New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-08
PESpoNsyB.LIrY FoR EGYPT

The resignation OF Nubar may be WithdldWn,
Great pressure will be brought to bear upon
him to this end But even if he consents TO re-
main i'm Office temporarily, his resignation must
be speedily renewed. The crisis cannot in any
event be long deferred. If the willy and
mcrcural Armenian cannot succeed IN govern
ing Egypt in conjunction with a staff OF English
Under Secretaries, who is there that can hope
to do 50 If the wiscst and strongest native
Statesman has made "A signal failure and retired
from Office in despair, the task of governing the
Lower Nile country under the present system
of dual responsibility may be regarded as hope
less If he persists III his determination to
Withdraw from public affairs, the search for
competent successor will inevitably end in dis
appointment. There is no other statesman in
Cairo who possesses Nubar's ability and
political authority or his faculty for adapting
himself to circumstances. No other Egyptian
is equally disposed to acknowledge the nccess-
ity for British supremacy III Egypt. His failure
will afford the British Ministry an excellent op-
portunity for bringing political farce to an
end. Since the battle of Tel-el-Kebir Egypt has
been governed by native Ministers under the
general direction of Sir Evelyn Barring. The
results of this method OF administration have
been disastrous. The Egyptian garrisons in the
Soudan have been either massacred or are now
beleaguered; the army has been demoralized
the Treasury has been cmpticd; public credit
has been exhausted; the discomfort OF the
wretched fellaheen has been increased and the
feud between natives and Europeans has
bl ken ont afresh. The puppet-play has been
miserable failure Why should it be allowed TO
drag on indefinitely z
What is needed in Egypt is a substitute for
the present system of government-nOt n sub
stitute for Nubar A successor cannot do any
better than he has done-prObably will not do
so well. The Gladstone Ministry have made
resolutc effort to fulfil their pledges and to
Withdraw the troops as soon as stable govern
ment should be formed and administrative re-
forms be introduced. They have been power
less to control the tendencies of a Seryile race.
The time apparently is close at hand when they
may with propriety abandon policy which has
proved impracticable. Nubar's resignation may
give them the opportunity of looking the facts
in the face and accepting the direct responsible
ity for the government of Egypt. If pro-
tectorate should be proclaimed for "A definite
period and u Commissioner should be sent out
from Fngland-Mr. Forster would be a more
suitable instrument than Mr.. GOsChen because
he does not represent the bondhOlders-tO re-
organize the civil service on an English basis,
Egypt would have a stable government under
which the projected reforms could be carried
into effect This would be, we are convinced,
the best thing that could happen so far rs
Egypt is concerned; and the British Ministry
would be materially strengthened by the
adoption of policy which has been already
II. l.. Tba
resignation of Nubar, if persisted in either at
present or after a short interval of vacillation
ami delay, may prove blessing in Disguise to
the Liberal Government in England.
All the signs Indicate fresh disasters in the
Soudan. General Graham killed seven thou
sand Arabs and rescued fifty Egyptians, but only
increased General GOrdOn's prril. The news
from Khartoum is of the gloomiest nature
The tribes above Shendy are in full revolt and
the communications of the garrison are COM
pletcv cut of BcFber is also menaced, and it |
is even reported that DOngOla may be invested |
before many days. The Mahdi remains in
Kordofan and devotes himself to his harem, but
his cmssarics are busy among all the Nile
tribes raising local Instructions. This they aIe
successful in doing because hatred of tho
Egyptians is universal, and also because the
abandonment of the SOudan has been pro-
claimed by the British Government. Unless an !
Indian contingent can be rapidly get in motion
across the desert from the sea, the fate of all the
EGYPTIAN garrisons above Abou Hammed, and
possibly above korOsco, may be sealed within
The next two months. Englishmen will not
receive such tidings of disaster with cOmposure
under any circumstances But if the death or
capture of General Gordon and the spread of
revolt from Berber to Dongoa find the pup
pet play still going on in Cairo, and the
Governments responsibilities Systematically