New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-07
The CHINESE STUDENTS.
From The Har,6ord Co,ropt

nj
The withdrawal of the educational mission from,
America is "A reactionary m tvement. and results
from the ascendency at last of the old Chinese pref
u'lce which has after some years of allowance got
the direction of affairs again. The reactonists
against this mission have been at work for several
years-one OF their number was put upon the ednca
tonal com mission itself, and enjoyed uneouaIled
opportunities to disparage it 6y sending home
dlscouraglng reports from tbs country
Every effort has been made TO counterfeit The
undermining influence of this ignorance and pref
udice. The enlightened Chinese minister Who hc,l
all along sustained the project was unable longer 10
make head against II. General Grant. who was
of the beneficial effects TO both nations likely
TO result from the continuance and enlargement of
the mission, wrote the minister a personal letter
which strengthened his hands and no donbt for
time delayed the catastrophe which has befalen the
Young Chinese in being returned home half edu-
Gated, snatched away in the midst of their studies
mere are TWO arguments which induced the Cow
eminent to call the boys home and abandon tho
mission; One was that the boys were becoming de-
hatonallzed, and the other was that they were in
way TO be Chrlstianzed Aslong ago as 1920 Canfain
John smith thought London, with its seductions
dams TO- If their conversion 10 Christianity was any
object. And it must be said that whatever advan-
tages America offers to teach stranger the religion
OF Christianity undefled the Chinese bows have not
awaited themselves of them TO extent to alarm
Ille nome Government. FOR the most part they have
Regarded onr talt and ITS systems with civil curl
oSlty not many degrees removed from indifference
AS 10 The other branch of the danger it is our belief
thtt IL does not exist at ALL whatever may have been
the representations from the mission here The
Shlhese boys nave become more patriotic as they
nave gained ia knowledge and IN intellectual capa-
bllty. They have looked 10 China as the avenue of
personal and national ambition. They have desired
10 learn the things of civilization in order 10
carry them home-as Peter the Great carried home
the practical arts to RuSsia-that China might take
her place in the line of other progressing nations
We dare say that the Chinese boys who have been
partially educated hero ten times more Jealous
Tor the honor and progress of heir mother land
than NE same number of students in any Chinese
school. '
There are signs that China is awakening nore
ana more 10 rational consciousness. The military
spirit is rising. The party which has successfully
stayed for "a little the Russian encroachments and
won back portion of kultlia the western fron-
tier, Is doubtless patriotic party and intends 10
assert the importance of the Chinese people in tho
world. lt seems 10 believe that il can do this by
acquiring IN haste some of the material arts of ~,
Western World and shifting cut eVervf Sing els,
IL would like 10 have Its young men knoN how 10
make ana Se firearms, aud build and sail ships but
~ Tears that any broader education would uuht
them to be good Chinese citizens