon the feshpots of Egypt"
 State News