Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. GISBORNE: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1882.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1159, 26 September 1882, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. GISBORNE: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1882.

The occupation of Cairo by Major-General Drury Lowe and the cavalry under his command, and the consequent surrender of Arabi Pasha, Toulba Pasha, and ten thousand of their troops, may be fairly looked upon as the finale of the Egyptian rebellion. The two leaders are now confined in the citadel of Cairo, and the feelings of the Fellaheen seen to have been re-enlisted in the cause of their rightful sovereign, the Khedive. The British troops were received by the populace with the greatest enthusiasm on their arrival in Cairo, and subsequent events have shown that such feeling was not a momentary impulse. It appears that previous to the arrival of General Lowe with the force under his command, Arabi and Toulba had been stirring up the populace, and inciting them to burn and pillage the city of Cairo, and it was feared that owing to the intensity of religious fanaticism there existent, he would have suceeded ; but the Governor of Cairo, watchful of his opportunity, caused both Arabi and Toulba to be arrested and lodged in the citadel, and on General Lowe’s arrival he was informed that the two leaders of the rebellion were at his disposal. This coming immediately after the decisive defeat inflicted by the British arms upon the rebels at Tel-el-Kebir, has convinced Sir Garnet Wolseley that there is no occasion for further reinforcements, and that the war may be considered virtually over, and in such words he has conveyed his opinion to the Home authorities. What will be the fate of the rebel leaders it is difficult to say, but we have already been told that England before delivering them up to the Sovereign against whom they have so treacherously rebelled, and endeavored to depose from his lawful authority, will urge upon him the policy of sparing their lives ; not for one moment do we think they will be allowed to live, but they will not be executed for the crime for which they will be arraigned, via., treasonous rebellion. It is a too well known fact that promises given by Egypt or Turkey regarding lives of prisoners have never been by either of those powers looked upon as sacred, and what the sword of the public executioner is restrained by such promises from carrying out, is often effected by the bowstring, or tile knife of paid assassins. We fail to see any reason why these men should be protected, except that of philanthropy; which, we must confess, looks somewhat like a farce in the present instance. Both as Statesmen and soldiers, they have been guilty of crimes which, under almost any Government but an English one, would condemn thorn to death without a chance of redemption, Abahi has been a signal failure in his political and military life, and is another example of what mischief bigoted fanatics can do among men whose only reason to follow them is that of unreasoning religious fanaticism. He has fairly earned his punishment, by all means let him meet his deserts to the uttermost extent, and thus save Egypt and Turkey from the necessity of political murder, a crime to which both countries ere prone. Killing is no murder in the eyes of a Mahommedan if the crime be any way political, nor does the Koran enjoin upon the “ Faithful " the necessity of regarding a promise or oath as binding if made to a Christian ; aim it is very nearly certain that the only effect of a public promise given by the Oriental powers, of protection to tile lives of Arabi and Toulba, would be a distinct guarantee for their death by the hands of the private executioners of tlie Khedive, or his master the Sultan,