The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-20
The Minister SCOTS at the Idea Of
Such Thing.
CIVILIZATION OF HER OWN
Long Before Ancestors OF Western People
Ceased to Wander as Naked Savage
in the Primeval Forests of Central
Europe. the Chinese Knew the
Use Of the Compass and the
Art OF Printing.
(ey Associated Press.l

CHICAGO, ILL. March l9.-Wu ing
Fang, Chinese Minister TO the unieeu
States, delivered the convocation address
of the University of Chicago, at the STU
debaker Theatre. this afternoon BEFORE
the faculty and an audience that packed
the theatre to the doors. MIR. WI took
for his subject Chinese Civilization.
His defense of the civilization of bis ma
tive country in his comparisons with thar
of the civilization of the Occident, vas
much applauded.
Mr. Wu said: True is it that China's
isolation has served TO strengthen the MAJ
tion's character and give it a marked IN
dividuaiity. but this has not been saihed
without great losses The most serious
is that the nation has not been able to
profit by the trials, experiences ana
achievements of the rest of the world
This is especially true with scientific
knowledge and mechanical inventions.
CIVILIZATION OF HER OWN.
.But does civilization consist of railways.
telesraphs, telephones. electric lights, pat
tleships. rapid firing guns, magazine rifles.
and a. thousand and one things which are
often regarded as necessary for pro-
gressive nation? This would be . very
narrow interpretation of the word CIV
ilization has. believe. q broader mea6lnS,
with intelligence, morality and rennemenI
for it's essential elements. Such q civlit-s
ton different, to be sure, from that of the
West, but a civilization, nevertheless In
other words, civilization is the elevation
a nation has reached in it's progress from
q lower to q higher state OF society.
Chinese ways are not necessarily DAD pe-
cause they often seem strange to western
eyes. 1t is merely a question whether ona
is accustomed TO them or not.
FORCE DEPRECATED.
There has lately been q great deal OF
newspaper talk about ctvilizinS emma. I
give credit to those people who adVocatd
such q course for their good 1ntentioif
but it's lesifabiIity.. to say nothing or ltt
difficulties, should not be oseriooheot
China has already a civilization or net
own Long before the ancestors OF thf
people of the West ceased to be naked
savages and emerged from the primevaI
forests of central Europe the Chinese nae
already known the use of the compass
and the art of printing. To ask them TO
reform their cid civilization is rather
novel The Chinese naturally feel that
they are in better position TO judge
what is best for their own interest and
welfare than any outsider can De. lnere-.
fore any attempt to impose upon them
any reform religion they do not teel
the need of is apt to create trouble fhs
use of force is especially to be deprecated,
as this serves only to intame ti.eir pas
sions and rouse Their resentment and
opposition Much can be accomplished
by giving due consideration TO their sem
timents and prejudices
FAR FROM EFFETE.-
'If the people of the West would stud!
the civilization of China instead OF try
ing to pull it down. they would save
themselves a great deal of trouble. They
will find that China. old as she is. still
exhibits all the strength and viSor of full
maturity. They will find that the ciyiliza-
ton that has stood the test of forty
centuries is far from heing effete- They
will find that the proper course 20 be-
pursued in putting China on the road
to prosperity ard happiness is not to
shake the foundations of her social and
political fabric, but to allow her to ir-
corpora te such elements of Western
civilization as she can assimilate. Ey
adopting from the West only what is best Z
for Ter welfare and avoiding everything
that is not suited to che conditions and
needs of her people, she will transform
herself into modern nation withouu
losing those elements Of national charac-s
ter which have made her great and
strong in the past"