Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-08
4 CHINESE DIAGNOSIS.
Sir Robert Harris Views of Long Ago
Approved by Recent Events.

Approved by Recent Events.
From the London News.
The following letter from Sir Robert Hart
Is now published for the first time. 1t was
written. will be seen, fourteen years
ago, but in view of the existing crisis in
the far east, Is Of exceptional interest at
the present moment. 1t is addressed to Mr..
Crouch Bachelor for several years Sir
Roberts agent in London:
PEKIN, 26th March, 1886
Dear Mr.. Batchelor-The advice l have
always given to the Pekin authorities has
been as follows: For your loans go to the
best market: for public works, employ your
own engineers TO survey, provide specifica-
tions and estimates. and then invite tend
erS; avoid embarrassing yourselves by con-
cessions. which it is. first of all, unneces-
sary to grant, and which, next will be sold
probably to third parties by those to whom
you grant them, and do not give up your
own liberty or'power of initiative: finally,
distinguish carefully between what will be
best done by the state and what it will be
best to leave TO private-although officially
Observation-Disclosures. You will see that
the general drift of my advice does not dis
agree with the views you express.
But you must remember one thing: Nine
tenths of the noise and talk We hear about
railways, loans, etc, is produced not by
Chinas own desire to borrow money or in
troduce railways but by the eager specli-
lations CT those who having money to lend,
would like to lend it. or who, knowing how
useful railways will eventually be to China,
go on to infer that China desires to have
them. and thence rush on to the concIu-
sion that China is taking steps to intro
duce them, etc. 1t Is often the unexpected
that happens, here as elsewhere and some
fine morning we may all learn with sur
prise that beginning has really been or
dered: but up to the present the anti-rail-
way party is the stronger of the two. and
| doubt II anything big Will be done for
some years to come.
China IS learning many things but the
things learned are digested slowly, and
whatever there is of conscious assimilation
takes the form Of grating rather than
growth; 1t is slow but sure process, and
both saves from mistakes and prevents the
suffering likely to follow sudden and COM
plete changes. Besides. there are so many
people volunteering advice and so many
doctors prescribing tonics and remedies
that the aged. but by no means sick man.
China, passes through various mental
phases. now suspecting interested motives,
now fearing to fall into snares now some
what bewildered at being taken for an
idiot. and for the most part inclined to say
4 know my own business: If | feel ill, I
mad better stare little than swallow so
many doses.
China has wonderful stay" and certain
peculiar traits apart, has a wonderful civ
ilization; and. as for Chinas future, you
know how firmly / believe in her greatness
In the time yet to come. OF course, / have
my own views and my own preferences
and, being mortal, l dare say I have my
own antipathies. prejudices and narrow
mindednesses; but one thing I do try to
avoid do not like to be a dog in the
Manager. and / not only cheerfuly let
others take the kudos of what l do so long
as the work is done, but l am also quite
willing to see the work 1 suggest handed
over to another and not confided to myself
Seven men to a pin;' I cannot do every
thing, neither English capitalists,
neither can English manufacturers. China
too. has the right to choose, and one cannot
always be at the side of the men who in
dividually. here and there and now and
then decide what is to be DONE so that one
own preferences are not always sure to
win
But disappointment must be swallowed
when work is done: and. in the end, work
done. although the doing of 1t may have
escaped one special hand, and the imme-
date profits gone somewhere else adds to
the general wellbeing and benefits every
body. Time and chance come to all men.
and no person-no nationality-wilI get all
ishers will have their fair share but they
must not expect a monopoly. Let there be
fair play. and let the best win This. too.
Is, l think, the direction in which embryo
thought in Chinas mind Is growing Pre-
mature births are always bad things, and
what is to be the full period of a nations
CESSATION depends more things than I
have time to write about.
have had applications innumerable from
all sides and from many nationalities, but
we have proposals to make today and
when We do really want to make them we
know what to do. ROBERT HART.