England in Egypt

No more striking evidence of the ability of the English race to govern Oriental people could be given than the condition of Egypt to-day.

When the French refused to join England in putting down by force the rebellion under Arabi Pasha against the late Khedive Tewfik, they practically gave up their share in the control of the country.

England put down the rebellion by her naval and military forces, and ever since has been the controlling power in Egypt.

The domination of England has made a great difference in the condition of the people. Under the former Khedives-even so progressive a ruler as Ismail Pasha-the people were greatly oppressed. The army was recruited by force, the men badly paid and treated like dogs. So much was the service dreaded that the peasants frequently mutilated themselves to escape military duty, and the army became a byword for cowardice.

Forced labor on public works and on the Khedive's plantations was the rule. Hundreds and thousands of peasants were forced to work without pay, and sometimes required to provide their own tools and food. In the construction of the Suez Canal large numbers of the wretched peasants perished from the hardships of the system. The amount of taxes paid by the peasants depended largely on the cupidity of the local magistrate, and the payment was extorted frequently by the vigorous use of the koorbash (or rawhide-whip).

These and many other abuses have been corrected under British control. The army has been recruited by voluntary enlistment, and the men paid and well treated. They take pride in the service, and fought well in the Soudan. The forced labor system has been abolished. The taxes have been fixed at a definite sum, not too much for the people to pay, and are collected more easily than of old.

In addition to this, great attention has been paid to public works, especially for irrigation, and the area of cultivable land has been increased. While inaugurating and carrying out these and other measures for the general good, the British have wisely refrained from interference with the religion or manners or customs of the people.

Of course, this foreign domination is hated by many on racial and religious grounds, and by some of the upper classes, who were deprived of the power to plunder the people and grow rich; but the mass of the people are contented and the others dare not resist. Several times the present Khedive, Abbas Pasha, has shown signs of revolt, but has been quickly subdued by the firm attitude of the British Minister, who, it is said, has sometimes threatened to use force if his wishes were not carried out. The Khedive knows that England has the power, and that, on the whole, her rule is wise, so he submits. Egypt cannot stand alone; it has not been independent for more than 2000 years, and if England were to retire some other power would take her place.

Owing to the wise control of England, the country has increased in population and prosperity. It numbers now about eight millions, as large a population as it contained even in the palmy days of the old Pharaohs.

The Suez Canal, connecting the Red Sea with the Mediterranean, was opened in 1869. It being the high road between Europe and India, England, in 1875, felt obliged to purchase a controlling interest in it. This has added to her power in Egypt.

On the whole, it is perhaps not too much to say that Egypt has never been so well governed as under the reign of Queen Victoria.