Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-12-28
4 ROUND THE WORLD
~ WITH PROF. PARKS

death in 1S4S, Mehemet Ali, unscrupu-
leus, but able and powerful, ruled
Egypt with a strong hand, a wise
head; schools were established, canals
built, industries developed, cotton
planting introduced, wealth increased,
and Egypt started on her road to mod
ern civilization.
He was followed successfully by:
/, His son. Ibrahim. a great soldier.
2. His nephew, Abbas, a weak mon
area
4. His grandson, Ismail, a spend
thrift.
5, His greatgrandson, Tewhk, fig
ure-head in government.
s. His great-great-grandson, Abbas
the present khedive.
On's fourth successor, Ismail. was en-
terprising but extravagant. He was
progressive but thoroughly impractical,
and under his spectacular reign Egypt
advanced in improvements and in debt.
With a lavish hand Ismail built rail-
roads, boulevards, and palaces. He spent
$21 900 in arranging a splendid pro-
gram with spectacular entertainments to
celebrate the opening of the Suez canal.
Financiers and contractors cheated him
right and left; graft and corruption -four
ished all about him; and finally when he
had exhausted the credit of his country
and was unable to borrow more, the
bondholders of Europe became, alarmed,
and the spendthrift monarch was depos-
ed, with the consent of the sultan at
Constantinople, and at the instance OF
'the powers of Europe"
His weak son Tewfik came to the
throne. The prime minister Arab Pasha,
ambitious and INSCRIPTIONS, dominated
the situation and got into trouble with
European powers. Supposedly at his in
stigation, a massacre occurred at Alexan-
dria In 1881, and $50 Europeans were
killed. Up to this time France had been
the ruling spirit among the powers in
terested in Egypt, but here she vacillat-
ed and at Alexandra her admiral with
drew his gunboats from the harbor; but
England bombarded Alexandria, and de-
feating Arab Pasha, has occupied
Egypt since 1882 England maintains
powerful Notifications at Alexandria,
and for 1000 miles and more up the Nile
there are English cannon and English
soldiers.
Marked improvements have been made
and under England's control it cannot
be denied that Egypt has reaped rich
rewards
/. Taxation has been greatly reduced.
q The corvee system has been sup
pressed, and today laborers on public
works and on the banks of the Nile are
paid by the government annually over
81, 600 600, whereas previously since the
days of the Pharoahs they worked under
compulsion and for nothing, often being
required to furnish their own food and
tools.
3. The public debt has been decreased
and bankruptcy averted.
4. The postal rates have been reduced
one-half.
5. The allowance to the royal family
has been decreased 40 per cent.
6. The irrigation system of the Nile
has been improved.
| Z. Graft has decreased and honesty in
finances established.
g. Hospitals have been built.
g. Education has been encouraged.
10. Sanitary improvements have been
made
II Navigation on the Nile has been
made free.
12. Business interests have been pro-
tected: railroads have been extended and
manufactures have been built.
farm lands in the delta now sell from
$500 to $1,000 an acre.
IA. Law is enforced and peace is main
tained.
In spite of the undeniable improvements
in Egypt under the control of England.
some democratic thinkers believe that
England should withdraw and allow the
Egyptians to rule themselves. D.
There Is a small party In Cairo whose
motto is. Egypt for the Egyptians"
Some feel that their rights have been in
vaded: some feel humiliated; some are
ambitious for power; and some belong to
that dissatisfied group found everywhere
in the world who are always ready for
a change. Others, however, and / am
told they are in the majority, believe that
the withdrawal of England would be a
sad catastrophe for Egypt both political
ly and financially.
In the meantime. England stands by
her mighty guns, smiles sweetly, gives the
people a good government, looks after