ON TRAINING IN CITIZENSHIP. 375 
some outside Power, nor was the character of the peoples themselves in any one 
case sufficiently strong, in the mass, for them to be able to run a stable Govern- 
ment independent of all protection. 
‘ At present these national aspirations are directed by politicians, who trade 
largely cn the emotional qualities of the people. The statesmen, who look 
ahead, realise that independence cannot be safely jumped into at one bound, 
but must be gradually built up, mainly on a foundation of moral and material 
qualities in the nation—that is, through improved education and through the 
development of national resources in industry and commerce. It is the character 
of the people themselves that counts. It is here that the Boy Scout and Girl 
Guide movements come in. Different though conditions are in the different 
countries, the statesmen in each seemed to recognise that this training is what 
is needed to put character into the oncoming generation of citizens. In every 
one of the countries visited we found Boy Scouts, and in most of them Girl 
_ Guides, already being raised among the youth of the country with that intention. 
‘In India half-a-dozen different Scout associations had been started among 
the Indians for improving their education ; and similarly in Egypt we found four 
or five different Scout organisations at work. These in each case were distinct 
from the branches of the British or other foreign Boy Scouts’ associations. For- 
tunately these movements were still young; in many cases we found them a 
little off the line, if not in principle, at least in detail; and in many cases they 
had adopted the form, but not—what is more important—the spirit. Every- 
where we were most generously received, and our criticisms, instead of beimg 
_resented, were whole-heartedly accepted, and are generally being acted upon. 
In India the suggestion that the different Indian organisations should amal- 
-gamate in one great whole for the good of the nation was cordially carried out ; 
I have every reason to hope that the same broad-minded spirit will prevail in 
Egypt and in Palestine also. 
‘ “In each country the great need is instruction to enable scoutmasters to 
imbibe the true ideals and grasp the practical methods of the training. If we 
can send out trained instructors to establish schools of instruction on the right 
lines to this end, imperial headquarters can do a work that may have an 
immense influence on the future character and well-being of those countries 
and their relations with Britain. If we can afford to employ a small staff of 
capable instructors to give the right direction to the training, it is going to 
“mean not only a very big step towards equilibrium in the nation at home, but 
“the development of balanced character, brotherhood, and self-sacrificing service 
“among all the countries in the British Commonwealth.’ 
tear 
