He was conscious of it,
and shifted his ground, pointing out the dangers of doing what the other
nations interested in Egypt were not prepared to do.
"Have you asked them? Have you pressed them?" was shouted across
the House. Eglington ignored the interjections. "Answer! Answer!"
was called out angrily, but he shrugged a shoulder and continued his
argument. If a man insisted on using a flying-machine before the
principle was fully mastered and applied--if it could be mastered and
applied--it must not be surprising if he was killed. Amateurs sometimes
took preposterous risks without the advice of the experts. If Claridge
Pasha had asked the advice of the English Government, or of any of the
Chancellories of Europe, as to his incursions into the Soudan and his
premature attempts at reform, he would have received expert advice that
civilisation had not advanced to that stage in this portion of the world
which would warrant his experiments. It was all very well for one man to
run vast risks and attempt quixotic enterprises, but neither he nor his
countrymen had any right to expect Europe to embroil itself on his
particular account.
At this point he was met by angry cries of dissent, which did not come
from the Opposition alone. His lips set, he would not yield. The
Government could not hold itself responsible for Claridge Pasha's relief,
nor in any sense for his present position. However, from motives of
humanity, it would make representations in the hope that the Egyptian
Government would act; but it was not improbable, in view of past
experiences of Claridge Pasha, that he would extricate himself from his
present position, perhaps had done so already.
Pages:
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49