The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-01-28

'Live and let ive, and it is we'll to remember that
man isn't necessarily felon because he is poverty
stricken is he likely to become one if he is
encouraged to do what is right as he is if thrown
into Jail for being homeless.
! AMERICANS call the Chinese barbarians; China
men recprocate and call Americans foreign devils
This shows that difference of opinion exists be-
tween the two nations. What is this difference of
opinion? Chiefly regarding the right of foreign
nations to nfict their people, their trade and their
missionaries upon the Chinese. Why have they any
more right to do this in China than in Germany?
Because the Chinese barbarians and the Germans
are civilized And this brings us back to our start
ing point
Now the Chinese deny that they are barbarians;
they say that the West is very ignorant concerning
them and their institutions They assert that Europe
and America know nothing of the Chinese people,
and form their estimate Of the national character on
the acts of very small percentage of the total
population and at times when these few are driven
to madness by the insolence and inhumanity of
foreigners. They say that their civilization is the
Oldest in the world; that this very fact proves it
possesses some redeeming features, and that it is
admirably suited to the Chinese character.
Shortly after the allied troops marched into
Pekin and rescued the foreign legations, footing the
imperial palace and observatory the WHILE little
book purporting to be series of letters from
Chinese official to the Western world, was published
anonymously in London few months ago
Mcclure, Phillips & Co. brought it out in New
York Whether it actually written by China
man not we do not presume to say; but there is
doubt that it presents Chnas attitude toward the
West in forcible and able manner. To some
readers the arguments adduced by the author of the
Letters From Chinese Official will seem worthy
of close attention. if they not convincing;
others will find them altogether specious; but
venture to say that all who read the book will be we'll
repaid for their time and trouble. It it is nothing
else it is interesting particularly at this time when
China occupies the center of the worlds stage.
From a Chinese viewpoint, what the West calls
progress unrest-Dothing more. 1t means
that everyone has to fight merely to exist, to be
cunning and INSCRIPTIONS in order to live with any
degree of comfort In the West the celestial sees
stability of government. life of the spirit, nothing
but continuous struggle for the material things OF
life. This does not appeal to the Chinaman He
does not think the game is worth the CANDLE and he
|apprehends trouble if the Western civilization is
ever forced upon China. AS diplomat puts it,
"Our civilization embodies, think, moral order;
while in yours detect only an economic chaos
Your society. to use your own word, is progressive
you are always moving on Everyone feels it a
duty land in most it is necessity to strike
out new line for himself To remain in the posi-
ton in which you were born you consider disgrace;
man. to be man. must venture, struggle, compete
and win. To this characteristic of your society is
to be attributed, doubt it's immense activity, and
it's success in all material arts But to this, also is
due the feature that most strikes Chnaman-its
unrest its confusion, its lack Gas think of NOR
atty. Among you is contented, no one has
leisure to live, SO intent all increasing the
means of living. The cash nexus Ito borrow a
phrase of of your writers) is the only rea-
ton you recognize among men,"
The book is q model of perfect English, and its
tone is eu,inently and conservative, but the
angle of vision is always that of the Chinaman.
IF THE year 1908 was remarkable for it's serious
accidents and disasters it also notable for many
acts of heroism and noble self sacrifice Each pub
lshed account of railway wreck fire told OF bril-
liant and heroic efforts the part Of the survivors
in hohoIf IF thair 1psa fortunate faoWs. 1t is q