At Khartoum on Thursday, at a dinner given to Captai n
Bailey, formerly aide-de-camp to the Sirdar, Lord Cromer made one of the most striking speeches on the develop. ment of newly acquired portions of the Empire which it has ever been our lot to read. Though specific, and very much to the immediate purpose—i.e., the proper government of the Soudan—it contained in epitome the creative and inspiring spirit of the true Imperialism. Unfortunately we have not space this week to deal with the speech in detail, but we may mention that it began with an admirable account of the beneficial effects of our public-school system of education in the matter of governing subject and savage provinces. The lad produced by our public-school system may have many failings, but at any rate, said Lora Cromer, he is capaz imperii. "In the free atmosphere in which his boyhood is passed he learns a number of lessons which stand him in good stead in after life as one of an imperial race. He is no automaton, but acquires unconsciously habits fitting him to shift and think for himself, to take responsibility—in a word, to govern, and to govern with justice and firmness." Examples of this class were found dotted all over this country, from:Suakin to El Obeid, from Wady Haifa to distant Gondokoro. "I can testify from personal observation that wherever they are found they are regarded by the natives, whether of the educated, semi. educated, or wholly savage types, as representatives of a system which debars any return to the oppression and ma]. administration of the past." The rest of Lord Cromer's stimulating speech we must leave for the present. We can only say now that it is not only packed full of the things which make for a sound Empire, but also shows that the actual progress in the Soudan has been very great.
Previous page
