New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-13
SOME EDUCATIONAL SUGGESTIONS.

Lord Kitchener's proposal to found a great
COLLEGE at Khart0um and the instant and en-
thusiastic response Of the British public are a
credit 10 European civilization and revelation
Of the spirit Of helpfuness which dominates
AnploS Saxon dealings with barbarOus and semi
harharous races The English cOnquerors or
the Soudan set an example which we should
take to heart and endeavor to apply in our new
possessions If we are TO be a success in our
new work we must govern our colonies with
4 primary view TO their welfare rather than
our own advantage. and think giving light to
them more important than reaplng material
profits from them. We must. like Lord Kitch-
cner. take the school with the rear guard of
our Army But che feature Of the Kharfoum
plan to which attention is called by THE Lon
don Spectator should be carefully thought
over by u.s. so that we may not fall into the
error. rs THE Spectator thinks Lord Kitch-
ener has done. Of trying to impose an alien
civilization upon people instead OF heipihg
them 10 develop one Of their own.
Lord Kitchener intends that the education
which his college gives shall be given ii Eng
lish. This. thinks The Spectator" Will rob 1t
of its viyifying power and repeat the hlundcr
which India owes to Macaulay. 1t says: NO
race will ever be civilized through teaching In
"a tongue in which II does not think. and when
"the teacher IS a Northern and the learner an
"Asatic-,hot Is. when the two mems thoughts
turn on different pivots-the jar between their
ideals produces nothing but mental bewildcr-
"mcnt and breakdown OF all the supports
among which character IS built up. That
is a truth which the American should not for
get and il will require special care for him not
to be forcctfu for he Is prone to ignore the
scnsibillties Of foreign peoples and slow 10
learn their languages. In trade he makes
others learn his language, and often Will not
even adapt his wares to the needs of those
he would induce to buy. lie goes through the
world all but contemptuous OF any civilization
but his own II we to reap the full com
mercial benefit of our new possessions we must
meet their people halfway. Our commercial
agents and our Government officials VIII need
to cultivate the language Of the people they
deal with. They may represent the dominant
power. but they VIII be few in number. and
If they would develop trade or cultivate good
Will they must 90 to the many and conciliate
them. and not demand that the many come
TO the few
More important still IS II to adopt the same
spri, OF cancellation and regard for native Gus
toms IN all attempts TO educate the people them
selves They might endure our ways In u.s.
but they would be less patient with imposi-
ton Of our ways upon them. Next 10 their re-
llglon. there Is nothing that n people cling To
more firmly than their language. and they re-
sent few things more than attempts to force
Them 10 abandon it. The troubles between the
Germans and Slavs In Austria show how bitter
a lancuagc controversy can be. The Russian
domination Is resented bitterly for bearing
heavily on the Polish tongue as on III" Polisi
mock If We wish 10 govern Porto Rico nnt
tho Ph,lippines happily we must be careful Of
,o,;r. suscentlbilities. Men will endure
tvronn,col government with much better grace
than the necessity Of acquiring a foreign civil
,zat,on. Without doubt we should do every