National Republican., 1883-09-24
Some I,rogre.s in chlnn.

Some Progress In China.
Tho assertion of the Rev. Mr.. Jasper that
Z" the sun do move" was not moro courageous
than would be claim made for progress on
behalf Of China. And yet wo find that n
spirit of progress is being aroused in tho
celestial empire. The city Of Shanghai was
recently honored by q visit from Li-lIung-
Chang the .omporors vicGroy. He visited
that city upon tho complaints made by sub
iocts of the empire that the Flowcry King
dom was being polluted by the presence of
modern gimcracks in tho shape of silk
factory, cotton and paper mills, and now
waterworks His cxcclloncy was enter
tanned at dinner by United States Consul
Gen. Denny, United States Minister John
Russell Young, and several local dignitarics
being also of the party. The viceroy came
in his sedan chair, but left in n landau which
Judge Denny placed at his disposal. 1t was
the FIRST time he had ever been on wheels,
and he unhositatingly expressed his opinion
that locomotion by carriage was far superior
TO his sedan chair. Being assured that rail-
way carriages had as great an advantage
over laudaus in tho matter of comfort, con-
vouiencc, and speed as the lattor had
over sedan chairs, his oXcellency said if
that was tho case there would be railways
in China before three years were over.
lie was taken to the manufacturing establish
monts which had been the objects of COM
plant to tho government and was not only
unable ~ share in the indignation of the
resident Chinese, but was so greatly pleased
with all he saw that he made inquiries so
numerous as to encourage the opinion that he
would promote the introduction of similar
machinery in other parts of the empire.
| All this is of vast Importance to the people
Of the United States. Hare is one of the
most enlightened men aud tho most progress
sivc great man in China praisng the innova-
tions he was sent to inspect upon the petition
of his countrymen who wanted them de-
stroyed. Those Innovations if tolerated and
encouraged, will break down the wall of
Chinese custom, which is now a greater
barrier between Asiatic and European indus
try than was over the great Chinese wall of
stone. Tho intercourse between China and
the rest of mankind now is strained limited,
and of doubtful value to the western nations.
China sells without buying. She wants but
little from us but silver in exchange for her
silks and teas. This is because she is welded
to her own ways of living and of doing.
When Burlingamc, filled with enthusiasm,
made the treaty of 1868 with China, he
dreamed of general exchanges between the
two nations, and of the introduction into
that country of the products of American
skill and invention. But those dreams
have never been realized. Perhaps the visit
of Viceroy Ii to Shanghai, his carriage ride
with our consul general, and his personal in
spection of modern machinery may be the
entering wedge which shall eventually oper
a market of four hundred millions of people
to whatever of American machinery and ma
terials may be found an improvement upon
the ways of the ancient kingdom.
And then, if China would set an example
perhaps the bourbon minds in our own coun,
try might expand, and tho southern states
under the lead of broad gauged men likt
this Chinese viceroy, might emerge from tht
old civilization with which they are now en-
Crusted, and rapidly grow into the rich ant
prosperous commonwealths which their natu
raj resources entitle them to become. Tn
Chinese viceroy may turn out to be Chimes
Malone, TO lead his people out of the darkness
of the past into the glorious present whicl
lights the path to splendid future. TIL
Washington Post and the New York Time
WILL of course, denounce the Chinese viceroy
as they do Mahone-the former of thos
journalistic twins because of its love of pc
litical antiquity, and the latter because of
fear that any disturbance in China will b
detrimental to the system of public compcti
tive examinations for the civil service whicl
has prevailed there ever since Cain was
baby. But for our part we glory in the coui
age of both of these brave pioneers who ar
cndeavoring to supplant old systems with neN
ones, and to call into being new forms @
industrial and political life.