The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-02-24

ing of the University VI
Fennsylvania's new law
school. MIR. WI Ting Fang, the Chinese
minister to this country. acquit him'
self in his discussion of the theme:
"The Proper Relations of the United
States to the Orient" The address,
delivered at Philadelphia on Thursday
in fluent English. was a masterpiece
of intelligent philosophy; and the oc-
casion of it, in which Il representative
of the oldest civilizaticn on earth ap-
peared in the role of mentor to the
newest. was certainly memorable.
The speaker deftly praised George
Washington, both for what he did and
for what he did not dc, asking where
another instance could be found of en-
tire subordination Of personal am
biton to the public welfare. Thence
reviewing the growth of the state
which Washington did so much to
create, he alluded to it's latest territor.
ial expansion, which, as a. Chinaman.
he welcomed; and entered directly
upon his theme. one of the first re-
lations with the Orientals is. he said,
to understand them, and to judge them
not by your standard. but by their
own, He automatically suggested that
a trained consular service on merit
footing is desirable and thought that
a chair Of the Chinese language and
literature in our leading universities
would be most helpful in the training
of men who in future will be sent to
administer our affairs in the Orient.
Constant intercourse between the
East and the West of necessity, Re
continued. requires a common medium
Of communication. The story OF Babel
has moral to it. 1t was the confusion
of tongues that scattered the people
of the earth toward the tour winds.
Reverse the process and you will. he
said, bring the nations of the world
together. He noted the rapid growth
in the employment of the English lam
guare In the East as the language Of
business communications and thought
1t might one day become the universal
language, but in the meantime he play
fully registered his personal protest
against its atrocious spelling. A pho
netic spelling of English would, he be-
lieved, save many foreigners sleepless
nights. a congress OF American uni
versity professors and school teachers
should be convened to take up this
question. so that a simple and uniform
system of spelling and pronunciation
may be adopted.
Coming directly to our responsible
ties, he said: THE policy Of a wise
statesman would be not to enact laws
for the newly acquired possessions
without thoroughly studying the local
requirements and peculiar circum-
stances, or TO extend the laws of the
mother country which might be un-
suited TO the conditions of the new
territories. No unnecessary change in
the existing laws and customs should
he made. No encouragement what
of one race or class against another;
no step should be taken to- please or
conciliate one class in the community
at the expense or to the detriment OF
another class; no race or class legis.
lation should be tolerated. The policy
OF the new ruling power should be-
strictly impartial, fair and Just: no in
reference with long standing customs
should be allowed unless they are
cruel or injurious to good morals.
Education Is a great reformer, and If
free schools are established. similar TO
the excellent public schools in this
country. great results may be ex.
pected." Then followed this sensible
suggestion:
This republic is young, and this Is
the first time she has acquired colonies
10000 miles away. The experience Is
novel to her. Theories. however excel
lent, are not safe guides, especially in
matters Of legislation ard government
with respect to an alien race, and il
errors should be committed the con-
sequences might he very serious. It
is no disgrace to turn to those Powers
for some lessons which have had ex-
perience in the administration OF coll
onies ENGLAND and France have ac-
CURED possessions in Asia, the former
possessing territories which are not
far from the Philippines, and having
had to solve problems similar to those
with which you are confronted If I
commission should be sent 10 those
colonies to investigate the systems OF
gov rnment in actual operation, 10
study the experiments which have
proved successful, and to find out what
legislative enactments have been found
suitable to the Asiatic people, this gov.
ernment would be able to learn soma
useful lessons, and at least 10 avoid
making mistakes which might after
wards be regretted and difficult to
correct"
There are few American statesmen
who could have spoken in better vein
or more to the point.
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The American mules that have bcen
making so much trouble for the Brit.