Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-07-13
EGrPr,s TROUBLES.
A Brief History Of the Nature OF the
Present DIiicalties. sl

In 30 far as Turkey is concerned the
origin Of the Egyptian trouble IS some
what remote. Wewill 20 back no furth-
er than 1871, when Mehemet Ali was
Viceory OF Egypt. AT that time Turkey
held such sway that the Sultan wns able
to impose conditions which made Egypt
little more than Turkish Province.
The condition Of Egypt changed on the
accession Of Ismael, who obtained semi
Independence. and had conferred upon
him the title Of Khedive, which signifies
less than sovereignty, but than depend
epce. For money consideration, Ismael
obtained concession from Turkey, plac-
ing the right of Inheritance in his son,
and the old Ottoman law Of collateral in
heritance was set aside. s, ~ - u,
The next concession In 1878, gave Is
inael the power ''to contract, without any
sanction from the Porte, foreign loans in
the name Of the Egyptian Government,
and the Khediye was to make all laws and
regulations which he might at any time
deem necessary. Thereon he went deep
ly into debt. England and France being
the principal creditors. and his extrava-
gance Is the immediate cause Of the pres
ent trouble. During his sovereignty Eng
lish and France officials, known as
Comptrollers-G General, with great many
office-holders under them, administered
the finances of the country. In other
words, Egypt being in debt and having
no means Of keeping herself, was run BY
foreign office-holders. representing the
creditors. s III is
On account of his financial troubles, Is-
mael resigned on the 26th of June, 1879,
and was succeeded by his eldest son,
Tewfik, the present Khedive. NJ. Wad-
dington, the French Foreign Minister,
obtained firman from the Sultan OF Tur-
key yesting in Tewfik the functions Of
Ismael. In view of the full powers con-.
ferred on Ismael in 1878, the necessity for
this frman has been doubted, but it was
served, probably, to keep up the connec-
tion Of Turkey with Egyptian affairs,
and to weaken the Egyptian Govern
ment. Turkey seems to be an important
factor in the Conference OF Powers look
ing to the adjustment of Egyptian af-
fairs. .a
The financial condition OF Egypt has
not improved under Tewfik, and the
country is still oyerrun by foreign office
holders, who take charge OF the public
pocketlbook. The pupular revolt against
this state affairs is led by Arab Pasha,
the Egyptian Minister of War, who has
suddenly sprung into prominence, and
seems to be a much stronger man than
the Khedive. A little more than a year
ago Arab was only Colonel in the
Egyptian army, but he has been so ag-
gressive, and the Khedive correspondin
ly weak, that he has greater power than
any other man in Egypt. He is the lead
er of a rebellion which is stronger than
the Governments. He has the army at
his back, and is so determined that moth
ing but foreign intervention aud ,proba-
| bly, war will restrain him. He IL the
head OF the party which desires to wrest
4 the government from the hands of its
creditors, and the Khedive, who is sub
servient to England and other foreign
Powers is almost powerless before him.
No material progress toward peaceable
settlement seems to have been made BY
the Conference Of powers, and there il
vital objection to and arrangement which
would give Turkey renewed hold on
Egypt, though France is said to be urging
Germany to use her influence with the
Sultan to effect the deposition of Arab
Pasha as Egyptian Minister of War, and
the Sultan has disapproved of the militia.
| ry preparations at Alexandria against
i England and France. These military
preparations have placed England in q
decidedly hostile attitude, and London
dispatch Of yesterday said that the open,
4 ing of hostilties was momentarily ex.
pected. s4A+ taE
i Upon England, as things look now
will devolye the main burden of punish
TwNs- L. k1II 4
the largest interests at stake. Besides heI
direct.interest in the finances of Egypt
she must maintain herself in the Sue2
canal; already the obstruction of tha
important waterway has been threat
ened as an incident Of the Egyptian com
plications.