Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

3 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

(From the Sun.)

(From the John Bull.)

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

(From the John Bull.) NEWS has at length arrived of the refusal of ME- HEMET ALI to succumb to the ultimatum of the four Great Powers the obstinate old despot declares that he will repel force by force," and that he will act strictly on the defensive. This latter insertion we readily are induced to believe, inasmuch as we can- not well imagine that a man like the PASHA of Egypt -who has lived seventy years in the world-could act so insane a part as to act on the offensive No; MEHEMET ALI, although a tyrannical and determined old man, has too much common sense for that. But still, is not his announcement that he will act on the defensive enough to give rise to great alarm on the f part of the friends of peace? What, we would ask, does his declaration amount to, but one of war-open war-against the Powers of Europe ? If he resist their ultimatum, and be resolved, moreover, to resist any endeavour on their part to coerce him into acqui- escence, why, we cannot see how a regular war could well be avoided. Certainly we are of decided opinion that the Powers have an undoubted right to coerce MEHEMET ALI into submission, and it appears that already have detachments from the English and Aus- trian squadrons proceeded te make a demonstration on the coast of Syria in order to intimidate the PASHA, and we much fear lest this unquestionably proper step on the part of the allied squadrons may not again excite the jealousy of France, and thereby produce the result most to be deprecated. Although the eff- ervescence of the French journals has almost entirely cooled down, still we, who are in the constant habit of watching their tone and temper on the subject of the Eastern question, cannot fail to perceive that con- siderable jealousy is felt by France of any hostile demonstration against MEHEMET ALI. In fact, the Commerce (a Paris paper) of Monday last contains a long accout of the PASHA, in which the crafty old despot is lauded to the skies for his talented career, and for his exertions in furtherance of civilization, &c., whereas a correspondent of the Times, who writes a long and interesting statement from Syria, con- cerning the condition of Egypt, (which country he has thoroughly explored) represents the Government of MEHEMET ALI as one of the most odious and tyran- nical despotisms with which a country was ever cursed, and that all his boasted civilization is merely super- ficial, and adopted with a view to deceive passing travellers. Now we certainly incline to give credence to the latter, in preference to the former statement, as proceeding not from a party biassed journalist, but from a calm and dispassionate observer on the spot. The Government of MEHEMET ALI may appear con- stitutional on the surface, but to anybody who looks deeper, it presents a dark and distressing picture of unqualified despotism and tyranny. Yet this is the man whom the French nation affect to sympathise with. We say affects, because we have long since explained our ideas of the cause which leads France to espouse the insolent preten- sions of the Egyptian VICEROY. Take the following extract from the article in Le Commerce; does it not fully prove our view of the case to be true? After detailing the characters of MEHEMET ALI and his son IBRAHIM PASHA, it goes on to say It is, therefore, easily to be seen from the characters of MEHEMET ALl and his soil, that they will not yield btitat the last extremity, if, indeed, they would not prefer being buried under the ruinsnf theirown power BUT IF ASSISTED BY FRANCE, then there is no doubt but that both would engage in the struggle with desperate vigour." May not we infer from this that the wish of France is decidedly against any coercion of MEHEMET ALI by the other Powers of Europe ? France wishes to make a friend of the PASHA, in order to further her own designs upon the future Sovereignty of Egypt; the idea of possessing that rich and magnificent country, originally started by NAPOLEON BUONAPRTE, has not been lost sight of even by the less ambitious (?) Government of the present Citizen King of France. But to return to the question. How is MEHEMET ALI ito be coerced into submission? May not the hostile demonstrations made by England and Austria bring down Russia to Constantinople, and excite anew the jealousy and anger of France ? We have strong misgiving, whether the result will not be a second battle of Navarino, in which case Russia, as usual, would doubtless be the only Power that would profit by such a contingency. No one can doubt that the interests of England would thereby sustain a serious, if not an irreparable injury. At any rate the resistance of the PASHA, however absurd and contemptible in itself, may ,we are of opin- ion, be the cause of a serious outbreak. Here lies the provoking absurdity of the case. All the Powers of Europe, not excepting even France, seem to be agreed that a war is the worst evil to be apprehended—in fact it would be positively and absolutely cruel were we to be doomed to the misery and ruinous expence of a war, owing merely to the intolerable obstinacy of a superannuated bigot at Alexandria. Only let us look at the danger at present existing with regard to the coercion of the PASHA. If we blockade Syria, other nations will naturally lift up their voices, and enter their protests against a course which will manifestly be a grievous injury to their commerce with that country. If we bombard Alex- andria another difficulty arises—MEHEMET Au has now the Turkish fleet in his possession consequently if we attacked his own fleet, it is not unlikely that the Turkish might be destroyed at the same time, and thus the remedy may prove ten thousand times worse than the disease. Still, England must not allow her conduct to be swayed by any petty fears; provided she acts a straightforward, independant, and honest course, we are by no means afraid of the result. France, we cannot doubt, will, now that her good sense has re- turned, cheerfully join England in taking measures to bring the dispute to an amicable and satisfactory ter- mination. And one word in conclusion. If France and England remain united, Russia must give up all hope of achieving her ambitious schemes but, on the contrary, if they are once severed, then disgrace and defeat will pave the way to the ultimate triumph of Russia, who would then be sole arbitress of the Eas- tern question—ay, and of Europe into the bargain

(From the same.)