The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-26
Trr reYprr1w corroN sUrPLT.
VIII IL he suficient Hereafter to Meet the
British DemRnd7

O. v .
To THE EDITOR or THE sUS-Sir' The at
tention OF our people for the past few years has
been 90 fully occupied by the important dues-
tons at home-the financial question. the Gu
ban. the Nicaragua Canal. the Hawaiian and
others OF less magnitude. but still OF great in
t~erest-that Il Is doubtful II they have given to
Great Britain's operations In Egypt the atten-
ton they deserve.
Since our civil war. which England's cotton
mill owners In Lancashire felt 80 keenly In a
financial way. by their inability to secure cot
ton from our Southern States, her statesmen
have given much time and thought to
the question whether or not cotton. equal
ly as good as that grown in the United
States. could be raised in certain parts
OF the British domains. After much effort
and n large expenditure OF money II was
found that It could be grown in India. but OF n
quality which would not compare with that
raised in this country Australasia, too, proved
unsuitable TO the proper cultivation OF that
plant. Consequently those who direct the des-
TIMES OF the British Empire saw that In order
to make it's manufacturers independent OF the
United States. In 80 far at least as cotton was
concerned. II was necessary for Great Britain
to secure for all time a hold on Egypt and the
Egyptian Soudan. territory In every way suited
TO the growth Of the finest cotton.
How she has been aided In her efforts In that
direction by the laundering OF French states
men when they relinauished the Joint control
OF Egypt by declining to allow France to pay
her share OF the cost OF putting down the in
surrection led by the Mahdi and the reconauest
OF the Soudan Is familiar to all who keep in
touch with the worlds important events. For
~tunately for Great Britain. her statesmen saw
their opportunity and embraced II. with the
result that Egypt and the Egyptian soudan
to-day are practically British territory.
In another year. unless unforeseen diflcul-
ties arise. Gen. Lord Kitchener. the COM
mander OF the Anglo Egyptian forces. will have
driven the Mahdi from the Soudan and have
restored that territory to Anglo Egyptian rule.
Seven hundred thousand square miles OF terri
State OF New York. will have been added. for all
intents and purposes. to the British Empire; a
o fesr nIo9y too, LIAR a large E, Part Pha Of which f. capable Sa,btdlee
than that raised anywhere within the United
States. except that grown on the sea islands off
Thus It will be seen that Great Britain has
practically made herself independent Of us for
the soSd%n for That t0J PURPOSE srp se. and Te aha have e at at'i her
for the cultivation OF her fields the
}Egyptian fellahin. who are very satisfactory
Southern negroes. they can be secured az
S %sSss ff4nsiG 81 t tGc e s . g 1 p sS1 aar s { %a{; as
cotton planters fare obliged to pay for similar
'iSL IL . hlSO ClublutTbu Una an unllInlIeu
amount OF British capital is awaiting invest
ment in this industry in the, Soudan. for which
its owners will be satisfied with a return OF
from 4 TO 8 per cent. on the principal. while our
planters must pay from q 10 10 per cent. for the
money they use. the advantages of the planters
OF the Soudan over our Southern planters In this
particular industry will be obvious. Further
more, by thus utilizing the Soudan, Great
Britain will not only be able to supply the
wants OF her manufacturers but the world at
large at figures with which our planters can
not compete.
This year the United States have produced
about fve-siyths Of the cotton grown through
out the, world. What proportion Of the total
they will grow five years from now, when British
subjects invest their capital IN the cotton fields
Of the Soudan. Is a question which will not only
interest our Southern planters. but the peo-
pie Of our entire country. II would seem, il
British. enterprise and capital take full advan-
tage OF the situation which the Soudan pre-
sents. that tive-cent cotton or even lower will
be the, future price of the American article. and
with the lower price q much lessened demand,
EDWARD N. TOWNSEND.
HAMPSTEAD. l.. L.. Nov. "a.