Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-03-20
WI ON CIVILIZATION
Chinese Minister Delivers the
Convocation Address at the
Chicago University.
He Compares Chinese Civiliza-
ton With That Of the Vest
ern Hemisphere.
China Owes Her Freedom From
Foreign Domination to Her
Isolation.

Chinese minister to the United States,
delivered the convocation address of the
University Of Chicago at the Studebaker
Theaser late yesterday afternoon. He
visited the Art Institute in the morn
ing. He spent some time wandering
thru the big galleries and halls of the
Institution, commenting and asking
questions Of his escort. Previous to-
visiting the Art institute, Minister WI
received delegation of new paper men,
and for fifteen minutes interviewed
them very successfully. He refused to-
make any comments on the political sit a
ration in his own country, either re-
turing evasiye answers or smilingly lg
noring the questions asked.
Minister WI was the guest of honor
lin the afternoon at luncheon given at
the Union League Club by President
Harper, of the University of Chicago.
Last evening he attended the university
congregation dinner at the Quadrangle
Club
WI Ting Fang delivered the convo-
cation address at the Studebakel' Thea
l,er in the afternoon before the faculty
End an audience that packed the thea
Ter TO the doors. MIR. WI took for his
subject Chinese civilization
His defense of the civilization of his
hative country. in his comparisons with
that of the civilization of the occdent,
was much applauded. In beginning his
address. MIR. WI said China had been
10 other nations like the recluse com
nlunity in the heart of a mountain, as
told by a Chinese writer of fifteen hun
cred years ago, a community that, fee
ing from the prosecutions of the China
dynasty. had found peace and tram
guilty and content with their lot and
Rad no desire to emerge INFO the turmoil
aud excitement of more active life.
This mountain community may be
said To be China in miniature Mr. WI
Continued. To her ISOLATION she un-
idoubtedly owes her long freedom from
foreign domination.
Foreign influence. indeed. has had
very little TO d. With the national de-
yelopment Of China. Before the nine
Hteenth century the only possible foreign
enemies she had 70 meet were the nom
ads eff the Monaghan plateau. Who oc-
lcasionally made sudden incursions upon
ltEe settlements along the northern from
ter and pirates from the Nalaysian
Islands, who sometimes spread terror
along the seacoast by their ravages.
| These warlike encounters fortunately
We're not very frequent.
Far from the conflicts and strif.s
LET the west. the Chinese have been able
Ito give thru the past centuries almost
sstheir exclusive attention 10 internal de-
veiopment. They have accordingly
SOLVED their political problems in their.
iscwn way and worked ont their destiny
without foreign interfcrence.
1t must be- admitted that today
China is centuries behind the age in her.
knowledge of chemistry, electricity,
sieam navigation, rapid transit and 9th
er arts and sciences. All these things
she must learn from other nations be-
fore she can hope to put herself abreas t
Nof the times
But does civilization consist of rail
roads, telegraphs, telephones. electric
lights, battleships. rapid-f1ring guns,
] magazine rifles and thousand and one
i things Which are often regarded as nee
lSossary for a progressive nation? This
would be Very narrow Interpretation
or ne world. Civilization has, believe.
\ n broader Meaning, with intelligence,
4 oruef morality and refinement for its
jssssenual elements. Such a civilization
4 Shlna Undoubtedly hasa civilization
! inherent TO be sure. from that of the
i vest, but Civilization nevertheless.
mere mas lately been a great deal
& OF newspaper talk about civiliztne
Emma give credit to those people
4 who advocate such course for their
good Intention, but its desirability. ia
say nothing of its difficulty. should not
be overlooked. China has already n
4 growth Of time. Long before the ances-
tors OF the people of the west ceased ia
be naked ssavages and emerged from the
slprimeval forests Of central Europe. he
A Chinese had already known the use OF
the compass and the art of painting.
\ Now for the people of the west 10
turn around and then ask the Chinese
4 to put away their old civilization is
rather novel. The people Of the west
q may know more than the Chinese abou,
the building of railroads. the floating
OF foreign loans, the combination OF
Il capital. the development of resources
: and the like. All this is granted But
the Chinese naturally feel that they
are In a better position to Judge what
Is best for their own interest and vel
fare than any outsider can be. There
fore. any attempt to impose upon them
any reform or religion they do not feel
the need of is apt to cause trouble
The use of force is especially to be dep
recated, as this serves only to inflame
their passions and rouse their resent
ment and opposition. But, on the other
hand, much can be accomplished by
exercising tact and discretion, and
above all, by giving due consideration
to their sentiments and prejudices
If the people of the west would
study the civilization of China instead
of trying to pull 1t down, they will save
, themselves a great deal of trouble
They will find that the Chinese are not
addicted to ways that are dark and
!. tricks that are vain, as they are rep
| resented to be by an American poet
They will find that China, old as che is
!, Still exhibits all the strength and vigoi
!. of full maturity. They will find that
the civilization that has stood the test
of forty centuries is far from being
effete. They will find that the proper
course to be pursued in putting China
On the road to prosperity and happiness
. is not to shake the foundations of hei
social and political fabric, but to allow
!, lher to incorporate such elements OF
western civilization as she can ,assimi-
late. On the other hand, China must
, keen I'm with the times in the orlWa nd