Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-08-31
A NEW BOOK BY BRYAN
Volume Written In Defense of
Western Civilization.
ANSWERS DIoKINsoNs CRITICISMS


American Conditions Where We
Are Better On Christianity and
Confucianism COntrasted.
A book from the pen of William Jen-
nings Bryan was sent into the market
by its publishers recently. 1t is a tiny
volume entitled Letters to a Chinese
Official and constituting reply to the
clever criticism of occidental life and
ideals published anonymously about
three years ago under the title of Let
tiers From a Chinese Official" In I'M
dertaking the reply Mr.. Bryan was not
aware that the author of the book was
not a Chinaman, but G. Loves Dickin-
son, a well known English writer on
philosophical and sociological subjects,
says the New York Evening Post. AT
the time of its appearance the book i'm
pressed Mr.. Bryan strongly.
In the seven chapters comprised in
the volume that has just appeared-all
of which were written on Shipboard
during. Mr.. Bryan's European trip-the
author deals successfully with the over
rating of Chinese civilization and the
undertaking. of our own; the folly of
the Chinese policy of isolation; the
merits of labor saving machinery,
American government and western
homes; the right of the western ma
tons to regard themselves as having
a mission in the world, and, finally,
Christianity versus Confucianism. OF
the tone and the style of the reply, this
passage from the second chapter may
serve as an illustration:
In a progressive civilization there are
constant changes in legislation-the run
ming stream IS seldom straight, but its
waters are far more pure than the waters
of the pool hemmed in by changeless
boundaries. We have our poor. and
increasing part of the energy OF society
is being directed toward both prevention
and alienation, and yet we are not so
poor but what there is so much room be-
meath the lowest strata that Chinese
workmen will cross an ocean to occupy 1t.
We have oor drunkards. but we also
have our temperance societies and laws
permitting each community to regulate
or prohibit the sale of liquor. We have
our incompetents, our aged and our sick,
and. while they do not ride us like a
nightmare" they so appeal to our sym
pathies that our land is dotted with hos
pitfalls. homes and retreats where these
receive care and attention. Is il possible
that you have never visited these insti-
state, some of them by religious societies
and others by private philanthropy, or,
having seen them. did they make no i'm
preston upon you? Have you never vis-
tied the asylums for the insane to be
found In every state and in all the west
ern countries. the schools for the blind,
the schools for the deaf and the homes
for the friendess? Have you never COM
pared our prisons with your own and
noted our more humane methods of treat
mcnt and the greater efforts for the re-
form of the criminal?
This is Mr. Bryan's definition of civ
ilization and part of his reply TO Mr..
Dickinson's criticism of modern indus
trial methods which has particular in
terest here at the present moment:
I can frame no better definition of civ
ilization than that it is the harmonious
development of the human race, physical
ly, mentally and morally; not the develop |
ment of all along one line or the develop
ment of q few along all lines. but the full |
and well rounded development of all in
body, mind and heart. If this is the le- |
climate aim of life and life's activity we |
can judge all proposed policies, whether |
they be economic. political, social or re- |
ligious, by the effect which they have in |
aiding or retarding this development.
We have permitted the heritage of the |
whole family to be monopolized by COM |
paFatively few: we have allowed capital |
TO absorb more than it's share of the |
products of human toll. This is the cry
ing evil of the western world, and I am /
not surprised that a stranger should be |
deeply impressed by it. But the remedy |
the volume of production, but In the es-
adjustment of equity in the distribution
of reward.
So to enlarge the wealth produced by
with q reasonable days work is the first |
object, and the second is SO to adjust the
compensation as to give each member of
society a reward commensurate with his
to the welfare of society.
To do this it may be necessary for us to |
go further than we have yet gone in
compelling society as q whole to share
the temporary burden imposed upon par
ticular classes or Industries by new in
A perfect realization of these
two objects has not yet been reached to
realize them should be the purpose of
all who have the welfare of their fell
lows at heart.
Turning to the question of govern
ment, Mr.. Bryan draws picture of the
far east brand of it, as it has impressed
him, and then goes on to describe the
superior home product. In the course
Of his talk he says:
But of the United States 1 am better
to speak, and 1 dispute your
l admit that wealth some
times controls elections and that at all
times it exercises more. influence than it
should. but there is no proposition which
the people cannot carry through, no prin-
ciple which they cannot crystalline into
law, when they really undertake 1t.
Contrasting Confucianism with Chris
tianity in his last chapter, Mr.. Bryan
1raws this parallel:
Confucius dealt with rules and formu-
las; Christ dealt with substance and with
lnchanging truth. Confucius spoke fire.
quently of matters and ceremonies; Christ
purified the heart, out of which are the
issues OF life. Proprieties formed con-
spcuous theme in the conversations of
to behave toward the IA
Their. how to act toward the elder broth
er, how to approach the king and his
minister's - these subjects are infinitely
treated: the purpose weighed with Christ
and Nthe uprightness of intention more
han outward form. Confucfus sought to