The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-18
Can China Be Civilized?


The benumbing and paralyzing conserv-
atism of the Chinese race is proyerbiaI
but in view OF economic revolution which
the so-called celestial kingdom is now
undergoing "a revolution proceeding from
without. intelligent men are wondering
whether China may not be redeemed and
civilized in the western sense of the term
civilization. Certainl China is not TO be
classed among the dying nations. She
may lose her political independence. but
she will never be reduced to a geographic
cal expression" Russia may acquire the
northern provinces, Britain the central
Yang-tsze Valley and France the south
erl sections, but how far will political
dominion affect the character. habits and
beliefs OF the Chinese? Authorities APP
pear TO diverge widely in their answers
70 this question A thoughtful writer
in the National Review argues that China
will always remain what she is. In the
course of her long history she has often
been conquered and invaded but what.
the writer asks. has become of the in
vaders? They have been absorbed, ablit-
Grated. China's passivity has triumphed
over their activity. The Chinese have
an adaptation. Europe and America car
~ their civilization into China, but their
success Will be no greater, except as 10
industrial changes. than that of the bar
baris hordes that have rushed over the
great eastern empire. This is an extreme
view. and viii not be generally accepted
without reservation. Mr.. Colquhoun.
whose China in Transportation" has al
ready been commended in these columns,
deals with the future of the Chinese I'M
der European guidance very suggestively
and reasonably, and his conclusions will
IL TaT
turn TO his chapters on the Chinese peo-
pie and the Chinese government and
briefly note his interesting impressions
and observations
The predominant quality of the China
man is his industry. He has almost pas
to have marked him asofwayswySHRD
sion for labor. and nature herself seems
to have marked him as the newer of wood
and drawer of water for humanity. Com
bined with capacity and inclination for
hard work are other highly important
dualities-docility, modesty and temper
anee. The Chinaman Semands no CON-
fort, still less luxury and he knows moth
ing of the discomfort which arises from
a feeling of unsatisfied social economic
ambition. Yet he has a decided taste
for luXuries and never denies himself any
thing within his means. But il is an
egregious mistake to regard the China
man as slave. He is always a mer-
chant, and sells his labor for d price. He
is, indeed too free from sentiment; he
is the ideal economic man" of our ortho-
dox political economist. His outward life
is conducted on the cash basis, so much
so that when wages are very low he Will
sometimes strike a balance between work
and food, calculating that the game is
not worth the candle. The Chnaman is
also endowed with skill and refinement.
His success in the minutest kind of handi-
craft is Well known. and he has shown
aptitude in the use of labor-saving ma
chnery. 1t is Mr.. Colquhoun's opinion
that when European manufactures are in
troduced into China they will find no lack
of the manual deXterity needed for the
most delicate productions. AS for intel
lectual capacity, we are told that the
Chinaman is not inferior to any Euro
pean. When pitted against European stu
dents in school or college the Chinese
student is abundantly capable of holding
his own. whether in mathematics and ex-
act science, metaphysics and speculation,
or applied science and practical knowl-
edge.
There is, then, this enormous double
fund of capacity to reckon with in con-
sidering the futupre of the Chinese race.
I'VE have onky to imagine the quantita-
tive value of such an aggregate of nerv-
Gus force, when brought into vital con-
tact with the active spirit and the me-
chanical and mental appliances OF the
west" says Mr.. Colquhoun, ito picture to
ourselves future for China which will
astonish and may appaIl the world Still,
the elements are of subordinate sue
cess only. That the Chinese can ever
play leading roll and endanger the SUI
premacy of the western, par ,icularly the
Anglo-Saxon. peoples, is. TO say the least
highly improbable. What are the national
traits which, as it is believed. must mill
tate against the success Of the Chinese
as formidable competitors OF the Caucas-
ian races? One is the utter indifference
TO truth as such. II is not immoral 10
lie; on the contrary, big talk" is COM
mendable and a mark OF acuteness and
cleverness. Modern business largely rests
upon credit and personal prObity, and in
China's code Of honor these are unknown.
Looseness of conscience in handling 9TH
er peoples money is closely allied with
untruthfulness oven in the returns OF
the imperial revenue the practice is TO
make deductions before remittances are
forwarded-a practice that breeds pecua-
ton and marversation. The most impor-
tant Chinese companies are mere ma
chimes for wholesale misrepresentation OF
funds. Chinese commercial morality is
at its worst where 1t comes in contact
with western legality. The Chinese rev.
erence law and custom. but this reverence
does not extend 20 exotic regulations.
Written contracts have no place in the
Chinese system. hence total lack OF ap-
probation OF the binding nature OF such
contracts with western traders. Con-
nected with this IS a disregard OF punctu-
atty and failure to recognize the value
of time.
Whether more direct, general and init
mate contact with western industrislism
viii gradually eradicate these traits IS
considered doubtful At all events. under
European and American tutclage the CHI
obtainnese may not only rise TO a supreme
position in eastern Asia, but demand and
obtain a leading part In the affairs OF the
world. The theory that China has out
lived the natural terms OF national exist
encs and IS doomed 20 decadence IS now
generally discredited. II is the govern
ment that is paralyzed ard doomed, rot
the nation. There Is no question OF the
vitality and vigor OF the people. the real
difficulty lies in reconCil,ug ancient iu-
stitutions apparently indestruct!ble Eish
the imperative changes Of an Industrial
regime. Il IS clear = al who have stud
led China that ali attempts 20 force for
eign ways and practices OF her people
must end IN total failure. The recent
sweeping rcformsfsry edicts % the de-
posed emperor would have remained dead
letters. for the powers % the Chinese gov
eminent. which Is nominaiiy 6esp0iic. are
extremely limited IN point OF fact China
j. yast democracy. and government