The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-05

the possession of the property secure.
When speaking of the matter of
raising the money. LII Hung Chang. in
be very difficult / acknowledged that
it would be difficult, but affirmed that
the money could be raised. He turned
to my associate, Rev. DR.. Martin, and
asked him: DO you think that Mr..
Reid will be able to raise all this
money! DIR. Reid replied that he
though j would, and Ii Hung added.
Yes, L think he will too, for he has
been very stubborn in his determine
ton to secure the sanction of this
foreign Office, and he will probably be
stubborn in the matter of raising
money until he gets it ALL
Then he wrote me the letter of which
the following is a translation.
Picking, China. 18th April, 1S97.-To
Rev. Gilbert Reid. Founder of the Mis-
sion to the Upper Glasses of China,
Picking: Dear Sir-Having on various
occasions gladly shown my interest in
the good work recently organized by
you among the educated and official
classes of China, through whom the
masses may be readily enlightened by
means of Western knowledge, and
knowing also of the many years OF
self-denying labor you have devoted
to the welfare of the people in various
parts of China it is with much plea
sure that / offer you this testimony on
the eve of your departure for the
United States.
Il have admired the bold and tire
less energy with which you have faced
the difficulties of your present task
1t is unfortunately true that suspieion,s.
prejudice and self-sufficiency are pecu-
liar traits of educated Chinese, espe-
cially noticeable in their estimation OF
other countries. Perhaps this is be-
cause of the isolation of China from
Western influence for so many centur-
les; but whatever the cause, the la
inevitable effect is seen in the present
backward state of China among the
nations Of the world. W.
The social. educational and official
systems of China have tended to give
to the educated classes control of the
destinies of the nation. Whether such
monopoly of power be good or bad need
not now be considered: it exists, and
the practical question is how to turn
it into beneficent and useful channels.
You have set about solving this
problem in a way that should commend
itself to every friend of humanity I'm
questionably, if you can give to the
blind leaders of our people light and
learning enjoyed in the West, they, in
turn, will lead our people out Of the
darkness. / think / can claim to have
many friends in the United States
ton l met with there. wherever 1 went,
made a deep impression upon my heart,
and has greatly endeared your people
to me. If it would interest them to
know that l regard you highly and will
give you a helping hand in your efforts
to bring more light into the world and
encourage higher aims, you may use
for that purpose this letter from,
Your friend, Ii HUNG CHANG,
Senior Guardian of the Heir Appar-
ent, Classical Reader to His Majesty
the Emperor. Senior Grand Secretary
of State, Minister of the Foreign Of
flee and Earl of the First Rank"
/ hope that work may begin in the
early part Of next year, but / desire
before that time to secure all the money
that will be needed for the erection of
the buildings. In a conversation that
l had with Ii Hung Chang he said: BE
back if possible by winter, and not lat
er than spring. If you are not able to
raise all the money this time, come
back with part of it, and have one or
two of the buildings erected to let the
Chinese know that the plan is to be
carried out. Better to begin with only
a part of the money than to delay too
long" Diagrams of the buildings have
been drawn by three competent Eng
lish architects who reside in Shanghai,
and they engage to erect these build
ings with the amount of 900 taels, or
about $4,000. AS soon as most of the
money is secured, / shall inform these
men, and detailed drawings will be
made and tenders given out, so that
the work can begin at once.
GILBERT REID.