The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-06-02

SatFO, WXYpLs-~In0 0QN0EntnEAt "a
Edward VII OF England imposes its
will upon the Government Of Abbas II
OF Egypt by means Of an army Of oc-
cupation, some 5000 strong. and several
men Of war conveniently near to Alex
andria. In every essential particular.
Egypt 10 ruled by England as abso-
lutely a. 10 Ireland The British make
no claim TO territorial rights In the
valley Of the Nile. Indeed. they rec
ognize the authority OF the hhedive.
as well as the shadowy suzerainty Of
the Sultan. with full ceremonial regard.
The British control is masked behind
the simple machinery Of an ordinary
consuiats-generai. Yet the ministers
OF state must act as their British au-
visers indicate, and the Khedive can-
not exercise any OF the important pre-
negatives OF this station without the
consent of the British Consul General.
England promised. quarter OF
century ago. to leave Egypt at once.
The promise was not fulnileo. since
that time the English have declared
again and again. at the insistence OF
France that they would withdraw Inc
army Of occupation as soon as order
was fully restored In Egypt. That
promise still stands. but evacuation ID
as far away as ever. Five years ago
the French and English came to an
understanding. and since that time
there has been no power to suggest, be
it In ever 80 mild q manner. that II
was time for the British to move on.
Yet 1t is not fair to condemn 'perndi-
Gus Albion" for its square-mile fever,
and to accuse the British Of taking
territory without any excuse, on the
basis of the present peculiar CONDITION
in Egypt. When England came to
Egypt 1t was absolutely necessary for
some outside power to interfere to re-
store order in the country. During
the quarter Of century OF British oc-
cupation the condition Of the Egyptians
has improved so materially that IL
must be admitted that the English have
done more for the Egyptians than for
themselves.
When Ferdinand De Lesseps persuade
ed the Egyptian Government then pros
porous and free of debt, to engage In
the Suoz Canal project. he plunged the
knife into the heart Of Egypt. When
the miserable fellaheen were scooping
the sand out of that great ditch vita
their bare hands, they dug the grave
of Egyptian nationality. Ambitious
to be considered an enlightened ruler.
the Khedlve Ismail lent all the credit
Of his country to the canal, robbed his
people Of everything they had ana
brought his nation Into bankruptcy.
The European bondholders demanded
their pound OF iesh, and The united
powers OF Europe proceeded 10 cut IL
from Ismails heart. An international
commission was named to administer
the finances of the country and 10 ar
range to pay the interest coupons. An
international court was established De-
fore which even the State of Egypt
must answer to its creditors. Finally.
the British and French Governments
practically assumed control of the
State. Ismail rebelled against his slav-
ery and was banished to Europe. His
son, Tewfik, was made Khedive and
the dual control continued.
Then came a movement among the
Egyptians to expel the Europeans,
which eliminated In . rebellion led by
Arab Pasha. That rebellion brougnt
about anarchy in the country. The
British invited the French to join
in an armed Intervention. The French
declined, and the English took the re-
sponsibility upon themselves. Alex
andrta was bombarded and portion
OF It destroyed, ana shortly afterwards
the British soldiers met and defeated
the Arabist army at Tel-el-Kebir. Tive,
days later. on Sept Is, 1882, the British
army occupied Cairo and here IT ~ to-
day.
A year later Sir Evelyn Barring was
sent to Cairo as Consul General. ae
assumed practical control of Egyptian
AFFAIRS and set out to enforce pro-
gram Of reform. Later, he was raised
to the peeraEe as the Earl Of Cromer,
and he remained at the head of affairs
in Cairo until less than two years ago.
AS a matter of fact. England in Egypt"
has meant simply Lord Cromer In
Egypt" lie complained bitterly OF
the lack Of any definite policy Of the
British Government to support him. but
for all that he ruled almost with the
power of a despot and always with the
conviction that he was doing right.
Opposition to Lord Cromer personally
was very strong at times. Agitation
against the continuance Of the British
rule has been rife ever since the hrst
troop Of red-coats wheeled into the
citadel square in Cairo.
There are many who sympathize with
this opposition. Even some OF those
who admit that British interference was
a good thing In its time. proclaim that
the time has ended and that only evil
will come Of q continuance Of the pres
ent regime. On the other hand. the
British in Egypt declare that they
have done much good, but that much
more remains to be done before they
can withdraw from the country with
safety to themselves. the Egyptians or
the peace of the world. They declare
that the Egyptians are not yet ready to