The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-10


Hampton Tuskegee. and their kindred
institutions are developing among the
negroes of the South. A start in this
direction has been made by the Presoy-
terrain missionaries at Sidon, where DR..
Ford. who is. by the way. one Of the
Board of Managers Of the Syrian Protes-
tant College, has established just over
the border in the serni-inde pendent pro-
vince Of Lebanon, an agricultural train
ing school The Roman Catholics have
also recently started an industrial school
in the city of Beirut. The Alliance Is
raelite has notable industrial school
at Jerusalem
In the educational matters the French
and Americans are, TO a considerable ex-
tent, rivals in Syria. The rivalry has
pushed up the standard Of the schools on
both sides. since, TO maintain its posi-
ton. each must offer at least as good
conditions as the other. Il has also result
ed in the establishment OF elementary
schools through all the towns and vii
Ia ges af Syria and the Lebanon. Both
the French and the Americans have also
printing presses in Beirut, which do vslu-
able work IN the publication and dissem-
nation Of religious and educational litera-
ture in the Arabic language. Like the
Americans the French have likewise a
large and well equipped college at Beirut.
under the control of the Jesuits Inc
merical department connected with this
college possesses or did possess in one
respect an advantage over the American
School OF Medicine The diplomas of the
latter were not recognized by the Turkish
authorities, and students were compelled
TO go to Constantinople and obtain
diploma from the Imperial Turkish Me-
deal School at that place, a condition
which compels. in most cases, the acqui-
sition OF a new tongue. Turkish, the ma
tive tongue of the people.
Beirut ind the neighborhood being Ara
bic the French government. by the exer-
else of political influence and especially
by its peremptory method of enforcing
its just claims in Turkey, as by the sci
zure of the island Of Mytilene a few years
since, has secured to its schools and in
situations position OF advantage. Ameri-
cans, in spite of the favored nations
clause" obtain no such treatment.
At the commencement of the Armenian
massacres Turkish soldiers actually bonn
barded an American institution at Khar-
put in Asia Minor and the American gov
eminent practically submitted to the out
rage. This and other similar instances
Of supposed weakness in dealing with
the Turkish governement unlike the ener-
getic and peremptory measures applied
by France. Russia and Germany, have
placed American institutions and citizens
81, -,
para tive disadvantage. This political dis
advantage is. however, partially Offset by
the belief Of the people at large in the
single heartedness of the Americans; that
they have no Interior political aims in
their educational activity. II was graft
flying to me to hear, in the most unex-
peeted quarters and in all parts of the
land, words Of high praise for the Ameri-
can educational work in Turkey. All
agreed in placing it on a different footing
from that Of the work done by any other
nation.
OF late years another educational force
has developed in Palestine and the parts
Of Syria adjacent, namely, the Russian
schools. There are now, it is said. about
800 Russian schools. on which the Russian
government and church spend no less
than 100000 a year. In these schools free
education is given to both boys and girls,
the studying of the Russian language is
required; and further, picked scholars
are taken to Russia and trained in high
schools and universities TO equip them
to return to Palestine and advance Rus
sian interests. The propaganda is con-
Quoted intelligently and Systematically,
and the progress OF the Russian influence
in Palestine is one of the most striking
phenomena of recent years.
The bulk of the Christian population OF
Syria and Palestine, outside of the Leb-
anon. where the Maronites. who recognize
the supremacy OF the Pope, are numerous.
are Greeks. and Russia has always been
as their natural protector
France has been and still claims 10 be
the protector Of the Catholics in the East,
while England, when it has played a po-
liticaI part in Turksv has been rather the
friend Of the Druses and Moslems France
has greatly increased its political infiu-
ences by educational Observation-Disclosures.
largely under the direction Of the
Franciscans. Jesuits. and kindred others.
These French schools teach the French
peculiar degree a medium Of communi
cation in the East. and the spread Of the
French language has done much 70 in
crease French influence Russia has sirnp-
" taken advantage Of the experience Of
France. and undertaken 10 annex Pales-
tine BY an educational propaganda on a
more systematic and larger scale than
that carried on by the latter country.
But this propag anda has been SO sue
cessflI that il has begun TO arouse dis
trust and hostility in the Greek Church.
for the Greeks dream OF a great Greek
empire. with Constantinople as its CAPT
tai. while the Russian propaganda aims
az an annihilation OF Greek nationality.
This hostility has been OF late publicly
manifested in Athens where the present !
Queen ia extremely unpopular on account
Of her Russian origin. and every measure. |
benevolent or educat ionsI. which she en- /
is regarded with suspicion by the /
7eople az large. In Nazareth. where TIE 1
are building an enormous hos ]
pice for the accommodation Of their pl- /
crirus. the Greek bishop. who belongs 70 /,
the national party. takes every oQpoT- I
tunfty 70 throw obstacles in their way I
ard hinder and hamper their work; and /.
the same is true IN other places also. /
But among TIE bishops and high officials I
u the Greek Church in Syria there are /
number who are II sympathy with or l
In the pay OF Russia. and with every va I
fancy that occurs. Russia enGeavors r. I
secure the new bishop bitter struggle 4
took place at Beirut last year THAI /
aniscousI see is ore Of the most impor- 4
-an. of the country. The Russians at /.
- - sa-u-a the sppotrtrneut 70 /