The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-30

mics. the organization of American schools,
/ public libraries, and American industries
1t may be said without hesitation that
/ this is the way to reconcile the people OF
/ Cuba to the prospect of American rule,
| and introduce American civilization into
| the island. With the advent of specula-
| tors, carpet baggers. and various other
riff-raff which invariably accompanies pro-
! gressive government, an unfavorablc i'm
| preston will be created in the minds OF
! many Cubans, and this is not at all won
| derful. People can only judge OF coun-
try. system of government. or church,
from the representatives with whom they
come in personal contact. Everything
should be done to counteract the unfayor-
able ideas which the people of the West
Indies are liable to get regarding TINS
country. through the passage of the Porto
Rican Tariff bill. If something Of the sort
is not done, American interests in Cuba
and Porto Rico are liable to suffer for some
years to come
Aside from the political aspect which
this praiseworthy movement may have
it will be a good thing for the people OF
Cuba and for the teachers. One OF the
gravest plumbers which American and Eng
lish agents of civilization have made has
been that of sending teachers and mis-
sionaries to regions with which they were
totally unacQuainted. so that they had TO
learn the customs of the people. the Ian
guage, and the whole political and moral
situation, before they could begin TO DO
good work During the education OF the
missionary the native might learn some
thing. but he frequently learned it wrong.
If this country is to be regarded as shin
ing light among the nations of the earth,
if our institutions are worthy of imitation
by all other peoples. let representatives oil
these other nations come and assimilate
our IDEAS and carry them back to their
own land. They will know best where
such ideas can be applied to practical use.
One intelligent, progressive man ike
WI Ting-fang will be worth more to CHINA
than a hundred and fifty English or Amer
lean men, unacquainted with the country,
the customs and the temper of the people
These Cuban schoolteachers. if they are
favorably impressed with American life, |
can go back to their homes and do twice |
as much toward convincing their people |
that progress is a good thing than the |
same number of Americans could do. When |
an American goes into foreign country |
to teach the people how much better his |
ideas are than theirs there is a SAVIOR of |
conceit about the performance, which the |
native is as quick to see as anyone When. |
in addition to the attitude into which he !
is forced by his very mission-and which |
is slightly ridiculous in itself especially |
when he comes totally urinvited-he adds !
lamentable ignorance of the Language in |
which he must express his ideas and total |
want of tact in dealing with his listeners, |
the cause of American civilization is not |
thereby advanced.
On the other hand, when the foreigner |
comes to this country, observes our insti-
buttons, sees what material progress has
been made in manufacture in transporta-
ton systems. in hygiene. and then goes
back to tell his people what he has seen.
re is more likely, in the nature of things, |
to lie believed and to have influence.