Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-17
CHINESE EDUCATION.
Ry Mrs. WI. 3. FeIton.

The Chinese exclusion bill being under
discussion before both houses in congress
we may learn good deal Of their ways
and methods therefrom. They are not ig-
norant-far from it--as a nation. They are
an educated people.
Representative Clark, Of Missouri, thus
addressed the members last Friday:
'I confess have learned a vast amount
while the committee has been making It's
investigations In the first place, to my
utter amazement, and 1 actually believe
to the amazement of every man on tnat
committee, except the chairman. who has
had large experience. but to my amaze
ment, at any rate, found out that pri-
mary education Is well nigh universal In
China-there are but very few Chinese
who have not had primary education; that
they have compulsory education and they
have a provision that If the Chinese child
does not go to school they thrash the
daddy for not sending him to school, but
they do not thrash the child.
! 'If had been called on two months ago
to give an off-hand opinion of what pro-
portion of Chinese could read or write,
would have been willing to risk my head
on the fact that not more than one In
thousand could read or write or had any
education at all.
81 have increased my stock Of knovl-
edge on this subject at least"
The Chinese are not ignorant or primary
education as these gentlemen assure the
country, and the Chinese minister who
speaks and writes the English language
like a college professor Is doubtless
amused at the prevailing ignorance of the
American people on the scope of Chinese
education. We might learn something In
Georgia from the China plan. because less
= 1T - 81 &c
in Georgia. in the year 1900 went to school,
and that left the enormous per cent OF
sixty which failed to attend.
Lget these figures from the official re-
port of that year.
Chinese children must go to school, and
nearly all can read and write. according to
the statements made I'm the house of rep
resentatives.
The fact of the whole business Is fatal
legislation was authorized by the adoption
of the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments of the United States consti-
tuition which according to Mr., Justice
Miller, of the supreme COURT were passed
for the sole benefit OF the negro and
while this country is fighting against the
entrance of the Chinese into America, the
fatal legislation has planted the negro into
the very heart of our civilization in de-
fiance of all racial instincts and the
dangers of mixed races.
Mr. Clark says 1--WE annexed over twen-
ty thousand Chinese when we annexed the
Sandwich Islands. We took IN a million
and thre-quarters when we took in the
Philippines And with emphasis he re-
peats: eff we do not speedily unload these
accused islands. especially the laborers OF
the land will in agony of soul exclaim.
Who will deliver us from the body Of this
deathT I fought the annexation Of the
Sandwich Islands on this proposition
fought the annexation of the Philippines
on this proposition, and I want it written
on my tombstone that I was one Of the
IS men in this house out Of oO7 who had the
courage, the patriotism. the nerve and the
good sense to vote against the payment to
Spain Of $50 900, 900 for the Philippines"
If the Chinese exclusion bill passes, then
the whole Pacific shore must be studded
or lined with coast guardsmen to catch
and punish the Chinese who are bound to
come in on ships sailing from our new
possessions. which Mr.. Clark calls "ac-
cursed"
And 1t seems that illiteracy will "cut 20
ice" in the controversy because these Chi
nese can read and write, by large ma
jority And Christianity viii cut no figure,
because the exclusion bill will state in
plainest words that the Chinese are unit
for association with even American toughs
and negro desperadoes. and much more
must the white intelligent citizens be pro-
tected from such contact.
"Oh! what tangled web" we wove,
when fanatics and sectionalists declared
the negro, the black man, to be fit for
citizenship and office holding in this south
ern land, but who are now denouncing the
Chinese and japanese as unworthy peo-
pies.