New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-14
THE FRIENDSHIP OF ISLAM
FRENCH WRITER ADVOCATES THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF MUssULMAN
SCHOOLS IN ORDER TO
SECURE I

The proposed Gordon Memorial University In
Khartoum. which the English people. following
Lord Ktchener's suggestion. are endowins so iioer-
ally. has not unnaturally aroused some Anxiety
and jealous opposition In France Its connection
with the French failure 10 make stand at fa-
shoda is too obvious 10 escape comment ana
writer in the Journal des Dabats' taxes occasion
to point what he considers the essential ieat-
ures Of the scheme and how It's success would af-
feet France This writer, VI. Robert de CaiA AFTER
speaking OF the liberay with which the endow-
ment is being contributed. amounting to about &U'-
90 at the time he wrote, says that the moment mas
com. o ask what results this foundation Will Sc
cure and how IL will affect the French. and TO seek
means 10 parry Il effectually-that is. with
policy larger and more intelligent than the mere
establishment Of a French school In the same place
In opposition to the English school.
We believe. says the writer. that even the Eng
sh even the most enthusiastic Of them are de-
ceved to the character Of the proposed insti-
tuition. Many Of them fancy II will be A sort OF
English university to impart to the young Sou
danese Western knowledge carefully kept British
in form and tendency. II seems to us, however,
that LordsKitchener spent too many years study
Ing the East before he became the victor at Omdur-
man to entertain an idea narrow and so unpro-
ductive. The man who Is to solve the problem OF
bringing any significant influence 10 bear on the
Mahometans. II he be not a mere routine pureau-
crat would choose his means not a university
after the European model which teaches science IN
form Inaccessible to the Oriental spirit but
Mussulman university. a great "medersa. 1t Is
by means adapted to M1ssurnan ideas that the
English with their correct political instinct. Intend
TO rule the Mussulman world In Arabia. where
their influence is steadily increasing. they are
pressing 1t close; they dominate It In India: they
control It in Egypt. one Of the most Intelligent
provinces. Now they wish to give It a brain viorat-
ing with their own impulses; and ne the famous old
University OF Cairo, too rich in endowment and in
pious foundations Of all sorts. and consequently
TOO independent. cannot be made their instrument
they wish TO set up against 1t In Khartoum great
rival institution. Mussulman in FORM but adroitly
and firmly directed according 70 English views
This would enable England 20 fill the religious
orders influential IN the Orient. with men or
Mussulman tendencies. but devoted 10 her interests
perhaps TO control. or at all events. TO neutraize
the sect of Senoussah opponents hard to overcome
More effectively than would khartoum hoo
Djerboub In check. and who can say where this
policy OF moral conquest would stop In North
Africa?
A POWERFUL INSTRUMENT.
very slight knowledge OF the Mussulman world
is enough to show what powerful and subtle in.
strument the English are seeking to acquire, and
by what numberless and mysterious channels their
influence might spread through all Islam Can we
compete with them In this field? l am convinced
that We can. Certainly we cannot be content with
the unsophisticated plan Of establishing French
schools at Khartoum and Fashoda. side by SIDE
with the Gordon University and v!slbly so inferior
TO Il as TO be a source of ridicule They would re-
suit finally merely In teaching a few dozen negroes
who would be lost among the myriads OF their coun-
trymen, to speak French. We must create. tnen
foster, among ourselves. without ostentaton or as-
gressiveness a Mussulman centre that will give
US the means OF moral influence that our millions
Of Mahometan subjects make necessary To say
nothing OF the Western Soudan. where We possess
centres Of Mussuman activity like Dlenne ana
Timbuctoo. which may become the seat OF great
"medersa." or school, influenced by France even
the past history Of Algerian conquests shows us
the true method to follow We found at Tiemcen.
the ancient Queen of Mohgreh. an old ARABIAN
University a rival OF that at Fee; but IN our brutal
Ignorance Of the Mahometan world we have crushed
out this institution as we have other insutulons
e 81 iSci t. The learned families of Tlemcsn
have fed to Fez- We have been left absolutely
without a means OF getting In touch with the con-
quered population When We Wished to come IAN IN
and 1 Sf apS by
riority in Mussulman culture, We found only gradu-
Se eso OF the ean an e. hostile
obliged to pass over these dangerous ndiviauals;
parvenus dangerous adventurers who protected
and armed with our authority. nave committed inc
most irritating and dangerous abuses.
MUSsULMAN SCHOOLS UNDER FRENCH IN
FLUENcE
To remedy this situation. deporable in itself and
Incoming more and more alarming now that we
have rivals who understand the Mahometan world,
we have TO found in France centres OF Instruction
manned by Mahometans competent, through SUI
nerioritv OF culture evident 10 their coregionsts
10 be the necessary mediators between these latter
and their Western masters. with tnls eng III
Wv one Of the Governors OF Algeria. NJ: Jules
Cambon. began to. reorganize the old Algerian .hs
"nedersas" but this task, now more urgent than
ever on account OF the intelligent activity OF our
rivals is still unfinished. 49,,
nothing TO fear from the English "medersa' at
KharfoiIm: we should be in possession OF invaluable
inAnances 10 play against our adversaries among
heir Mussulman subjects We should be better
prepared to manage affairs in Morocco where we
IRE al such a disadvantage account OF the chronic
insuficiency OF our Mussulman policy. while we
never ought TO have lost sight OF the pre-emlnent
IMPORTANCE of the country adjoining Algeria with
centres OF Mussuman culture and more Intelligent
sttt.,do toward the powers OF Islam. especially
more plable one toward Turkey. our foredoomed
ally In certain possible contingencies. our situatlon
In 4 frica and on tho Mediterranean would be more
secure.