Evening star., 1899-04-10

Relations of the United States with the
Far East The distinguished diplomat
spoke in part as follows:
I'VE have all read about the dispute be-
tween two ancient knights over a shield,
one claiming it to be gold and the other
claiming it to be silver The story is an
old one. but the lesson it teaches is worth
remembering. 1t is the failure to look at
the other side of the shield that has given
rise 10 all the misunderstanding in the inter-
course between the east and the west The
different nations in the west have, within
the present century, advanced so much in
science, knowledge and wealth that it has
become the fashion to speak of them as the
most civilized nations on the face of the
earth and to consider the nations in the
east as much below them in civilzation-in
fact, as barbarous or sem-civiized. 1t has
been too much the habit to ignore the good
points the eastern nations possess and to
leave out of account what they have done.
Growth of China Slow but Sure.
You may ask why Egypt, Persia, Greece
and even mighty Rome have successively
succumhed to the ravages of time, while
China alone has survived. The answer is
not far to seek. 1t is the survival of the
fttest. The working of this inexorable law
of nature constantly weeds out those ma
tons that cannot adapt themselves to the
ever-chansing conditions of life and the
fact that China is standing today shows
conclusvely that she has not outlived her
usefulness to the cause of civilization.
But it is a mistake to think that China
has been stationary. Compare China of the
present day with China of fifty years ago
and Tho progress she has made will be at
once apparent Though China may not have
made very rapid progress from a western
point Of view in times past, there are signs
everywhere at the present day indicative of
q general awakening among the people.
The most important questions which the
Chinese government has to deal with today
arise from the spirit of commercialism and
the spirit OF proselytism. In all the treaties
which China has concluded with the west
ern powers there is an article generally
known as the 'toeration clause This article
provides in effect that Christianity incul-
Gates the practice of virtue, and that those
processing or teaching it should not be
hardssed prosecuted This apparently in
nocent provision has not, however, helped
to further the cause of Christianity in
China.
Missionaries as Causers of Strife.
But let us put the shoe on the other
fc OF and suppose that Confucian mission
aries were sent by the Chinese to foreign
lands with the avowed purpose of gaining
proselytes, and that these missionaries
established themselves in New York, Phil
adephia. San Francisco and other cities,
and that they built temples held public
meetings and opened schools. 1t would not
be strange if they should gather around
them d crowd of men, women and children
of all classes and conditions II they We're
to begin their work by making vehement
attacks on the doctrines of Christianity,
denouncing the cherished institutions of
the country, or going out of their way to
rjdcule the fashions Of the day, and per-
haps giving a learned discourse on the
evil effects of corsetS upon the general
health of American women, it is most like
ly that they would be pelted with stones,
dirt ana rotten eggs for their pains.
What would be the consequence if, in
stead of taking hostile demonstrations of
his character philosophicaiiy, they should
lCse their temper, call in the aid of the
police, and report the case to the govern
ment at Washington for official interfer-
erce? ] verify believe that such action
would render the missionaries SO obnoxious
to the American people as to put end
to their usefulness, and that the American
government would cause a law to be enact
ed against them as public nuisances.
A Strong Plea for Universal Peace.
What is civilization? Docs it mean sole
ly- the possession of superior force and
ample supply of offensive and defensive
weapons? I take it to mean something
more. 1 understand that a civilized nation
just the same as in society a man is bound
to respect the rights Of his neighbor.
China welcomes to her shores the peo-
pie of all nations. Her ports are open to
all, and she treats all alike, without distinc-
ton of race. color nationality or creed.
Her people trade with all foreigners In
return she wishes only to be treated in the
same way. She wants peace-to be let
a.one. and not to be molested with unrea-
sonable demands. Is this unfair? She
asks you to treat her in the same way as
you would like to be treated Surely this
reasonable request cannot be refused. We
are about to enter into the twentieth CEN
tUry. and are we TO go back to the middle
ages and witness again the scenes enacted
in that period? L cannot bring myself to
think that the world is deteriorating
MANY beneficial results will, in my hum
ble opinion, naturally follow from the
establishment of an international court of
arbitration. 1t is gratifying to hear that
the project of a general disarmament so
nobly proposed by his majesty, the Car of
Russia, and so readily seconded by the
leading nations of the world, will soon lead
to a conference May it bear good fruit