The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-04-28
Fresh Egyptian Troubles.

There never was truer saying than
''Those who dance must pay the lid
der The English have had their
dance in Egypt and now the fiddler is
demanding his pay, and the payment
threatens TO make serious trouble at
home and in Egypt. The little blaze OF
glory which attended the defeat Of a
few ignorant, half-armed fellaheen at
Tel-el-Kebir and the capture and exile
of their leader, Arab Boy, has faded
out, and now the English Government
and people are facing the consequences
of their dearly-bought victory. There
is, first, the cost of the war, which must
be paid and that involves an expense
to the English Exchequer of about $751;
C0o, 900, and to the Indian Exchequer Of
nearly $1,000, 600. This Is the past
outlay, and To it must be added the cost
OF maintaining troops In Egypt since
the close of the war and for an indefinite
period to come, for the condition of the
country is as unsettled now rs II was In
the days of Ismail Pasha. The English
taxpayer will pay his proportion after
much grumbling. SO far rs the Indian
proportion is concerned, that will be
Meanwhile Egypt herself is in a most
unsatisfactory condition, and the tenn
per Of the people is such that to with
draw the troops would only be to invite
instant anarchy. Europeans could not
remain there day. Some Of the ma
tives are living on the plumber they
collected during the war, others are on
the verge of starvation. The banks will
make no advances to planters and with
out such advances the crops may prove
| failures, The Egyptian officials can do
nothing to relieve distress or improve
| the situation. The fellaheen meanwhile
are crushed under burden of debt va
riously estimated at from $50, 900, 900 to
S75, 900, 900 and bearing eighteen per
| cent. interest. Their condition Is thus
described by the London Spectator:
I'VE are informed that Of all questions now
/ pending In Egypt the most urgent IL that of
! the indebtedness of the peasantry. Foreign
| companies and foreign usnrers have for some
time past offered their loans upon terms which,
| to the poor fellahs, always liable for taxes, or
arrears, or bdchshish, have proved too tempt
ing. They have taken money ON the security
of their lands so generally that If the mort
| cages are foreelosed the majority of the popu-
lation will be evictcd, and Egypt thrown Into
utter disorRanization, The usurcrs. strong In
the expectation of European courts, and
anxious for the rice and sugar lands are dis.
| posed to eyict and so grave Ia the situation
that the Government IL seriously advised to
take the tremendous step of declaring peas
quite so far because without lands. to pledge
the pcasantry could not in bad yeara pny thoiI
full taxes out II ia certain that some very
serious step must be taken. A land-mortgage
bank will be set up, to lend money Mt low In
interest; but, as the loans must be very
limited, 1t is doubtful IL this will suffice unless
the bank Is preceded by some decree declaring
the peasants bankruptcy"
The despair of the situation is thai
the Egyptian Government can not ii
will not do anything TO help the fella.
heen out of their troubles, and upon III
present theory of occupation the En-
glish Government has no right to max,
any permanent laws for Egypt Of an,
kind, though ii proposes to remain il
occupation for some time to come, AM
is organizing military and police force
to maintain order. The English policy
indeed, seems to be refinement 0
cruelty. Declaring that it has no powe
to relieve the condition Of the people, /
is organizing force to prevent then
| from taking any steps to relieve them
selves. AS the Powers of Europe hav
offered no objection to English militar
| occupation for an indefinite period, it /
not likely that any serious objection
would be made to annexation. ]
is little remarkable, therefore
that the Government does not bold
take the step and inaugurate the nee
essary reforms with some show of All
thority. Unless something is done 500
it will have another Ireland on its hands
In one of his recent addresses Mr.. Glad
stone said: eve are in Egypt for til
establishment Of order and stability
we are there for the improvement of tn
institutions of the country; we are Their
to secure as far rs depends upon our
selves the fulfillment Of internationa
engagements, and we are there un
doubleday in a principal degree in ref
erence 10 the freedom and security O
the great passage by the canal from on
sea to another If he had added: wv
are there to stay" it would have been
guaranty for order. If the Englisl
troops are to remain until all that Mr.
Gladstone announces is effected the oc
cupation may as well be considered per
manent If they are there simply +
prepare the way for the payment o
bondholders then the war with Egyp
must go on record as National out
rage Chicago Tribune.