The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-13
NATIVES KS SOLDIERS
Warning Against Their Use in
the Philippines.
SEPOY AND S0U0ANESE
Types of the Black, Faithful
Only When Afraid.

save for a handful Of $50 English soldiers
constitute the sole garrison Of khartun,
have mutinied against their British Off
GERS serves to recall that the last great
war in which England was involved with
a civilized power-namely: the Crimean
campaign-was signalized by the mutiny
of Queen Victoria's native troops in In
dia against their white commanders.
That mutiny resulted in the massacre Of
thousands of English men, women, and
children, while 1t took no less than eigh-
teen months of hard fighting and the
the guns blowing of hundreds Of the ring
leaders ofthe movement from the guns
before the revolt was suppressed and or
der restored In India
The matter is one which is all the more
interesting to people on this side OF the
Atlantic owing to the proposal which has
been mooted in certain influential quar-
tiers to eventually ntrust the military
control of the Philippine Islands to
force recruited exclusively from natives
OF the archipelago, but commanded by
American officers. How far would II be
possible to rely upon the loyalty and use
fulness of such a native contingent as
that in the event of the United States
becoming involved IN some European war
of sufficient gravity to monopolize her
military energies? That is a question
which is destined sooner or later to be
come a factor in the situation here and,
this being the case, it may be OF timely
interest to briefly pass in review Eng
lands past experiences and present perils
in connection with the matter.
Before going any further it may be as
we'll to offer few words Of explanation
on the subject of the mutiny at Khartum.
The magnificent black regiments, and
likewise their Fellaheen comrades with
whom the battles OF Atbara and Omdur-
man were won, were at that time in the
last year of their military service, and
have since then returned home to their
families and villages.
The Soudanese regiments now at Khar-
tum, and which are reported to have mu-
tinted, are recruited almost exclusively on
the spot, from former adherents and fol-
lowers Of the Khalifa, under whose rule
they were permitted TO loot and pillage
to their hearts content, this privilege be-
ing accorded them in lieu Of pay. They
naturally find it difficult to conform them
selves to the iron discipline to which they
are now subjected, and having no doubt
heard all sorts of exaggerated reports on
the subject of the British reverses in
South Africa-reverses sufficiently seri-
Gus to necessitate the withdrawal Of the
English regiments from the Soudan-they
quite naturally consider the moment pro-
pitious to recover their liberty, drive out
the English invader, and restore dervish
supremacy on the Upper Nile.
1t is quite likely, too that agents Of the
dreaded Ell Senoussi may have been at
work melting them to revolt. For the
/ English as well as the French are thor
oughly aware that in Difference to secret
promptings from Constantinople El SEN
oussi-the most blindly obeyed Of all Mo-
hammedan religious leaders and the des-
potic grand master Of a brotherhood the
membership of which extends from the
western shores Of Morocco and from Tim
bukto to the Pacific coast Of China, to
Java andt o the PhiIippines-is inaugu-
rating a great Mohammedan revival, one
| of the chief objects of which Is tooust
the white man and Christianity from
central Africa, and If possible from the
whole dark continent.
Senoussi has viewed with the strongest
kind Of disapproval the establishment of
an Anglo-Egyptian government at Khar-
tum. and may be relied upon to do every
thing that is in his power to drive the
| Giour thence.
| In India the conditions that prevail to-
day show somewhat startling similarity
TO those which existed just before the
outbreak Of the CHEAT mutiHv. Then as
now India was subject to the rule of 2
Governor General of unusual vigor and
/ strength. who did not hesitate 10 exer-
else his power in the most despotic fash
ION In fact there IS not another OF Lord
Curzon's predecessors at Calcutta be
tween whom and himself there exists 50
strong an anoiogy as the great Lord Dali
housie. The latter was Of identically the
same age as Lord Curzon Is today, and q
few months beforethe outbreak OF the
great sepoy mutiny had felt himself con-
strained 10 summariIy depoSe the Nawab
or King. OF Oudh precisely in the same
way that Lord Curzon IS now about to de-
nose the Maharajah. OF King Holkar ot
Indore, on the ground Of disloyafty TO-
wards England and nisgovernment OF his
dominious. which are subject to British
suzeranity.
Like Lord DalhousIe. Lord Curzon takes
the broad ground that rulers only exist
for the good OF the ruled. That British
administration Is better for the Indiar
people than native rule follows from this
axiom as a necessary corolIary. Thus
while good faith must be kept with na
tive rulers on the thrones OF India. N
false sentiment should preserve in power
Princes who have forfeited all considers,
ton BY years 81 accumulated misrule
That was the keynote q Lord Dalhous
les policy. and II IS known % be n tht
same way the guiding principle OF LORI
Cluzon's administration.
Nor is there any one % the seni-inde-
pendent sovereign Princes q India VIII
has notb cen made 20 feel BY Lord Cur
ION that the tenure OF his throne is &c
pendent upon his loyalty and upon hi:
compliance with British recommendation.
IN connection with the government % n:
dominions.
IN 1856. as tod1v. India swsrnsd VIII
foreign secret agents, mostly IN the IA
OF Russia. busy in propaSsting far ant
wide stories 81 English defeats and -
verses. In 1856 the people % India wer'
taught to believe that England had beer
ineioriously defeated by Russia in th'
Crimea. instead OF being victorious, as sA'
really was This being the case. Il may
readily BE imagined what capital Russia
numerous agents IN India are making 70
day OF cae Ger successes IN South Africa
The great rnuttny OF a little ever forty
years ago was started bE the clrc1iatins
4 -F.---.<[.a- e----r-- II