The Washington times., 1904-06-04
Son of WI Tmg-fang
Makes Plea for China
Argument for Conservatism BxempIified in
Orient---He Delivers VaIedCtoV--Young
WI Declares East Is Not Superficial.

ATLANTIC CITY, n. j., June 4.-The
valedictory address of WI Chaochu,
the seventeen-year-old son Of WI Ting
fang. formerly Chinese minister to the
United States, at the commencement
exercises on the Steel Pier, was loudly
appIauGed. WI spoke from the same
platform that his father spoke from
when he addressed the Jewish Chau-
tauqua several years ago. He is
graduate OF the Atlantic City High
School.
His averages were the highest IN
every department and ne received the
congratulations of the faculty. he Is
bright, unassuming chap, Of stocky
build. has distinctly Oriental features
anu wears glasses. His hair is cut
short and parted in the middle. He
will take a course in political economy,
which includes finance, at the Univer-
sity Of Pennsylvania the next term,
after which he will return to China and
enter the public service.
In many ways WI has the ideas OF
his father, but as he exclaimed the
other day, Il am an American in
thought and have the opinions of an
American boy. I have attended Amer
ican schools since 1 was ten years old,
and when 1 return 70 my native coun-
try l will have a better conception or
il than when 1 left, and will be able
to compare il with this great and pow
| erful nation.
Young Wu's Address.
The address, which is on the subject
OF Eastern conservatism. follows:
Better fifty years of Europe than a
cycle Of Cathay." Such was the com
ment of TennysOn on the conservatism
of the East. and such is the voice OF
the West today. That Eastern conser-
vatism impedes Western progress, hin
ders modern civilization, blocks chris,
| tan endeavors, are facts TO be lamenteo
| for the cause of Eastern development
| but conservatism is by no means bit
| ter enemy to progress. On the con
trary, II Is an element which helps II
| in the end.
| is. of course easily changed from It's
ancient customs and manners 10 the
new. Yes. but that which can be chang-
| ed easily once can be changed Just as
easily again and again. 1t can also re-
turn to its old ways. II nickers WITH
every wind. Its very progressiVeneSs is
| in the end the arch enemy 70 progress
Note. for instance. the difference be,
tween the revolutions in France ana
| in England. From the latter part OF
the eighteenth century. for almost one
hundred years. the French have had IN
nunera BILE revolutions, varying in blood
shed and horror. Yet the result Is noH
as radical nor as effectual as that ac-
complished in England by one rebellion
| The East though slow to begin, WREN
once begun carries out the work 70 TIE
| end: though slow TO change. when once
changed. produces enectual results. II
! is like the heavy body in physics; y
takes a great deal OF force 10 overcome
| at first its inertia, to make Il move
| but once started it's momentum will car
~ IL far. and IL cannot be deviated IN
| lis course like a light, easily changed
BODY This IS because the East Is not
| impulsive; change is subjected &c
much thought before II Is made
! The Japanese are known to be pro-
| Rressfve like the Occident, and the Chi
| Tiese are known 20 be conservative. typi-
cal OF the Orient. Missionaries report
| that the former are easy proselytes,
/ while the latter are hard 70 convert
/ but that some japanese converts have