Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1903-09-07
SHOULD TALK IN CHINESE
Thaf 10 the Advice Of the Chinese
Minfsfer M washington
10 Americans.


"Sinee my first acquaintance with
America and Americans" said Sir Chen
Tung LANG Chesg, the Chinese min
kter, who was dined by the American
Asiatic association the other night, in
a conversation with a wsiter of the
New York Commercial Advertiser, Il
have become thoroughly convinced
that my couRtrymen will never sue
coed among you until they make up
their minds to master the English Ian
guage and participate much more free
~ in the life and habits of your people.
The gross ignorance of a knowledge of
English among my countrymsn who
are here TO stay is especially to blame
for the way they are disliked-and. ]
must confess. too often looked upon
with contempt-by the American peo-
pie.
cit Is perfectly obvious Of course.
that If my countrymen would make it
a first and necessary condition to mas
ter your language they would soon
make their true worth appreciated by
Americans, as well as eradicate that
air of inquiSitiveness with which you
regard us.
Certainly, too, IL would in time be
of incalcuIable benefit to my country
and people If you were to institute the
teaching of the Chinese language in
all your public schools and universities.
I am greatly pleased TO note chair of
Chinese language has already been en-
dowed in your Columbia university.
There Is, am afraid, however, little
hope of seGng-at least not for the
next half century-my language being
taught generally throughout America.
1t would take fully that length of
time, too, / believe, before the I'M
doubtedly great influence Of such a
knowledge among your people would
be felt in many ways for the better
ment of China.
"My countrymen, know, have al
ways been people Of much mystery
to you, and they must necessarily re-
main so in a greater or less degree just
so long as you continue TO keep your
selves ignorant of of our language and
we Of yours. During all my acquaint-
ance with America l have met only
three Americans who could converse
with me, even fairly intelligently, in
my own tongue. All three hadtraveled
in China. have since often wondered
not a little. since meeting them, how
many more Americans there are who
can speak the Chinese language.
honestly believe that they could be
counted on the fingers of my right
hand. How densely ignorant you are,
too, of our history, our mode of life,
our character, our wealth and poverty
and the tremendous future of our coun-
try.
"Some time during the present year
or next" Sir Chen continued, 81 intend
taking steps to establish schools for
the instruction of the English Ian
guage in those sections of this coun-
try where my countrymen are congre-
gated the most. / believe that to be
the nearest workable solution for ele-
waiting the general condition of the ma
jority of Cinnamon here. If can only
successfully secure for them such an
opportunity to make themselves prof.
cient in the English language they
would also soon desire-and naturally
enough--to assimilate with your peo-
pie more freely than IL is possible for
them TO do now, and otherwise also in
duce them to take an interest in their
adopted country. America would GER
tainly not, feel sure. lose anything
by the closer relationship"