New-York tribune., 1901-01-13
ARABI PACHA PARDONED.
AFTER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF EMILE HE
is SAID TO HESITATE TO RE
TURN To EGYPT.

There have been many instances of refusal on
the part of long term prisoners to take advan-
tage of pardOns granted to them. and nearly
all prison officials know of cases where men,
after having lived for many years in JAIL have
expressed sorrow at being sent back into the
world whence they came. These men were in
every instance offenders against the law. They
had been tried and found guilty, and in some
instances had stood within the shadow of the
instrument OF execution before the hand of
mercy changed their punishment to confinement
behind prison walls. Political prisoners are
usually anxious to return to freedom and to
activity in their work. and for that reason the
report that Arab Pacha hesitates to accept the
pardon which has been granted him seems
remarkable.
ON December 81. 1881 he and his six principal
adherents were taken by special train from the
kasr-elNil Palace at Cairo to Suez. Thence
they were sent 10 Ceylon for an indefinite term
OF banishment. Arab Pacha accompanied
BY his wife his son and a servant He had been
a figure of international Importance, one Of the
most talked about personages of the day. In
his desperate attempt at revolution he changed
the political map of Africa, and then he be
came a prisoner of war and has remained so for
eighteen years. About even years ago an Eng
lshman visited him in his quarters. a pretty
bungalow between Colombo and Mount L.avinia
broken down old man, although ne was only
hfiy-fve years old But he grew enthusiastic
when he told of his fight for Egypt for the
Egyptians. The message which he sent at that
time 10 the English people was pathetic and
showed that the fire had died out in the warrior
statesman.
Tell the English people" ne said. that I am
an old man-old before my time. Tell the Eng
lsh people that I have been ten years in exile.
and that am broken down in health. unft for
anything but reflection on the past incapable of
dishonesty or dishonor. Tell the English people
that you have looked into my eyes and seen
them clouded with the shadow that will soon
close 10 them the light OF day forever" Then
h. wcpt at the thought Of his home and said
Il want 10 return 10 EgyPt-there To live as "a
private gentleman and there 10 die among my
people"
Arab later Was removed from the quarters at
Colombo To Randy. There he saw several of
the men who followed him into exile buried and
others allowed To return to Cairo; hut il is said
OF him that he never murmured. but only
hoped. and from the moment of his landing ON
The island enjoyed the respect and confidence of
every body WIKI whom he tame in contact Each
''"Nefnor IN succession welcomed him to his
Official residence honorcd guest and AT
the royal jubilces Of 1887 and 1891 ne and his
friends rcjoc.d as enthusiastically as any of
their neighb"rs. He and All Fehmy now the
only Egyptian eXilcs Ccylon soil
Arab began To learn English soon after his
arrival at Colombo. and ne speaks the language
with tolerable nuency II it is true that Arab
desires To remain in his prison home his wishes
have undergone great change for less than a
year az" he expressed the wish that he might De
allowed to return To his native land and end his
days there. He was horn near the borders of
the Desert and becam" an officer in the Egyptian
army at the time when Said Pacha replaced
many foreign officers by native Egyptians. He
appeared at the head % a revolt in 1881 and
became dictator. Then England interfered Alex
andria was bombarded. and Arab and his army
were defeated at Tel-el-Kebir. Arab fed To
Cairo and surrendered To Genera! DTury-I.ow
He was tried. pleaded guilty To rebellion and
was condemned TO death. His sentence was
commuted by the Khedive 10 perpetual exile
from Egypt. and he and his fellow conspirators
were seat To ceylon. whore they landed January
1G lSS3