The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-18
EDUCATION ron THE CONQUERED.

EDUCATION FOR THE CONQUERED.
The plan proposed by General Kitchener
for the establishment Of an English college
in the Sudan probably struck many Amer
lean readers as rather a curious scheme,
and one which only the reputation of the
sirdar for observation-disclosures prevented them
from condemning outright as useless and
impractical. After all that had been said
about the savagery of the Sudanese, and
especially of that tribe of fanatics, the Bag
CARA, it seemed that the first, and for a
long time the only, necessity was a stern
government that would cure them of a
measure of their barbarity by sheer force.
In his speech at the lord mayors banquet
General Kitchener acknowledged the need
or police organization and the civilizing in
huence of police powers; he admitted that
public security must be guaranteed, and
that the Industrial habits of the people must
be developed in order that they might help
pay for the administration. They must be
required to attend to sanitary regulations
and taught not to rob or do acts of violence
to each other, and must be assured that if
they obeyed regulations they would be left
ties and the enjoyment of their ancient
rights. But along with the exercise of these
police powers he insisted that education
must go, and to that end he advocated a
college, to be conducted by English teach
ers and around which their future develop
ment would grow. The education would at
first, of course be elementary, but as the
country progressed the school would develop
into higher form of instruction, and would
enable the pupils to take positions as clerks
in the government and positions in the tel
egraph, and as land surveyors, as tax coll
lectors. and many other positions of gov
eminent. And ne added, Il hope they
would develop into technical schools of ag-
riculture and irrigation and engineering, and
perhaps, last of all, of medicine, and thus
form a worthy memorial of Gordon and a
center Of English education in the heart of
AFRICA" By way of arousing British self
interest he remarked: ITO all those who
spend large sums in advertising their goods
surely it must occur that it would be a
benefit to them if they spent money in
teaching the inhabitants of this new market
which has been opened to read their adver-
tisements.''
Mr. G.. w. Stevens. the brilliant news
paper correspondent who accompanied
Kitcheners army in the Sudan campaign,
throws a light on the generals plan which
makes it seem more feasible and to the pur-
pose. The Sudanese, he says, ARE emphat-
ically teachable race You have only to
look at a Sudanese battalion to realize it.
They begin as the rawest savages it is pos
sible to conceive-their only humanization
rude code of honor, their only virtues 10y
atty to recognized chiefs and an unquench-
able courage A few months in disciplined
battalion inculcates obedience, self-control,
the mechanical movements of drill, sharp
ness, soldierly self-respect, the appreciation
of the leading features in a white officers
character. As servants they pick up their
business with remarkable aptitude When
| associated with British troops they wonder
| at their ways, admire, learn, initiate aston
| ishingly" Kitcheners proposition is to be-
! sin with the chiefs, and there are many in
| stances of Sudanese chiefs inspired with a
sense of responsibilities to their followers
which is the barbarian analogue of public
spirit. If the younger generation" says
Stevens, were but taught to read and
write, to communicate easily with British
people and to comprehend geography enough
to realize the relative position of their coun-
| try in the world-this alone will be a vast
stride forward Up to now the Sudanese
know the Briton only as the white Turk
and with Turk he Jumps in the Egyptian
also. 1t is hardly too much to say that a
few geography lessons to a few chiefs would
have averted the whole Mahdist movement
with its half generation of misery
1t is worth while to remember, he says,
that if you educate one headman you edu-
cate all his trusting village. Stevens would
have the education always in the hands of
white men. The Sudanese come easily, he
| declares, to respect and love the white
man, as has been richly shown in war.
They have something in common-a man.
| ~, almost childish, simplicity, aptitude for
discipline, courage and especially loyalty.
Given the proper teacher. the youth of the
Sudan will be as loyalty, as trustfully ODE
| dent to him as is the manhood Of the Su-
dan to the proper officer"
This scheme of education for conquered
race has it's especial interest to Americans
| because they are likely to have a similar
| problem of their own to consider in the
near future. Schools for the teaching of
English have already been established in
Porto Rico, but there it is merely the SUBJ
| stitution of one language for another in a
civilized community. If the Philippines are
to be ours the education of half-savage,
wholly illiterate people will have to be I'M
dertaken. What the British do in their
newly acquired territory by way of bring
ing the inhabitants into touch with ad-
vanced civilization is matter that may
Well be watched with interest. 1t is appar-
emily the part of Great Britain and the
United States, at this stage of proceedings,
| to eniighten the world.