The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-20
CHINA NOT A DYING NATION
ITS CIVILIZATION HAS STOOD THE
TIES OF MANY CENTURIES,
Said Mr.. WI, and Is Far from Being
Effete-Wo Interviewers
Interviewed, as Usual.

and spent some time wandering through
the big galleries and halls of the institu-
ton, commenting and asking questions of
his escort. Previous to visiting the Art
Institute Minister WI received a delegation
OF newspaper men and for fifteen minutes
interviewed them very successfully. He
refused to make any on the polit-
ioal situation in his own country, either
returning evasive answers and smiling,
evading the questions asked. Minister WI
was the guest of honor this afternoon at a
luncheon given at the Union League Club
by President Harper, Of the University Of
Chicago.
AT the cOnvocation of the university this
afternoon the following degrees were an
nounced by DR.. Harper. Twenty-Five
bachelors degrees, twenty-nine associate
degrees, three bachelors of philosophy, one
bachelor of divinity. Minister WI Ting
fang, in his address on Chinese Civiliza-
tion," held that the far East civilization
has developed quite as much as European
civilization, but on different lines.
Mr.. Wu's defense OF the civilization of
his native country, in his comparisons with
that of the civilization of the Occident, was
much applauded. In beginning his address
Mr.. WI said China had been TO other ma
tons like the recluse community in the
heart of a mountain, as told by a Chinese
writer of 1900 years ago, a community that,
fleeing from the persecution of the China
dynasty, had found peace and tranquility
and. content with their lot, had no desire
to emerge into the turmoil and excitement
OF a more active life.
CHINA IN MINIATURE.
This mountain community may be China
in miniature Mr.. WI continued. ITO her
isolation she undoubtedly owes her long
freedom from foreign domination. Foreign
| Influence ipdaad hos bad lit+la 70
do with the national development of China.
Before the nineteenth century the only pos
sible foreign enemies she had to meet were
the nomads of the Monaghan plateau, who
occasionally made sudden incursions upon
the settlements along the northern frontier,
and pirates from the Malaysian islands,
who sometimes spread terror along the
seacoast by their ravages. These warlike
encounters, fortunately, were not very fire.
qdent. For from the conflicts and strifes
of the West the Chinese have been able TO
give through the past centuries almost
their exclusive attention to internal devel-
opment. They have accordingly solved their
political problems in their own way and
worked out their destiny without foreign
interference.
Mature has blessed the country with
every variety of soil and climate, so that
the people have never been obliged TO look
to other countries for the supply of their
wants. They have been able to live. within
themselves without difficulty and get along
without anything to do with the outside
nations. Their long seclusion has been not
only a matter of necessity, but also a mat
ter of choice. True it is that Chinese isola-
ton has served to strengthen the nations
character and given 1t a marked individu-
ality, but tnls has not been gained without
great losses. The most serious loss is that
the nation has not been able TO profit by
the trials, experiences and achievements
of the rest of the world. This is especially
true with scientific knowledge and mechani-
cal invention. 1t must be admitted that
to-day China is centuries behind the age
in her knowledge of chemistry, electricity.
steam navigation, rapid transit and other
must learn from other nations before she
can help to put herself abreast of the
times.
but does civilization consist of rail-
roads. telegraphs. telephones. electric
lights, battleships, rapid-hring guns, mag
azine rifles and a thousand and one things
which are often regarded as necessary for
a progressive nation? This would be a very
narrow Interpretation of the word. Civiliza-
ton has, | believe, a broader meaning.
finement for its essential element, TO be
sure. Such a civilization China undoubt-
eddy hasa civilization 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
its progress from a lower to a higher state
OF society. 1t is TO be expected that the
civilization attained by China should be
different from that attained from the ma
tons of the West, by reason of their diff
| terence In national development CnlnoSe
ways are necessarily bad, because they
often seem strange to Western eyes. 1t
is merely a question whether one is ac-
customed ID them or not"
SLOWNESS AND PROGRESS.
"The Chinaman is the principal type of
Oriental civilization. He is phlegmatic and
sluggish. Time is no object with him. He
takes things as they come and never seems
TO be in a hurry. How different is the
American, the highest type of Occidental
civilization. He is nervous and energetic.
He acts on the principle that time is
money and accordingly is impatient of re-
straint and always in a rush. When the
old Oriental civilization meets the new Oc-
cidental civilization 1T is to be expected that
there will be a clash. Which will have to
give way to the other Is by no means GER
tain, for the race is not always to the swift
nor the battle to the strong
There has lately been a good deal of
newspaper talk about civiliZing China. L
give credit to those people who advocate
such a course for their good intention, but
its desirability, TO say nothing of its diff
Guilty, should not be overlooked. China has
already a civilization of her own. 1t is the
growth of time. Long before the ancestors
of the people of the West ceased TO be
naked savages and emerged from the
primeval forest Of central Europe the Chi
nese had known the use Of the compass
and the art OF printing. Now, for the peo-
pie of the West TO turn around and then
1Eh tlN ~ ~ BaN a"0l NJ OAa a "a
iZation is rather novel. The people of the
West may know more than the Chinese
about the building of always the floating
OF foreign loans, the combination of capt
tai, the development of resources and the
like. All this is granted. But the Chinese
naturally feel that they are in a better posi-
ton TO judge what is best for their own in
terest and welfare than any out
slider can be. Therefore, any at
tempt TO impose upon them any re-
form or religion they do not feel the
need of is apt to create trouble. The use
of force is especially 10 be deprecated, as
this serves only 10 infame their passions
and rouse their resentment and opposition.
But, on the other hand, much can be ac-
complished by exercising tact and discre-
ton. and, above all. by giving due consider
alton To their sentiment and prejudices.
IF the people OF the West will stud the
civilization OF China instead of trying to
pull il 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
They Will find that China. old as she Is,
still exhibits all the strength and vigor OF
full maturity. They will find that the civil
ization that has stood the test of forty CEN
turtles is far from being effete. They will
find that the proper course TO be pursued I'm
putting China on the road TO prosperity and
happiness is not TO shake the foundations
of Ter social and political fabric. but TO al
low her to incorporate such elements OF
! Western civilization as she can assimilate.