Page:On the Desert - Recent Events in Egypt.djvu/33

Rh are elements of growth, which promise to restore at least a portion of its former greatness. That all this may be realized, is the ardent wish of America. Across the world of waters that rolls between us — across the Atlantic and the Mediterranean — she sends her greeting to her elder sister of the Orient. As in the ages past, so in the ages to come may the Nile, rising in the Highlands of Central Africa, continue to pour down its annual flood, spreading over the land of Egypt fertility and abundance; and so long may this beautiful country be the home of a prosperous and happy people."

If the speaker could have foreseen the events of the next few months, he might have been less sanguine of the future of the Arab race, but he certainly would not have abated anything of his good wishes for Egypt.

The last speech was by Mr. Phelps, who mingled wisdom and wit in such a way as put everybody in the happiest mood, and the company broke up while the band played Hail Columbia and the Star-spangled Banner.

If fine words could make fair weather, the troubles of Egypt ought to have vanished with the darkness of the night; but although the sun rose the next morning over the Mokattam hills without a cloud, the political sky was as dark and threatening as ever. Weeks passed, and affairs grew "no better" very fast. Change succeeded to change, yet none brought the desired relief. The sympathy of Americans was still with the National party to this extent, that they felt that the country had a substantial grievance in the enormous burden of debt and of taxation which had been rolled upon it, and in the swarm of foreign officials which eat out its substance — a grievance against which it was a matter of loyalty and of patriotism to protest with the utmost energy. Nor was this feeling confined to Americans: so far as I could learn, it was the sentiment of all foreigners in Cairo, except those who were directly or indirectly interested in the maintenance of the Control.