The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-19
CHINA rs MOVING

| The Europeans scattepd through lh''ei
China are collecting soue very sighihcan'
facts with regard to ne changing aeu-
tude of the people toward Western N'eas
| and their recognition If the necessity OF
| progress and reform. Lieut.. Col. Mani
| fold OF the British service, Mr.. Burgess OF
the China Inland Mission and the rev
| Gilbert Reid are conspicuous among tnoss
who are noting these dgns OF renovation
| They report that allihe way to the western
border OF China proper the people nave
been stirred in a yemarkable degree by
the events Of the war The sympathies
OF the Chinese are strongly with the Japa-
nese, but they are amazed at the milltary
and naval achievepents Of their neighbors
They say II Is no wonder now that they
were themselves leaten in their war with
Japan. The effots Of the authorities TO
prevent any ebulition Of excitement on
the part Of the people have been very
marked. The Pekin Government has
been very anxious to prevent any OCCUR
renee that would be criticized by the
Western Powers.
The imperial edot ordering that schools
be established in all the larger towns for
instruction in Western learning and science
Is being carried rapidly into effect In
scores OF ckies throughout central China
and as far vest as Szechuan Province large
buildings have been secured or are being
built for the purposes Of these schools In
very few places has the movement yet
advanced beyond this point, for there il
an almost absolute dearth OF teachers
qualified to give instruction in Western
branches Of learning. All the European
observers say that japan will undoubtedly
supply the teachers in the schools and the
professors IN the new colleges. con
siderable number Of Japanese instructors
are already engaged in the work. Some
OF them we're sent by Japan from her mill
tary service. before the present war began,
and the fact that none of them has been
recalled shows the Importance that Japan
attaches to this educational missionary
service in China.
Lieut.-Col. Manifold says that the high
military officials OF China have come to
recognize the fact that under the old
policy the country will be left hopelessly
behind Japan, with no chance to recover
her prestige or to advance in the paths
that have made Japan great. They are
in favor of reform, and though their ignor-
ance OF the West is still great. they are
anxious that the people should acquire
all the helpful lessons that the Occident
has to teach them Even in Yum Yang Flu
which has always borne a bad reputation
for Its attitude toward foreigners. large
building has boon Get aside for the school
Of foreign learning; and the Taotai Of that
CITY. a man Of the old conservatism, told
Manifold that he had been greatly inter.
ested In the pamphlets of Mr.. Reid which
have been scattered broadcast among the
educated class throughout the empire
These pamphlets are full of information
about the causes Of Western progress ano
the relations OF China to the West,
Such facts as these are convincing evi.
dence OF the ferment that is working ir
every stratum Of Chinese society. Szechuar
already talks Of building its own railroads
with capital raised in the province; and
a few locomotives built in Chinese shops
are now running on the railroads. The
coming years bid fair to bring about some
astonishing changes, not only in the fabric
OF the empire itself. but also in the vas,
opportunities that will be opened for the
trade Of the Western nations.