The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-03-04

0xp6DD0 OF = Luluoulsvs OE O89 ooA W Suo ucSAt-
mont Of the other sex. are diminishins In num-
bsr and gravity. But We should ascrlbe the
msliosAtion rather to the general enllghten-
ment OF opinion than 30 any definite advance
toward The elaboration OF a science Of politics.
A. Aossicaa Observer 81 the Esypssss
Treubies.
In m octave volume bearing tho title Of
On ne Desevt. and published by tho Scribners.
Dr. II. N. FIELD hos given US an Interesting
Nccount OF his travels In the peninsula OF Sinai
during tho early part OF last year. 1t was
moro perilous journey than he imagined when
no left Cairo. for he must have trnversed the
district in which Prof. Palmer and his COM
panions were subsequently, murdered by the
Bedouins. Tho route taken by Dr. Field led
him from Suez. In , southeastcrly direction.
along the gulf Of tho same name to the Convent
OF Mt Catherine; from this point tho party
turned northward. and after traversing tho
wasta In which tho majority OF Biblical
scholars have recognized the desert OF the
wandering pursued . northeastern course
toward Palestine. In u very pleasing md
unassuming way DR.. Field tells us what
no saw. although being neither an explorer In
a scientific sense nor an archTologs, he would
naturally see only such things as challenge tho
attention OF ordinary we'll educated people.
DuJ WuiiS VIC SciCNttot buu SNuoht
may foil to find anything new or specially val
liable In this book it is not to DO inferred that
these notes OF travel arc without decided merit
Of their own. They recount precisely what
tho average reader desires to hear. and tho
narrative ia put together with much literary
skill. IN brief although tho timo has almost
gone by when books Of travel OF tho old-fash-
toned. superficial kind as distinguished from
exploration proper wcre kcenly relished. DR..
Fold has Enthusiastically given us an enter
tanning book.
For ourselves. however. we have dwct with
less heedfulness upon that portion of this vol
ume which In concerned with the journey
through the Sinai desert than upon tho first two
chapters in which DR.. Field gives us hs impress
sions Of the causes and Significance ~ the ro-
markable events which during the las; year
drew tho ayes OF the world 10 Egypt. We think
his account Of tho revolution suppressed Mt
Tel.el- Kebir and Of the relation OF England to
that movement the most Ineligible impartial.
| and satisfactory that We have seen in print.
We cannot sec that DR.. Field has overlooked
| or failed to properly assess a single factor
OF the complicated problem. He rerccivcs
that At the root Of tho Egyptian question
| lies great wrong. to wit. tho imposition OF q
| debt Of $500. 900 600 on tho Egyptian people al
though for at least ono half OF that sum they
never received value. He can see that it is an
| utterly untenabo principle that foreign ma
| tions should tax the Government OF bank
rupt State into their own hands In order to secure
| private creditors from loss In specuations into
which they entered with their eyes open. He
knows thatthey we're not permitted to apply this
principle in Mexico. and that thoy would not
| dare to enforce II even In the case Of Turkey.
But no points out that. a. a matter Of fact.
England and France did not impose their joint
fiscal control upon Egypt: thew took charge Of
the Egyptian finances ut tho request OF Ismail
| Khedive. and It was not until large
floating indebtedness and debts bearing high
ratio OF interest had been funded at low rate
that the British and FIR, nch Governments be-
lisved themselves. and with reason. to have as.
| suned q certain measure OF responsibility
| toward tho holders OF the new bonds Again.
| IA to the influx OF foreign offceholdcrs into
| Egypt after tho establishment OF the Joint con-
| troll. DR.. Field does not deny that this WIS An
eXasperatng and. to !. large extent. inoxcus-
able grievance. but he shows that relatively
little bamc attaches to great Britain. seeing
that a careful analysis OF tho Egyptian civil
service reveals three or four French Employees
to ono Engiishman.
OF Arab Pashu himself whom DR.. Field met
at Cairo in February. 1882. we have minute
and vivid description. He is" we are told
man OF large rhysiduc. with face that is
not at all intellectual. but heavy. except his
eye. which looks as though II might flash fire
II he were once aroused. But his manner WAS
very quiet. aud his few words when / conversed
with him through an interpreter were such
rs might BIO uttered by any patriotic man
| WIS struck" continued Or. Field
with the gravity Of his hearing. which was
serious almost to sadness. While all around
the tables tn. comrany was merry and CAV he
oiln nh hai n, I do al
think he smiled the whole evening. Nor did
he take a drop OF wine. Therein. as in his
prayers and hastings. he Is a devout Moslem
and conforms to the strictest rules OF his ra-
lision. Yet was there nothing suen in hi.
manner. as II he would cast n silent reproach
on pleasures he could not enjoy. On the contra
ry. he preserved the forms OF Oriental courtesy
and whcn never our eyss met across tho tnble he
touched his head and forehead ms II by this
token he would give me ths kiss OF peace"
But whatever may have been the personal
upriehtness Of Arab Pasha. and however aun.
plo may have beon the provocation to revolu.
ton. DR.. Field does not think that the so-cal!cd
/ National party when power fell into its hands
gave proof OF anything but corrupt motives and
incapaci:y. The Nntionalists he says did
not show such unsclnsh patriotism rs lifted
them above the mass OF thcir countrymen
They wero Just rs full OF intrigue and Just MS
eager for power-in short. just thorough
Arabs-as the men whom they had displaced
while they betrayed u childish Incompetence
for government, putting UT. one day what The,
pnled down the next. Tholr's was not a
GoSsrnmsnt based on poiif%a cal, rrinslrlss 81
of more caprice" pr. Ficid further informs
US that the Egyptian leaders themselves
ures and of their inability TO govern; hut the
consciousness Of their deficiencies, instead 81
leading them to adopt Il moro consistent and
conciliatory policy only eSHsperat"d them tr
tho point Of taking still NOR. desperate meas
ures In other words il was hopeless and san.
culinary naichv from which the Nile land was
rescued by British intervention.
Book Nstcs.
Aiphonse psude's Evangoiisto" Ia published "
English ny T b Peterson 4 Brothers Mrs \. Sher
wood being the translator