The Shadow of Great Britain-Chapter 610 - 305

Just as Sheriff Field had surmised, there actually weren’t many people who cared whether Hastings was dead or alive, but everyone seemed to swarm like flies in a restroom over the news effect this incident triggered.

The East India Company seized the opportunity to slander Liverpool’s chaotic management, hoping to gain more favorable policies from Parliament.

The Home Office considered using this event to further expand its power, integrating national security forces into its own hands.

The Foreign Office grabbed onto the identity of the assassin, with Viscount Palmerston shifting his stance on the Polish issue, beginning to seize the moral high ground to accuse those who sympathized with the Poles of ignoring national sovereignty issues.

The Russians, naturally, were pleased with this development, for if those Polish exiles were sent back, the trials they would face would likely be far harsher than those faced by peasants who participated in the Sven uprising.

As for the merchants unhappy with the quarantine policy, it was naturally a huge surprise that the Cabinet was willing to consider shortening the quarantine period.

After all, no matter how forgetful the Cabinet could be, they could not possibly forget the Gunpowder Plot, the Westminster shooting, the Cato Street Conspiracy, and other such entertaining incidents.

Although Britons did not have the tradition of storming Paris and killing en masse like the French, on this small island, every now and then there would spring up some extravagant ideas of assassinating the Prime Minister, blowing up Parliament, and overthrowing the Cabinet.

Today one might kill the commissioner in London, and tomorrow take up a sword in Hasting, the American quick draw.

Thus, the ever adaptable British politicians naturally understood how to handle these matters.

On one hand, the culprits must be severely punished.

On the other hand, they must not stubbornly refuse to give ground when it was time to yield.

After all, no matter how many cavalry sabers the Army had or how fast the Royal Navy could fire, when an assassin’s gun barrel was pressed against one’s chest, distant water could not put out a nearby fire.

If Hastings’s head could fall, who’s to say mine couldn’t?

It’s been thousands of years, and after all, the only one who could resurrect is Jesus.

Arthur put down the newspaper and just rubbed his face.

But he clearly forgot about the stitched corner of his eye and almost rubbed himself bloody.

Just as he was grimacing and sucking in air to ease the pain, he heard the boisterous laugh of the Great Dumas beside him.

"Hahaha!"

Arthur slightly grimaced and took a sip of tea, "Alexander, do you really find my suffering that amusing?"

The Great Dumas, holding his cigar and clutching his stomach, laughed heartily, "Who... who the hell is laughing at you? I’m laughing at our Mr. Disraeli! Ah... Arthur, take a look at this. You have to admit, the British system really is unique! I still don’t understand how Benjamin got elected as an MP."

Arthur took the newspaper from the Great Dumas and glanced at it, his brows furrowing at just the headline.

"The worst maiden speech in the House of Commons this century, but one must admit, this article is tremendously entertaining"

"Ladies and gentlemen! Allow this newspaper to introduce to you: born on King Street in London, the Royal Jester—Mr. Benjamin Disraeli"

"The House fell into a dreadful silence lasting three minutes, as the MPs gave their solemn respects"

"Mr. Disraeli may think he is not just an MP from a rural constituency, but has already become the ruler of all Britain"

"The Foreign Office should, while considering the expulsion of Poles, think about how to deal with these Jews"

According to this newspaper’s resident parliamentary correspondent, during the inaugural session of the new Parliament, newly elected MPs as per tradition made their first speeches.

Mr. Benjamin Disraeli from the Maidstone constituency in Kent County, due to his Jewish lineage, received quite a few jeers as he made his appearance.

In response, Disraeli stepped up to the podium and first maintained silence, then softly murmured, "I am a Jew, but what of it? I stand here as a Briton. Even if you wish to criticize my lineage, I do not consider it a matter of shame. For while my ancestors were distinguished Jewish Rabbis holding staffs in Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem, your ancestors were still living on an unknown island, leading primitive lives."

Agares, who saw this, slapped his thigh and laughed loudly, "Good lad! Now I start to believe he might indeed become a Prime Minister one day! Not everyone has that kind of guts."

Seeing this, Arthur just shook his head slightly, "Benjamin... all I can say is, it’s lucky he was born in England."

Heine also nodded slightly, "If it were in Prussia, he probably would have been beaten to death by now. Jeering, in some way, is indeed a sign of civilization. Though... not much of it."