Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-01-10

GAINED ARAB1, the Egyptian" in his
recent letter to the London Times, pre-
sents phase of his character which will
pc somewhat new to the people Of this
country, as well, we presume, as to the
majority of the people of England. If
the letter was written by Arab himself
and we see no good reason to doubt that
it was-the man is a statesman, and pa
triot, whether he be soldier or not. The
following is the language of statesman
ship no less than of patriotism:
II do not complain Of my fate, nor Of
against me. and which, at any rate, estab-
fishes my innocence of the charges of
massacre and incendiarism in
which l have never taken the slightest
part, and which were absolutely contrary
to our political and religious principles.
know that my future treatment will de-
pend on England and the generosity of
the British people. I leave Egypt with
perfect tranquility and confidence in the
future, because l know that England can
not any longer delay the reforms which
we have struggled for. In short time
the Anglo French Control will be abol-
ished; Egypt will be no more IN the
hands of myriad of fOrei On employees,
filling every available post, to the exclu-
sion Of Egyptians; our native courts will
be purified Of abuses; codes of law will
be enacted, and, what is more important,
carried out; chamber of notables will
be instituted, with voice and right Of
interference in the affairs of the Egyptian
people; the swarm of usurers in the villa
ges will be driven out The English PEG.
pie, when they see all these things, will
rebellion had very strong justification. !"
Sooner or later, not only the English
people, but the entire world will realize
the fact that the rebellion of which Arab
Pasha was the head had indeed "a very
strong foundation" The corrupt mix
ture of European and native rule in
Egypt was curse such as few peoples in
modern history have had inflicted upon
them. 1t left the Egyptians neither auto
nomy nor justice. Their substance was
drained, their national pride Inundated,
their patriotism deprived of every incen-
tive for noble effort. There was nothing
left for them but to fight. By fighting,
though defeated, they have clearly bet
tered their condition. If the present
pusillanimous Khedive, could be buried
beneath the mud of the Nile, the pros
pect would be still better for Egypt. But
as it is, many of the old abuses will be
corrected under the pretectorate Of Eng
land, and the Khedive will be forced to
conduct purer, more efficient, and more
economical administration than before
one more in the interest of his people,
and less in the interest Of foreigners.
In the following, Arab speaks the true
patriot These are not the words of a
pretcnder:
THE son of an Egyptian fellah, tried
to the best of my power, to secure all
these good things for the dear country to
which belong, and which love. My
i'll fortune did not allow of my carrying
out these objects. I hope the English
people will complete the work which l
commenced. If England accomplishes
this task, and thus really gives Egypt to
the Egyptians, she will then make clear
to the world the real aim and object of
Arab the rebel.
"All the Egyptian people were with
me, as was with Egypt, the country |
shall love forever. l hope Egypt will not
forget me when England completes what
tried to begin
And again:
"When England has carried out her
good work, she will, feel certain, in her
humanity and high sense Of justice, per-
NIT me to return to my beloved country,
and see with my own eyes the result Of
her humane and civilizing work before
die"
1t is we'll that Arab has written this
captivity the kindlisst wishes Of the best
portion of the civilized world; and when
a relenting feeling shall, as undoubtedly
it will, permit his return to his native
land, he may yet be-for he is still young
the benefactor and regenerator of
Egypt.