Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-02
THE CHINESE EDUCATIONAL EXPERT
MENT


1t is row said that the recall of the Chi
nese students from Hartford was really
caused by the hostile report of Chinese
inspector who was sent over to this coun-
try to ascertain what progress the young
men were making, and whose conservatism
was shocked at the advances they had
made towards Americanization. This in
spector was apparently an old fogy, who
discovered the most alarming indications
in the very changes to produce which the
mission was established. Knowing moth
ing himself of Western civilization, and no
doubt thinking that the Han-lien Univer-
sity still turns out the most accomplished
scholars il the world, it was perfectly nat
ural that he should report adversely. 1t
is, of course, serious misfortune for the
Chinese youths who are thus compelled to
relinquish their studies and TO 90 back
and bury themselves in the stupid ceremo-
nialism and medieval learning of their
own country; and it is also bad thing
for China. These young men would, had
they been allowed to finish their educa.
ton, have constituted body Of intelT.
gent instructors which might have leav-
ened the whole lump. and paved
the way to general educational
reform movement. As it is, the conserva.
tive party has gained enc of those victo-
ries which cost so much more than defeats,
and probably the educational impulse will
be sensibly arrested for soIne time to come.
1t is noteworthy that the Japanese, though
having to contend against quite as strong
aud firmly rooted conservatism as the
Chinese, have in ten years proceeded with.
ou5 single halt or faltering on the road to
broader civilization. They have retained
all that they have won, and they have
continued to advance steadily despite the
rebuffs and disappointments inseparable
from the attempt to graft new laws and
doctrines upon old civilization. stems. In.
deed the Japanese progress is the most
wonderful phenomenon of the nineteeth
century. History furnishes no parallel to
it. There is really nothing surprising in
the backsliding of China, for it was an.
tecedently improbable that so old and so
set a people would be able to shake of
the letters of conventionalism which
has been moulding them during thou.
sands Of years. Whatever energy
such a people possesses it is in the nature
OF the case extremely difficult for it to
adopt radical changes in its modes of
thought and action. The japanese alone
of all peoples since history began to be
written, have even partially succeeded in
doing this. OF course the changes in Japan
are as yet more superficial than general !:
bat the encouraging fact there is that there
is general willingness to try the new ideas,
whereas in China the prevailing attitude
towards them is one of aggressive hostility.
The inference from these facts is that Japan
has capacities which must cause her to
outstrip China in the race for higher
civilization, and that unless China succeeds
In conquering her dominant prejudice
and conservatism, she will not only be left
Dehlnd, but be in danger of falling victim
to the paralyzing influence of the vsry
forces which have giyep her so long a
lease of national existence.