American missionaries who were in Constantinople during the Russian war, told me that they could tell how the battle was going by the looks of the people; that every change was reflected in their faces; that when there was a report of Turkish victories, the populace at once became insolent toward foreigners, whom their fierce countenances seemed to say that they would be glad to massacre; but when the news came of the fall of Plevna, and the rapid march of the Russians on Constantinople, they collapsed into abject terror. A people of such a mood and temper are always safest when they are kept under the restraint of overwhelming power.
Seeing that such issues are depending on the action now to be taken, may we not say that there are interests involved higher than those either of England or of Egypt — the interests of Christendom and of civilization in the East? England has an opportunity to strike a blow at barbarism such as is not given to a nation in a hundred years. Our only fear is that she may weakly consent to give up her advantages, and thus lose by diplomacy what she has gained in war. If so, the latter end of this movement will be as impotent as its progress hitherto has been glorious. If she fails to complete what she has begun — if, after subduing the military revolt and restoring order, she abandons the country — it will quickly relapse into its former anarchy. Then indeed will ten devils enter in where one was driven out, and the last state of that country will be worse than the first. Let her not by any weak compliances throw away an opportunity such as may never be hers again. "Who knoweth but she has come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" The future of Egypt, and to a large extent of the whole East, is now in the hands of England, and may God give her wisdom and firmness to do her duty!
