The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-09-02

ENGLAND IN NORTH AFRICA.

1t would appear CuaG LuSItI1u 10
not by any means tout of the wood"
so far as Egypt is concerned. When
the Tories came into power it was
hoped, and believed by some, that
the Porte would follow Lord Sails
bury,s lead without question. 1t
now seems that the Turkish Govern
ment has a mind of it's own, and that
it will not agree to pluck the British
chestnuts out of the SOudan fire.
The time was when the Sultan
would willingly have undertaken the
subjugation of the Soudanese, but
that time is past. The Liberal Gov
eminent would not permit Turkish
warships to enter the Suez canal,
neither would it acknowledge the
Sultan's suzerainty over Soudan.
Indeed, the Porte was threatened
that if it interfered with Egyptian
affairs England would take measures
to restrain it.
When, therefore, the Tory Govern
noent came into office and sought for
Turkish cooperation, the astute
politicians of STEAMBOAT thought they
ll A1-a,---1---~I-----~T, ~ ls~O-tA-%,saioro
OHt of the North African muddIe; but
they did not quite understand the
people they were dealing with.
Whether Liberal or Tory may be in
power, the Anglo-Saxon race is one;
and when the Porte began to put on
airs to Lord Salisbury he dropped
OOnstantinople without ceremony.
Henceforth the Grand Turk may be
counted out on the Egyptian question.
But England was not above max
ing terms with any Power willing to
help her, and which could not posi-
bly, lower her prestige in Africa.
France was not in that position,
wherefore France has been headed
off with consummate ability. Ger
many might be dangerous; and Spain
is of no account, while it has Gas
pirations" about Gibraltar. Italy
was the one power which met the
required conditions. And Italy,
like -"Barkis," was "WiIIin'." Hav-
ing been thrust out of her ancient
heritage of conquest in EHnis, the
Government of Rome resolved to |
make a descent upon Africa anyhow.
The English held Egypt, and pro-
tected the Turk in Tripoi; the French |
held Algiers and Tunis; therefore the
Mediterranean was closed to the |
italian Power. But England was in
trouble in Upper Egypt and Soudan, |
and friendly Power on the Red Sea
iittoral would be very agreeable
Hence it happened that the Suez
Canal was opened to Italian war
ships, while it was closed to all other
and that the troops of King
Humbert were permitted to land
upon territory which was forbidden
to the Suzerain.
And now Italy wants to annex the
Soudan from the Red Sea to the
Nile, with Khartoum as the capital
Of its new province; and England,
through its Premier, looks favorably
On the scheme. The Premiers of the
two Powers, Salisbury and Depretis.
were to have met about this time, to
agree upon common line of action.
France, no doubt, will be offended;
Germany may dissent, and Russia
protest; but they all know that Eng
and, under the Tories, is always
ready to fight Their objection will,
therefore, be less pronounced than if
he Liberals were in power. They | /
viii be far less dictatorial than they
we're accustomed to be while Mr..
Gladstone was in office. NotWith-
tanding all this, it is very serious {
natter for the British Government
o have foreign difficulty on hand
vhen a complete revolution has !
AIKEN place in the electoral franchise
f the United Kingdom. We are +
onfident, however, that the grand q
ID country will come out of its t
roEbles with flying colorss e