The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-09-03
Chinese and Japanese.

Prof. EDWARD SURss said in Vienna
the other day TINT when China was
provided with railroads the world would
lrd that she had the most capable mer-
chants and the cheapest labor. The
fact is already well known that the
Chinese laborcr receives only a pittance
for his faithful and ~tirele>s toll. and
hat he Is able 10 save money on wages
that would not provide an American
laborer with absolute necessities. owing
Ia the cheapncss of the vegetable diet
on which he lives, his small expenditure
for rent. scvcrd families ~subdividing
one room in a house and living in con-
tentment. and the low price Of clothing.
which is made Of China grass or the
coarsesi cotton fabrics.
Americans who visit tho Orient often
say that we see in u country the best
Of the Japanese and the poorest Of the
Chinese and draw conclusions unfavor-
able to China that are not warranted
by the real facts. II Is no disparagc-
ment Of the Chinese among us "a say
that most Of them are from the csolie
class. They are generally honest and
faithful laborcrs and their industry
and sobric,y cntitle them To respect:
but we can gain from them little idea
OF the business capacity and intellectual
development Of their people.
On the other hand, most Of the jap
anese among us are educated rcprcs cnta-
tivcs Of the BITTER type Of their business
I.-.loZp,nn. rh,,. q ..ns h,x. e. n.
reason. Even those Of them who 60 into
domestic service are likely TO he indus
trious students OF our language and lit
eraturc and our social and business
methods. As our trade with China has
been growing very rapidly and We hope
o. develop an immense business with that
country, IL IL all the moro important that
our people. IS n whole. should have q r
rect impressions Of the business men and
methods Of the Empire.
Whom Prof. SuEss speaks Of the large
capabilities Of Chinese merchants he
only bears out the testimony that has
been coming for years Ia this country
and Great Britain from consular officers.
Chinese merchants. ms a class. are shrcwd
business men. and. what IL Of great i'm
portancc in International as we'll NJ
in domestic trade, thcy are men 81 their
woro who will fulfil their contracts
II is no reflection upon the generally
amicablc and advantageous relations
he; japanese and Western NOR
chants To saw that the allegation re-
pca,cily made that man of the mcr-
chants 81 Japan will, somehow or other.
wrisglc out 81 a business agreement, IL
they happen to change their minds
has not bccn made against tho Chinese.
Every on" u aston,shch ~ the remark
aide progress the japanese have made:
but the testimony of Observers on %.
ground l. that in business prohi,y and in
the quality Of MANY Il their commodities
the Chinese have little or nothing 60
learn FROM their cnterprising nc,ghh ~.
Tho fact that tho japanese artisan
r~~rive~ higher wages than he Chinese
cnmr~iiior docs not mean that tho
Chimes product j. inferior m quality
Tho Iatanc~e j.. N -omc r-~I-~-ts. mprr
mr., ,silc. MANY If hi gods have a
bn.r hni-h thar those made IN CHINA
ue l. superior a. hi- Chin-se rival M
dv.ine and the hlrndltg IT oolar. lut
A substantial and lasting qualities
mAny Chtuc-- cts-is nr" equal. Hnd -pulr
of them arr -uI=riot ~ laTaurse Irsi-
u,tA Chinc-o sk cosi- ior evan
,lo. az Auowh o. the mcrChsuts 81 ell