The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-07-17
CHINA IND The UNITED STATES.
Mr.. Wu Makes a Comparison of
the Two Countries.

At the recent celebration OF the
Fourth Of July in Philadelphla, Mr.
Wa Ting-fan, the Chinese Minister TO
this country delivered an address by
special invitation.
The following extract from his ad-
dress, in which he makes a comparl-
son of the two countries is quite inter
esting: ;.
as far removed from the United States
as the East is from the West, not
merely in geographical position, but
in other respects also. China is an
Eastern monarchy: the United States
is a Western Republic; the one is old ;
the other is modern. Here feverish
activity shows itself everywhere: there
settled repose pervades the very air;
It might be supposed that there could
be no bond of sympathy between the
two countries-no common point :of
contact. Travellers, writer's and al
who are in a position to speak with
authority combine to confirm this I'M
preston. But there is no greater mis-
take.
Mencius as laid down in the Chinese
classics constitute practically the
Magma Charta of the Chinese Empire
let me quote the words of Menclus
that have a bearing upon this ques-
ton. 1.-The people, says the sage,
are the most important element in
nation: the spirits of the land and
grain that is the country are the
next: the sovereign the slightest.
Therefore, to gain the peasntry that
IS. the people, is the way to become
SUPERIOR If this is not government
deriving its just powers from the
consent of the governed" do not
know what it is.
It may be urged that the wise say
ings of Mencius have nothing to DO
with the present political creeds of the
Chinese people, and that the opinions
of the great sage on a political ques-
ton have only an academic interest.
Such, however. is not the case. Every
Chinese schoolboy not only knows the
above quoted passage by heart, but IS
thoroughly imbued with its spirit
AS soon as he begins to study the art
of composition the themes he has to
write upon may be taken from those
very words. When he is old enough
to compete at the public examinations
for official honors he may be required
to dilate upon the various phases of
the great principle thus enunciated
and run it out to its legitimate conse-
quences.
Under the circumstances any unau-
thorized departure from the obvious
Interpretation of the passage is looked
upon as heretical, and any candidate
who distorts the plain meaning of the
words into something directly opposite
may as we'll stay at home as far as his
prospects of success are concerned.
The truth is that the Government Of
China and the Government of the
United States rest upon the same
oundation-that the people are sover-
eign. This principle was aptly ex-
pressed by an ancient monarch of Chi
ma in manifeto known as'The Great
Declaration. He said: F" Heaven
sees according as my people see:
Heaven hears according as my people
hear
The difference between the Govern
ments of the two countries lies rather
in the manner in which this principal
is carried out. You believe in the
choice of public officers through the
ballot-box: we believe in the choice
of public officers through the exami-
nation hall. In this country all men
are equal at the polls. The Chief
Magistrate Of the nation, we'll as the
lowliest day laborer. has no more than
one vote. The most learned scholar
of the country, as we'll as the most
ignorant soul, who cannot even write
his own name. has no more than one
vote. The man who has grown gray
in the srevice of his country, as we'll
as the man who has just taken out his
naturalization papers, has no more
than one vote. Every vote is just as
good as every other, and counts as
much as every other. Those who get
the most votes are entitled to repre-
sent the people. Thus the governors
are recuited from the governed.
In China we endeayor to attain the
same end by different road. The COM
petitive examinations are open to all.
At the examinations all the candidates
stand on the same ground and have
an equal chance of success. The son
of minister Of State is accorded no
more consideration than the son of the
humblest tiller of the soil. Indeed,
a poor, hard working student is more
apt to pass the examinations success
fully than the luxury loving scion of
an illustrious house. In this way a
certain proportion of the ruling class of
the land is drafted at stated intervals
directly from the people.
In passing l am bound to say that
the educational system in vogue IN
China is not suited to the present re
quirements and should be modified,
but this does not affect the soundness
of the principle upon which the com
petitive examination is based. 1t will
be seen that the Government Of China
is III its essential feature a govern
ment of the people, by the people and
for tie people, as we'll as that of the
United States. Such government.
as Lincoln observes, '.shall not perish
from the earth China is living
witness to the truth Of his words.
How many nations have survived