Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-30

sional oecur atoms which, he is confident, |
they are by nature well adapted to fill.
A Star reporter called on Minister WI
to-day to inquire In regard to his plans for
the education of the Chinese in this coun- |
try. Minister WI speaks English fiuently. |
Such plans as 1 have formed he said, |
"are only general in character. I am anx-
ious to see the Chinese in this country
elevated in character. and 1 believe that
education Is the great thing they need |
When 1 have talked to Cinnamon in this
country l have found them interested in
nothing beyond the shop. They do not
seem to care for a higher life. Their
minds seem to be occupied exclusively in
their little round of daily work, and they
lack ambition to progress and to enter the
walks of life that require educated men.
1 satisfied that education is the thing
they need to waken them into higher am
billions.
Library Started.
I'm general way l hope to bring about
a condition under which they can be given
opportunities for acquiring good educations
and stimulated in any laudable ambition
they may entertain. Some time ago Chi
nese merchant of Philadelphia came here
to see me. I asked him if there were any
libraries and reading rooms for the Chinese
in Philadelphia. He said there was none.
1 asked him why he did not establish one
SO that his countrymep might spend their
leisure time in the company of books, news
papers and harmless games instead of in
juring themselves by smoking opium and
gambling. He went back to Philadelphia
and only short time ago learned he had
set aside several rooms in house he owned
for these purposes. and that these club
rooms were quite popular among the Chi
nese. OF course, that is only beginning.
IN San Francisco there are thousands of
Cinnamon. Only few years ago the preju-
dice against them very great there.
but 1 am glad that it appears to be dying
out now. The Chinese had public
schools. although they paid a tax which
was used, to maintain the public schools of
that city. This unjust discrimination was
complained of and a number of good men
in San Francisco saw that the condition
should be changed. They established a
public school for the Chinese and it now is
attended by about hundred boys l be-
lieve the girls go to mission schools. My
hope is to aid this school to extend it's in
fluence and to provide a means for the
higher education of Chinese boys who show
especial aptitude and ambition. l should
like to have arrangement also whereby
Chinese boys can learn their own language
in connection with their other studies.
How this is to be brought about is the
question l am considering.
An Endowment Fund.
Perhaps an endowment fund could be
established for these purposes, so that
whatever is done will be permanent in its
nature. I hope my government will con-
sent to grant degrees upon the studies, as
is done in Chinese colleges In China these
degrees are highly valued. and they are the
means for preferment in official and social
life. 1 hope. too. my government will see
fit to provide portion Of the funds neceS-
sary for carrying out this plan, and l be-
lieve the Chinese merchants here would
subscribe literally to such a fund. Per-
sonally 1 should be glad to help 1t along
myself
Our Chinese boys, like the boys of Amer
lea, are capable of receiving a good edu-
cation and of leading lives on a high plane.
The trouble here is that my people are
misunderstood, and if they have opportu-
mites of education 1 am sure they will
demonstrate their fitness for any walk of
life. 1 hope these boys will be educated,
and when they have passed through the
public schools they can have an oppor-
tunity to further educate themselves for
any of the professions. If they wish to be
civil engineers, lawyers or doctors. let them
have a chance to fit themselves for those
professions.
MY great concern is to awaken ambi-
ton in Chinese here who now work all the
time and keep their minds solely on the
small things of the shop. I want to see
their children kept in school longer instead
of being put to work at very early age.
This Is what I am planning for" concluded
Minister WI, smiling, land hope to sue
ceed''