The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-29

aaa1stanee. AotA q money ana OF armA AZ
tended to King Mcnelek- They have bean
exaggerasei The money Menelek could
aAdoNhsedly use. and the arms. but ne
has nofA in reasonable plenty Yet the re-
cent decoration OF Aeaelek by tho c1ar -
afGnfdoAnt
The Ahyssiusans present q strange COM
o1oAfsca Of civilization aud sAvaeery. OK
Pus1s EOwnD and tables without forks or
napcry: but they can fight. as the Italsans
arr ahundantiy snie to testify. II. on the
U<cund Of common belief IA Christianity.
the italian cabinet coaid reconcile to the
public Of Italy an alliance with their re-
0ent foes. both interest and inclination
might prompt a descent upon the Dervish-
- from the east. and the subsequent par
tition OF . portion OF the territory between
the vsctors. The armies Of the Koneo
Free State have bean for come time sur
reptiticusly active on the western borders
Of the MAAdist's demain. although the
fact hong escaped the attention Of Europe
In the diversion OF public interest to the
other end Of the DARK Continent BY jane
sons raid
An Italian arrangement with Menslek
very little doubt that the movement in
the zonge Free State 10 unaertakan In
concert with Egypt. nor IL there any
doubt that these two allies could. with
out the Italians and the Abyssiniars.
make conquest Of the SoudanesA tf Eu-
rope would but hold III hand ana let the
game b played out II there were no
former would at lesRt be assasted 10 hold
Kassala against the Madhists by diver
sion Of their forces 70 mast attacks from
other directions.
The only difficulty IN the way II that
0gypt. although nomshally IN indspend-
ent power. - practically the ward OF Great
Britain. which 10 committed to Q tempe
rary occupation Of the country for The
khedive's GOOD. and 10 striving a. ueual
to ma excuses for making that occupa-
ton permanent. France. which. by with
Drawing from the Joint military occupa-
ton OF Exypt. foolishiy left Great Brit
ain In command. has never reconciled her
self to the logical consequence Of her own
act. and ID accustomed to look with sus-
picion upon any plan with respect TO
Egypt which involves tho extension Of hen
power and possessions.
But the friendship Of Russia for the
Aeysstnians might. In the event OF An At
tack upon the Soudanese. reconcile France
to an Anglo-Egyptian advance from the
North. Il salisbury can suggest any ether
corresponding advantage for France. Per-
haps he has already suggested such COM
pensation in Siam. Far more likely he ha1
suggested II In Africa itself. When the
Aahdiss pie II cut there may be a slice
TO add to the great Niger possessions Of
the Gallo republic.
There can be no doubt, political consid-
erations aside. that the interest of tho
Soudanese and OF Egypt itself are closely
bound up with the reoccupation Of the
equatorial territory by the Christian pow
ers. Up TO date the question has been one
Of religion and Of government. 1t viii
become a question of livelihood itself. The
Nile has been called the father OF Egypt
but its waters are limited in quantity
Away In Central Africa about the head
waters OF the Nile and along the upper
branches and tributaries of that river.
the italian colonies from thu East ana
French colonies from the West may ono
day seek to divert the upper waters Of the
river from Egyptian use 10 such an ex-
tent IS to cause In the Nile valley such
disputes over the ownership of the water
necessary to redeem the desert as have
occurred on a small scale In soma Of our
own Western states.
Even II the two. three, or four parties
which are contemplating the conquest Of
the Soudan succeed In winning that coon-
try and dividing II between them. thus
restoring to Egypt It's lost provinces. ana
even II the Jealousy Of France is placated
for the time. there may still be plenty OF
occasion fer fighting over the disposition
Of the waters Of the Nile basin.
AN EX-CARIENH