Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-08-05
CHANCES In Chiaa.

|
great educator
The recent movements of European
troops in China have done more to
break down the moss grown traditions
OF that country than century of
diplomacy. 1t has always been a
difficult thing for the people Of the
Occidcnt to understand those of the
Orient. and vice versa. The modes of
life. and habits of thought and eX-
preston are so totally and radically
different. that sympathetic insight
into real conditions, influences. and
motives. has been very difficult. and
race prejudice has had peculiarly
favorable opportunities for rearing
walls of hatred and caste.
The Chinaman has hitherto felt an
assured sense of his own superiority
to other people. His egotism has been
| 1ountlless. There is. however. some
| reason for it all. Long before the
| dawn of the Christian era he had his
civilization his laws. his literature. his
art. and his religion. all Of which have
come down to him with comparatively
little change. He venerates the past
| What" he asks. can there be in these
| Western civilizations that have come
| IN like a mushroom in the night.
that can possibly be of interest or
value to country like ours with its
hoary antiquity? Is it not proper that
| they should learn wisdom of us? Is it
not presumptuous for them to send
missionaries to us? Would it not be
vastly more appropriate for them to
learn of us the great truths of Buddha
and Confucius?" And so the subjects
of the Son Of Heaven" as they call
| their emperor. have gone along from
century to century perfectly assured
of their self sutficiency. wise in their
own Conceits. and serenely confident
! of their own infinite superiority to all
men. This mode of thought has been
| Conspicuous III al liiVii uNdii'S' "iNh
foreign people-or as they have them
selves been wont to style them for
eisn DEVILS
They have insisted that all other
Kingdoms, principalities, empires and
| republics on this terrestrial sphere.
were mere colonies Of the Celestial en-
pire. All this is amusing and perhaps
a trife eXasperating to the people of
other nations 1t would be impossible
Chinese masses-partcularly upon
matters beyond the confines of their
own country. With these views, il is
easy to account for the apparently in
sclcnt attempt of China to treat the
representatives who came to Pekin
from foreign powers as the emissaries
Of inferior and dependent peoples.
Hence diplomatists were referred to the
colonial Office. and if they sought an
interview with the emperor We're ex-
pected to kowtow TO him as a sign Of
homage and submission. This CON
sisted in kneelng three times in the
royal presence and touching the
ground with the forehead three times
after each kneeling. Heretofore all
efforts to establish a foreign office in
China have been met with the ques-
ton. Why should we have a foreign
office to receive the representatives, Of
our vasSalS?'
The rough hand Of war has changed
all this. 1t has been . rude awaken
ing for China, but is doubtless per
manent one. 1t marks the beginning
of a new and vastly different era i'll
her relations with the rest of the
world
The bcdraEgied 's;on-of-Heaven
who after years absence from his
ccie stial capital, sinks humbly back
with the kind permission of tho
Powers, understands fully that he will
never again be in position to put on
airs or indulge in Valn-giorlOuS as
sumptions. 1t is evident that the fact
has finally penetrated his Chinese IN
ders:a ndinG that foreign representa-
tives will no longer kowtow in his
presence. and that he may consider
himself fortunate that he is not Obliged
to do 50 in theirs. The result is the pro-
" mitigation of an Imperial cdct il
which China finally abandons hci
traditional. policy Of cxclusiveness
This edict in tone and substance is
satisfactory to the Powers. 1t de
clares that foreign affairs will here
after ne the most important business
of the government. gives the foreign
Office precedence over the six OLD
boards that previously outra nkcd it, ano
provides for the reception of the minis
! tiers in the hall which heretofore
Y only near relatives of the Emperol
s have entered. 1t also provides for The
entertainment of the ministers by the
Emperor al occasional banquets.
Inst think Of ~ Tho ..So., n