The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-09-10

blngnamptcE, =! =, Sept. l.-ht
the Labor Day celebration here today
Mr.. WI Ting Fang, China's minister
to the United States, was the orator
of the occasion. This may be MIR.
Wu's last appearance in the United
States before he returns to China.
The Chinese statesman said
Thanks are due to the labor un-
ions of Binghampton for this invita-
tion, which came as q surprise. 1t is
q pleasure to address men who have
shown such liberal ral-mindedness-m
who have strong opinions of their
own, and yet are not afraid to listen to
arguments. To be open to conviction
and information is the mark Of noble
mind.
'Men nowadays differ on all impor-
tant questions. Indeed, there is no
unanimity on any cubject. Many
men, many minds is the old saying.
This is the natural result Of seeking
after the truth, it is necessary to keep
our minds open; for, according to q
Chinese saying, those that agree with
us are not for that reason right, and
those that differ with US are not for
that reason wrong AT any rate, va
riety seems to be law Of nature.
What humdrum world this would be
if all had the same ideas. We ought,
therefore, to hold ourselves ready to
modify our opinions in accordance
with ewly-discovered facts. Only
fools and bigots do otherwise. What
eminent statesman Of our times have
not allowed themselves to be infu-
enced by the everchanging conditions
of things? Gladstone, for example,
began his political career as the ris.
ing hope Of those stern and unbend-
ing Tories who followed Reluctantly
and mutinously Sir Robert Peel, and
ended his days as the unrivaled leader
Of the Liberals.
"It is pleasure, therefore, to ad-
dress an audience composed Of men
and women so intelligent and broad
minded.
SIT may not be generally known
that China recognizes the dignity Of
labor. The people are usually divided
into four classes, namely, scholars,
agriculturists ,.laborers and merchants.
It will be seen that laborers are placed
above merchants. In China neither
birth nor wealth counts 30 much as
hard work. The late Viceroy Ii Hung
Chang furnishes an example Of the
self-mnde man Of China. He rose by
his own exertions from the people to
the highest position in the empire next
to the emperor. In the early spring
the emperor goes to the temple of az
rioulture and turns up the sod with q
piow ne guides with his own hands.
and the empress likewise picks the
first mulberry leaves of the season and
feeds them to silk worms. The pro-
vinoial officials perform similar acts.
The object is TO set an example for
the people to follow. Morever, rich
people often in China hire out their
sons to service in order to teach them
The value &C =crk. Il the United
States college students are not asham-
ed to do meniai work to help them
selves in getting an education. This
is a good sign for the country. China
and the United States are the only
countries in which man does not lose
caste by going to work.
"Born and bred as / have been, it
is natural that I have been friend Of
labor. It is right ana proper for
workingmen to combine and organize
for mutual benefit and protection.
Capital does the same thing. But all
workingmen should study labor condi-
tions for themselves so that they may
be able to act intelligently in case of
emergency. 1t has often been said
that too much power is put in the
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