The Wilmingtonian., 1885-02-14
SATURDAY, FEsRUARY IL, 1855.
ENGLAND IN EGYPT.

regard to Englands action in Egyptian af-
fairs. primary fact to be understood is
English troops is an accident, that is an ac-
cident of Interstate policy, as also may be
explained the occupation of Egypt itself
during the latter days of Lord Beacons-
fields administration. The student of CON
temporaneous history will readily see the rea-
son of England's meddling in the affairs of
that country when it will be remembered
that the estuary Of the Nile with the impor-
tant city of Alexandria are situated upon
the direct route to India, and in fact COM
mand that road. Egypt is weak country,
its territory coveted by its next door neigh
bors Russia, Austria, and Italy: since the
time of the First Napoleon, too, France,
from whom England took India, has been
envious of that possession. 1t is claimed
that the English policy from thu first, did
dence of Egypt, in the sense of its entire
alienation from any other European power
as long as it was secure in its neutrality
that fact assured to England free road by
the Suez canal to India. With her vast
Asiatic possessions the control of Egypt by
any other power than the Khedve's govern
ment would be intolerable to Eng and; and
British premiers position based upon any
other policy would loose him his promier
ship Immediately.
A case almost similar in international pol
ity is the position of America upon the
question of an Isthmian canal, placing Mic
aragua and Costa Rica in the place of
Egypt and changing the Nlcaraguau Canal
for that of Suez.
Now the United States does not premedi-
tate the annexation of any of the Centra-
Am rican states, but supposing the canal
were built and the probability of an extern
sive rebellion appeared in the territory in
juxtaposition to it, and it were seen that a
new power with policy plainly autagonis-
tic to the welfare of United States interests
threatened the government which all along
bad nnceasirtl,r iuAd tho spiordIioat 80
ations with this country and was linked to
us by all commercial aud prospective bonds
OF future advantage, would we be surprised
" hear suggestion made in Congress that
one or two United States men-of-war be
sent down to that foreign country to main
tain order and prevent the rightful govern
ment passing into the hands of parties inim-
zeal to this country and endangerng our
rights in the Canal. 1t is probable uni
versal cry would arise from the press of the
country and would be re-echoed in the halls
Of Congress that it is expedient that the
United States interfere in the domestic re-
lations of those Central America states 1t
would be added that America could not
tolerate the development of an anti United
States party or policy in Nicaragua or
Costa Rica, nor would she tolerate the
growth of pro.Englsh or pro-French pre-
dominance or any prospective new govern
ment with European affiliations.
Pertinently speaking we have no more
right to suggest with the implied intimida-
tion of the presence of United States
squadron in Costa Rican waters, any policy
or line of action specially favorable to cur
selves, to that obscure but independent
country, than Egypt has to dictate to
Egypt The advantage that England DOS
sesses in this connection lies in the fact that
she is in Egypt through the connivance of
the government of that country, and with
its own Egyptian troops fighting alongside
English soldiers against aliens and rebels
The English troops ATE fighting not alone
with the authority of the Egyptian govern
ment but side by side with Egyptian troops
aiding the government of the land to mt
down revolt And the rebels, also, are
not the native Copts, Egyptians. Nubians or
Felaheeu, but generally speaking an alien
race both in blood and religion, whose ten
cts and customs have for centuries borne
with tue heaviest tyranny upon the people
Of the Nile, Mahomet introduced both the
new religion and the new people. The ma
tives of Northern Africa are distinct from
tn ir Arab oppressors-a survival of that
contrast may be seen in the Abyssinians
who are not followers Of Mahomct, but
Christians though Of greatly modified and
barbarous type. Alahommedanism was
forced upon the people Of the Nile valley by
the followers of Mahomet. Those who re.
fused allegiance to the new religion were
slain. The whole country was transformed
by force of arms. Thousands unwilling to
give up their old tradition and fcalty to
Christianity fled inland, either to the high |
lands on the right bank of the Nile, Or wan
dered off into the desert, their meanderipps
and halting places being plainly indicated at
the present day by the old monasteries in
such ancient places as Timbuctoo, whose
illterate monks, unable to read but still
aware of the priceless value of the ancient
Chaldaic manuscrints of tho RihIa n, ,,r,o