New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-26

result will be hailed with satisfaction III Loh-
don. where the risks and embarrassnents OF
Joint expedition are fully appreciated For
military as well as diplomatic reasons. one
agent is better than two in work OF ms sort.
The isolation of France may not be credit; Die
to her Government, but 1t is substantial gam
so far rs European interests are concerned
The two Premiers are in accord on one point.
NJ de Freycinet states that the Powers nave
renowned the idea of deDnting any agent TO
act in Egypt, and Mr.. Gladstone refers only In
the vaguest way to the authority of the Sultan
and TO the moral assent of Europe. 1t Is evil
dent that the work of The Confer ence has practi-
caly ended. The Sultan will not be allowed
another opportunity for action on the Nile, and
the Powers will tacitly acquiesce i'll English IN
terventOn without formally sanctlonlDg II.
The responsibility of SURPRISING the military
revolt and OF restoring Tewtik's authority de-
wolves upon Great Britain. A vote OF credit
has been asked, an increase of the income tax
has bfcn proposed the reserve has been called
out, and arrangements are rapidly making for
the dispatch OF an army corps OF 2o,ooo men
for active operations. This force will appar-
emily include eighteen bataliOns OF infantry,
three of the guards, six regiments of cavalry,
as many as seventeen batteries of artillery, and
n commiSsariat reserve.
This army of seasoned men ought to have no
difficulty in dispensing Arabi's forces If IN en-
gagement can be brought on in the open field.
Egypt will, however, be a very different battle
ground from India, where there are dense
masses of population and where supplies of
food for an invading army can always he Sc
cured With the lower Nile basin under water
as 1T will lie ill August and September, the
commiSSariat will present unusual difficulties
and the English regiments will readily tall
prey to disease. If their toes wisely conclude
to fight like the Arab or the Moor rather than
to meet them in the field where artillery will
decide every battle, the campaign may be indefi-
nitcly prolonged. But whatever may be the
hazards and difficulties of the work which lies
before England, the issue has been joined.
Her forces are in motion her honor is pledged !;
and her people unite in pronouncing the war
both necessary and justiiable.
Thi-, we think, will also be the sober and
deliberate Judgment of mankind Mr. Glad
stones speech delivered after the lombard
ment of Alexandria, which was published in
Yesterdays TRIBUNE, is an unanswcrabe de-
fence of EDglands policy. While European
Conference was striving to induce the Sultan
to suppress military despotism IN Egypt and
by rcinstating Tewtik in authority To secure
the safety of the short waterway TO the East,
there was an atrociOus massacre OF foreigners
in Alexandria. Whether Arab was or was not
responsible for that massacre 1t was the duty
of the British Admiral to Keep his fleet in the
harbOr and 10 protect not only those residents of
his own nationality who remained on shore, but
the NIceroy, who had been loyal to his engage
ments with Europe. When the safety of that
fleet was menaced, he was justified in batter
ing down the earthwOrks in selt-deience.
When the city was burned and pllaged it was
his duty to land his Marines to rescue the Vice
roy and TO restore order III the blackened and
bloodstained streets. Finally, the Govern
ment is acting wholly within its rights as a
member of the European State system when,
perceving the unwillingness of the Sultan to
assert his authority, it takes effective measures
to put an end to the reign of military violence
in EgypJ-the rule OF a s0ldier-mOb led by
officers who have been brbed by an Arabian
adventurer-a state of anarchy and suspense
which has not only brought ruin upon thousands
of foreign residents and pauperiSm and misery
upon the entire native population, but has also
menaced the commercial interests of the world.
1t is not lingo craze. 1t is not a bondholders'
war. England's diplomatic negotiations will
bear, we think, the closest scrutiny, and her
course throughout the present crisis can be jus
tilted on the highest moral grounds. Her
troops are departing on an errand OF mercy to
the Egyptian peOple-on mission of mex
orable justice sanctioned not only 10y cnlight-
ened self-interest but by the interests of civ
ilizatou