Rebellion and Independence 233
exceptional experience in Egypt showed him the mis-
take that was being made. But this, too, was refused.
Of course the rebuff only roused the Nationalists to
further efforts. In Saad Zaglul they had a spokesman
whose career inspired confidence in every class. He had
made his political debut as a follower of Arabi; he later
became leader of the Hassb-el-Oum, and in 1905 joined
the Hassb-el-Watan. Like Arabi, a son of the people
of fellah origin, and not unlike him in appearance—like
him also, Zaglul had educated himself in middle life,
when he learnt French and took a French Law degree.
As son-in-law of the Premier, Mustapha Fehtny, he,
too, had owed his start in life to marriage. He also had
been educated at el Azhar, but chose the law and not,
like Arabi, the army. He had the same facility in
rhetorical appeal but had also, what Arabi had not,
experience in political affairs and the power of command.
He seems to have been the one Egyptian that really
impressed Cromer, who, in his farewell speech, recom-
mended him to Egypt as one of its future rulers : *' Lastly,
gentlemen, I should like to mention the name of one
with whom I have only recently co-operated, but for
whom in that short time I have learned to entertain a
high regard. Unless I am much mistaken, a career of
great public usefulness lies before the Minister of
Education, Saad Zaglul Pasha. He possesses all the
qualities necessary to save his country. He is honest,
he is capable; he has the courage of his convictions;
he has been abused by many of the less worthy of his
countrymen. These are high qualifications. He should
go far/' He certainly did.
This, the most able of the co-operators with the
British in Egypt—one who had been driven from the
Ministry of Justice by their enemy, Abbas Hilmy—now