Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-23

ment by imposing upon the khedive "A
premier named Mustapha Pacha Fekmy,
the same man who when ismail khedve
found himself submerged financially, uu-
dertook to have Ismail Mouffetich. his
minister or finance. removed-murdersd
Mustapha was governor of Cairo then,
and was commissioned by Ismah To do
the Mouffetich to death. AS Egyptian
premier Mustapha was also friend an in
innate counselor OF Lord Crorner So
great, indeed. became Musta pha in the
caused him to be knighted and he is now
Sir Mustapha.
II Is a tribute to the honesty and SIN
certify OF the late Sir Eldon Gorst that
he refused to govern with such an aid
And there is but little doubt that tho
liberal government at London Instructed
It's agents that Mustapha's elimination
from authority over the khedive would
be lesson in morality which would
help his administration, and II did heIp
him unQuestionably.
1t Is discouraging however, 10 read In
the report: 1--WE have TO make the
Egyptians understand that II b Ms
government do not intend TO allow them
selves to be hustled into going farther
or faster In the direction of self-govern-
ment than they consider to be in the
interests OF the Egyptian people as a
whole
The language is tncomprehensible-ce
tainly very impolitic and unnecessary
Sir Eldon further says that IL is already
a good augury that the political situa-
ton today is much healthier than at any
time during the last few troublous years,
and satisfactory change is observable.
X
The report has great deal 70 say
about the regrettable animosities engen-
dered between the Copts
Religious and the MussuImans Sir
Trorh1.. Eldon very Justly takes the
side Of the Mussulman re
was In fits inception a trivial affair
the Copts were jealous Of the MukssI-
mans The Egypt, a monthly record of
Egyptian news, declares 1t was largely.
If not solely. a matter of the distribution
OF the official loaves and fishes.
Sir Eldon Is severe upon the Copts, who,
as a small minority. have always been
tlfmd and ready to cry out before they
are hurt. The nationalists. according 10
Sir Eldon, had done all they could TO
arouse sympathy for Ell wardani, the
Mussulman who assassinated Boutros. the
Copt. This produced strained relations
between the parties.
In the first place there are 100000
Mussulmans in Egypt there are but 700
GOO Copts. The functionary Mussulmsss
number 9.514, the Copts SOS2 Their paw
is almost equivalent The Moslems earn
a slightly higher aggregate salary ~ PER
cent. as compared with 10 per cent Tor
the Copts. The truth is, notwithstanding
the really enviable position, the Copt is a
jealous and ambitious creature He is a
good clerk, f1nancier, but in other &C.
partments he lacks the initiative of the
Mussulman. Sir Edon dismisses tho
Coptic question thus:
Regarding their situation as a whole
1t compares very favorably with that OF
the Moslem population. and l have no
hesitation In stating that at the present
moment the Copts have no real grew
ances OF any Importance"
The financial situation at the end OF
1910 was excellent. The year 1910 had
been the most prosperous for years. The
cotton crop. while far from reaching tho
yield per feddan obtained in former
years. had. as compared with more re.
cent times. given satisfactory results.
The total crop was estimated to be about
100000 kantars. which. on the basis
sum accruing to the country consider
ably in excess OF any recently recorded.
The government was studying the con-
dition OF the cotton plant in Egypt AMI
the Sudan. A larger average yield oe
cotton and a more extensive cultivation
Of the more valuable qualities Of cotton
was required. An agricultural depart
ment was In course Of formation.
Under the head of Justice" the re-
port says: 1T is often not an easy task
to temper the provisions
Egyptian OF the penal code to the
rx: more primitive tribes. To
S"s'i1e' the eastern Arabs, accus-
toned to their Lex Talionis.' or to tho
pagans Of the south. who believe in witch
craft and the professional rainmaker,
the ordeal Of fire and poison and divina-
ton by chickens -
Sir Eldon cites case which occurred
at Rumbek in the Bahr-el-Ghazal. A
man meeting with two natives who
were passing through his village killed
one Of them. He stated that the first
had killed his father by magic many
years ago and that the second had quite
recently killed his wife and and
other relatives by the same means. He
had. therefore. according to custom.
killed the second as a magician. Asked
why he had made this invidious distinc-
ton between the two, If he supposed that
the first had killed his father, he replied
that his father also was a magician and
deserved his fate.
Sir Eldon mentions what he terms IAN
important decision" by the mixed tri-
bunal of the first instance at Cairo, rec
ognizing the status of the Sudan as
established by the agreement of 1899.
Briefly stated, Inc SuQdn governments
was sued on a contract by contractors
in Egypt. The Egyptian government
raised the question of Jurisdiction. The
Sudan government objected that ii was
a separate and independent government,
and not amenable to Egyptian tribunals.
and the Cairo mixed tribunal concurred
and dismissed the action as against tho
Egyptian government On its face this
has the appearance of legalizing the ar
bitrary separation of the Sudan from
Egypt.
Recurring to the promise made by Sir
Eldon Gorst that England will keep her
engagements. the Egyptians have decided
upon line of exemplary conduct which
shall show to the world her entire worth
mess for absolute self-government now.
not a generation hence. The congress AZ
Rome in September promises to be highly
interesting. 1t will be a dignifed, au-
gust body. At Heliopolis the Egyptian
gave q remarkab BILE manifestation Of his
spirit of self-restraint. In the midst OF
the session there was a single cry OF
''Vive la constitution The yenerab BILE
president quickly raised his baton
badge OF office and the unlucky man
was hustled from the building. Ac
Rome there will be a calm, dignifed
plea for recognition of the Egyptian ma
ton. and it will find responsive echo
in liberal England and Europe.