Still Troublesome by Uriah Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Sep 28, 1882

Still Troublesome.

By Uriah Smith

THE war in Egypt, so far as pertains to active hostilities, is at an end; but the trouble to which this episode in the Eastern question has given rise, is in no degree abated. On the contrary, it now assumes larger proportions, inasmuch as the interests of other powers besides England now come into the question in reference to the settlement of the status of Egypt. When France and Germany so unexpectedly left England to herself in the Egyptian struggle, England announced that if she bore the burden of the war alone, she would, when the victory was won, consult her own interests alone in the disposition to be made of Egypt. This stirred considerable feeling in the hearts of these powers, but not enough to cause them at that time to act. Now, however, that the war is over, and England is in a position to carry her intentions, the other powers will not be slow to act, nor modest in their demands; and serious complications may result. The following dispatches explain themselves:—

“LONDON, Sept. 17.—The ultimate fate of Egypt excites keen discussion. The strongest feeling prevails that what has been gallantly won by the sword must not be whittled away by diplomacy; and Gladstone will have a difficult task to reconcile the wishes of the country with the demands of Europe.

“NEW YORK, Sept. 17.—A Sun cablegram says: The Eastern question is no nearer a conclusion, and the “unspeakable Turk” remains as difficult a problem for European statesmen as ever. Now that the war is ended, a question only partly foreseen arises: How will England avail herself of the position she has gained? The general apprehension of the European press seems to be that if left to herself she will scuttle the country and establish herself as the sole guarantrix of the canal, or that she will bodily annex it, and bid defiance to the powers.”

The San Francisco Chronicle, of Sept. 19, 1882, in an article entitled the “Beginning of the End,” has the following paragraph, which shows how narrowly the Turkish power in Europe has escaped final extinction in the recent trouble, and how slight an event may still bring on that catastrophe. It allows but a few years at the longest, and in any event, for the continuance of that power. It says:—

“Had the Sultan been left to his own counsel, it is probable that he might have interfered by force to drive the English from Alexandria two months ago. In that case, Constantinople would now be in British possession, and the empire of the Turk ended forever in Europe, whatever disposition future wars should have made of the carcass. The timely assistance of a conference of the powers saved Constantinople for a few years longer to its present possessors. But the events of the summer of 1882 have instructed, not the Turks only, but all the world besides, upon the feebleness of the Moslem power, and what comparatively trifling accidents might terminate it in favor of a great maritime nation like England.”

A London dispatch to the New York World, of September 22, gives the following: “The Government is now beginning to realize the truth that there are many and great difficulties to be encountered in the process of arranging Egyptian affairs. Gambettist organs in Paris, to begin with, are demanding the revival of the joint control, with influence in the affairs of Egypt utterly undiminished. At present, however, the British Government does not seem disposed to consent to any such proposition. The old control is believed to have had a great share in producing Arabi and the national party in Egypt, and consequently to have led to the war. Further, it is held that France has no right to enter Egypt on equal terms with England, having declined to take any part in putting down Arabi's insurrection. The irritation in France at being thus calmly and conspicuously elbowed out of the way, can naturally be imagined, and is evidently increasing every day, and may give rise to serious complications.” U. S.