Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-07-08
BY Edgar
e. Foil,
d. d.
The Egyptian
Museum

The method of teaching consists almost
wholly in training the memory. There
10 nothing to develop independence or
thought. No original work Is done, and
no advancement is made. The course is
from four to six years. We saw an
old negro from the Soudan, who had
been there four years. He is now IS
years old. and hopes to live long enough
to complete his education No women
are allowed as pupils. Not one In ono
thousand women in Moslem countries
can even read. Quite democratic splr-
IL prevails among the students. The
sons OF officials and of peasants sit
side by side. over 1000 charity stu
dent live in the university. About 800
loaves of bread are distributed among
them each day.
I have told Of this university some
what in detail because it is one of the
special objects OF interest in Cairo, and
because 1 wanted to let my readers
understand the difference between this
and the Egyptian university at which
Mr.. Roosevelt spoke. This was founded
only a few years ago. 1t represents
what we may call young Egypt, with
modern and progressive ideas, as OPP
university Of which have just spoken.
1t us intensely national in character. 1t
breathes a spirit of patriotism. This
would go to explain the intense national
feeling Of the students and the reason
why they resented the speech OF Mr.
Roosevelt so vigorously.
ENGLISH OCCUPATION.
%. But, after all. the underlying cause
of the trouble was the English occupation
Of Egypt. This Is a very sore place to
the Egyptians. You remember how 1t
came about Ismail Pacha brought Egypt
deeply in debt building palaces. He bor-
rowed money from English and French
bankers to do so. This kept up until the
governments of England and France were
obliged to step in to protect their sub
jects. It was agreed between them that
England should assume the protectorate
OF the country and direct it's financial af-
fairs. It was expected that England
would 20 manage these affairs that the
money due the English and French bank
ers would be paid back in a few years
and England would retire, and leave
Egypt to manage her own affairs. But
II was necessary, OF course, to nave
somebody to direct the financial affairs.
And so there came from England a num-
Der Of officials. These the Egyptians say
receive high salaries, thus consuming
much of the income which might have
gone to the liquidation Of the debt. 80
that the debt does not grow less very
fast. The Egyptians are getting very
tired Of the arrangement. They feel that
they are paying out taxes to these high
salarted oficials unnecessarily. They
have their own government, of which
the Khsdive 10 the head. to support They
object to have to support foreign Of
nciala, at least for an indefinite period.
And so when President Roosevelt, In his
address at the Egyptian university ad-
vised by implication the continuance or
English occupation and then rubbed 1t In
by the further implication that the Egyp-
tians are incapable of self-government at
present, it was like shaking a red rag in
the face of a bull, and 1t aroused the
students a good deal, the tax on tea
aroused the citizens of Boston some 1SS
years ago.
And yet, as I have said. I believe he
was right on both points. Despite their
high salaries the English have done a
great deal for Egypt. They have I'M
proved the finances, have built railroad,
have erected many new and handsome
buildings, have kept order, and otherwise
have made 1t a new country. So far as
the Egyptians are concerned, with their
lknOT6nCG anu supcISlAliOh NAiSh w. ~
ton, their religion, I do not believe they
are capable of self-government, and 1
doubt II they will ever be until they
change their religion, and with 1t their
IDEAS Of honesty, of truth and of right.
In speaking OF Gibraltar, I mentioned
the fact that the resemblance Of the rock
n a lion would indicate that 1t had been
predestinated from all eternity that Eng
land should control it. 1t was quite a
coincidence to find that standing In front
Of the bridge over the Nile are two lions
British lions-placed there many years
before there was ever any thought that
England would ever occupy the country.
hut there they were as II again indicat-
Ing a predestination. At any rate, Eng
land Is in Egypt, and my prediction Is
that she Is there to stay for a good many
years to come. I may add that In my
travels I have discovered three things:
a.. England is everywhere. CD. She Is
not wanted anywhere. (3). She is go
ing to stay where she Is.