The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-07-22
THE WAR IN EGYPT.

The Men and Measures that Caused It
The Debt Issue-Ismail, the Borrower,
and Arab PashR, the Oriental Read
INCONSISTENCIES of Egyptian Poll
tics-The Triumph of AraDa-EurOpe
DefIed.
Arab Pasha owes his rise to power in
Egypt to the fact that the immediate prede-
cessors of the present Khedive were unstinted
borrowers. In the Land of the Nile, as in
some of our States, the debt issue has been
found to open to scheming demagogues the
easiest avenue to place and power. Modern
Egypt, especially as regards its close relation
to European politics, may be SAID to be the
creation of one man, lsmail Pasha, who sue
ceeded his uncle, Said Pasha, in the govern
ment of Egypt in 1868, and was in 1867 cloth
ed by the Sultan with the new title OF hhe-
dive, or viceroy. 1t is indisputable that he
was generous, large-minded man, who con
ferred large benefits upon Egypt by the I'M
mense stimulus he gave to the development
of its resources. But his attempt to Europe
anize his country, involving as it did vast ex-
penditure, supported by loans contracted at
high rates of interest, was ill-judged, and has
nat upon the present and many future gener-
ations of Egyptians an almost intolerable bur
den.
EGYPr's DEBT.
The debt of Egypt is 1856, 000, 900, exclu-
sive of the debts secured by the private es-
tates tDaira) of the former khedive and by
the public domain, amounting together TO
SS5, 0OO, 600. The first loan, made by Said
Pasha, Ismails predecessor, dating from
1862, was for SIC. 500. zoe; all the remainder
was accumulated by Ismail himself at ruinous
rates of interest in the short period of about
sixteen wears. s'None the Egyptian loans,
SAYS Mr.. Cave, the eminent tnancier, who
was sent ont in 1875 to put the khediye's af-
fairs in order, 'cost less than II per cent per
annum. while some cost more than f3t, and
the military loan cost %. 9 per cent, including
sinking funds 1t is generally admitted that
the Khedive received little more than half the
nominal amount of his loans. As his money
was for the most part badly invested, or
what was oftener the ease-squandered, 1t Is
not surprising that be soon found himself un-
able to borrow more. or pay interest on what
he already owed to European capitalists,
REFoRN or THE FINANCES.
Under the pressure of increasing financial
difficulties, in August, 1873, he transferred to
the Egyptian exckeqner the Daira estates,
held BY himself and his family, and entrusted
Nubar Pasha, Christian, educated IN Eng
land, with the task of forming ministry that
would devise measures 10 restore the credit OF
Rivers Wilson became minister Of finance,
and NJ. De Blignieres minister Of public works,
aud English and French commissioners Of the
public debt were putt power. The remedies
these gentlemen sought to apply were hovev-
er. more wholesome tkan agreeable 90 the
public for whose benefit they were devised.
and the ministry As a whole became unpoP1-
lar. II fell February 10, 1879, By reason Of
an outbreak at Cairo, which the khedive
himself was suspected Of secretly promntng.
Tewfik Pasha, lsmaifs eldest son, the present
khedive, formed new ministry. IN whsch the
representatives Of Ismails creditors we're an'
dersfood TO have decisive indaenee, bot ON
the It'll OF April ismail dismissed the cabinet
on the alleged ground that is measures we're
sAnniust % the bondhelders aud injurious 70
the publie credit and announced the foFmn.
ton of ministry composed Of really Egyp-
tan elements.
IsNAH. DEr0sEp-
This saainsing toward ..readjasterssm pre-
c;pisafed a crisis, and on the as;th Of June The
Saltan, at the instance Of England snd
France. issued 6rman acposing issnasi and
appointing Tewfik kbedive ~ has stead
Tewfk was more amenable 10 Western inhn-
encf.s shan his headsfrong father coald I.ossi-
bly find i IN his nature 10 be. Il was at this
time the Western power& entered spon their
ioins prosecaormtn. Two ..cempsrellers- rrn-
erAl, Major Il. Barring and NJ. dc Bsignieres,
we're appointed, aud The extent Of their pow
egs was defined IN decree Of Nov. 10, 1873 {;
The eompsrellers- general have full powers
OF Investigation into every pablic service 81
the state, including that q the pHhise dei,i
ministers, and all public ofacials q ever rank
are h0aHid 10 furnish them with all documents
thev may require. They can only be
removed by their own governEents-
Tkey take the rank u ministers. and viil al.
ways have the right 70 attend and speak -
meetings II the e0aaeil 81 ministers, bat Sith-
out the power to vuse. They have shs
power Of naming and dismissing all officials
whose assistance j. Of NJ nse IN shern.
Their eontrul II the purse-strsHsrA made
theuN. as nsay be rradily ,mszanesf, thu uaoss
considerable persons IN she kgypssAa admin.
istsnt;oa. n July, lSs0, a law framed By ?
complementary ..eommission &c h9eidaiioa,
representing the governments q tserlnAay,
Aaxtrt,- Hungary. France. Great Britain and
ItAiy. vas promulgated. IL provided -.
Payment af the aoasiax debt, - pr cent ~
cash. and 20 per- ceiif. in bends Of tke mes
privileged drkt. 2 Conversion u The loans
of 1854. is85, 1858 and 1855 into bonds q The
unified debt. With = reduction of the rate Of
iuteress to Per cent
rHk hKHr AM RyDGET.
0a the Isl q lanaary, lssi, the pahlie debt