Things will not and cannot go straight in Egypt,
and I would say, 'Let them glide.' Before long time elapses things
will come to a crisis. The best way is to let all minor affairs rest,
and to consider quietly how the ruin is to fall. It must fall ere
long. United Bulgaria, Syria France, and Egypt England. France would
then have as much interest in repelling Russia as we have. Supposing
you got out Riaz, why, you would have Riaz's brother; and if you got
rid of the latter, you would have Riaz's nephew. Le plus on change,
le plus c'est la meme chose. We may, by stimulants, keep the life in
them; but as long as the body of the people are unaffected, so long
will it be corruption in high places, varying in form, not in matter.
Egypt is usurped by the family of the Sandjeh of Salonique, and (by
our folly) _we_ have added a ring of Circassian pashas. The whole lot
should go; they are as much strangers as we would be. Before we began
muddling we had only to deal with the Salonique family; now we have added
the ring, who say, '_We are Egypt_.' We have made Cairo a second
Stamboul. So much the better. Let these locusts fall together. As
well expect any reform, any good sentiment, from these people as water
from a stone; the extract you wish to get does not and cannot exist in
them. Remember I do not say this of the Turkish peasantry or of the
Egyptian-born poor families. It is written, Egypt shall be the prey
of nations, and so she has been; she is the servant; in fact Egypt
does not really exist.
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