The Washington times., 1906-08-26
Great Commoner SaySWeSt-
ern Ideals Are Higher
Than Eastern.
CHRIST AND CONFUCIUS
Book That Created Sensation Replied
to in the Aggressive Style of
DemocTaey's Leader.

book Dy TIE Democratic leader mas heen
brought out by Mcclure, Phillips & CO.
The publishers have been either very
fortunate or very clever IN making the
publication synchronize so neatly with
the era Of Bryanphobia into which the
country is already pluuging.
The little booklet IS called Letters 10
a Chinese OmcIaL" 1t was written by
Mr.. Bryan as an answer 20 the Letters
From a Chinese Official" issued by tho
same house three years ago II is in
terestIng 10 know these former letters
were not written at all by a Chinese on
ciaI. but by an Engllshman. who had as
sistance from Chinese in getting a grasp
OF the Eastern viewpOlat The writer,
anyhow. attacked the Inconsistencies OF
the Christian civilization. and pointed
ont the wide gap between profession and
performance in the relations Of Occt-
dental nations 10 the rest Of the world.
Contrast Is Absurd.
After seeing China, Mr.. Bryan says he
is convinced OF the absurdiuy OF this
contrast between Chinese and American
life Therefore he has undertaken brief
IL to answer and the result Is the little
booklet that the Mcclure house has just
put out
He rightly estimates the Importance
Of the struggle between eastern and
western civilization" says Mr.. Bryan,
although ne does not always compre-
bend the principles which underlie L.
1t is. he says, a conflict between ideals,
but he misrepresents the Christian ma
rions. exaggerates Chinese virtues. and
shows himself ignorant OF the spirit OF
sion, finds fault with lavor-saving ma
chinery. belittles our governmental
methods, and speaks OF both the Chris.
tian and the Chinese home In a way
that proves that ne has never become
acquainted with either"
Taking up his answer to the Oriental
expression, Mr.. Bryan says:
AS for their living without any law
save that of custom, without any rule
save that of their own health this Is a
pleasant piece Of imagination which
would indicate that you have. never read
the barbarOus criminal law Of our own
country'-the sliclng OF the prisoner into
q thousand pieces. the exposing or the
trunks OF the beheaded. and the extrac-
ti0n OF evidence by torture having only
recently been abandoned. It would seem
that the Chinese custom of Furnishing
the whole family for the guilt OF one
might possibly have had some influence
in preventing a violation Of law, but
the Injustice done by 80 has been 80
much greater than the crime prevented
that IT, too has been given up-the man
AZ the head OF the revision commission
having received his inspiration from
contact with European and western
civilization during his residence in the
west"
Property Rights Obscure.
Mr. Bryan declares that property
rights in China are obscured and uncer-
tain I'm the minds Of the masses Of the
people. that officials are corrupt and
that the Chinaman at home and abroad
alike lives to amass wealth and IS
usurer. need fear no rivals among the
white races"
Industrlous-yes. they are; contented,
no: they have streamed away 10 other
lands. and when excluded thence the
boycott has been their retaliation
Western civilization, Mr.. Bryan IN
sists. has been underrated by his an
tagOnist in this argument. He denied
that Occidental legislation has for
century engaged itself chiefly with
fruitless efforts TO remedy the evils Of
economic conditions; that THE salient
characteristic OF western civilization
is espOnsibuity;" that the western
civilization has liberated forces II can
not control" or that the making Of
dividends is the universal preoccupa-
tiOn the we'll being OF the labOrer is no
ones concern but the Sta-e 9.
II Is true. admits Mr.. Bryan, that
the western world has its drunkards,
It's incompetents, its ageI and sick; IL
also has the land dotted with hospitals,
homes and retreats where they are
cared for. And ne proceeds:
you have charged our country with
leading the world in the mad pursuit
OF material wealth. but I Will be par
doned If remind you that YOU appar-
emily fail TO appreciate the advantages
Of education which are open TO all our
people. There is no child so poor that
il may not enter school supported by
taxation. and continue its studies until
1t has completed a course
One Effective Contrast.
one Of Mr.. Bryan's most effective con-
trasts is this.
''You follow Confucius and AIencius in
assuming that society should be perma-
nenuy divided into two parts, one part
10 be beasts or burden. the other 70 be
relieved from the servitude to matter
and free 20 devote themselves 10 higher
ends Scarcely at any other point do
eastern and American civilization clash
more sharply than at this. An intel
lectual aristocracy 10 which but few
can possibly attain. with the rest con-
demned 10 ignorance. is not worthy TO
be praised. even though the road TO it
leads through a private school and is
open TO such as can afford it.
1T Is a false democracy which
would substitute an official monopoly
OF learning for a system that instructs
the ruled as well as the rulers. When
only those destined 90 the functions Of
government enjoy the pursuit of the
liberal arts it Is not strange that. hav-
ing reached their destination. the edu-
Gated should look down upon those be-
low, but Il would be strange IL IN
China letters were respected to an eX-
traordinary degree. The wide gulf be-
tween the educated and Uneducated in
China accounts largely Cor the cen
turtles Of misrule which the people have
suffered. One OF the noticeable fea-