The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-09-21
Chinese Progress.

Las five YEARS BIAS Seen Then
MAKE GREAT ADVANCEMENT.
Has Made Profound Change for the
Better Toward Western Civiliza
tion-New Laws Put in Force
Thousands of Schools Established
to Teach New Government Ideas
A competent authority on the far
east declares that the Chinese have
made more progress during the last
five years than any other nation on
earth, not excepting Japan. He ad-
mits that China has not made such
advance in iron and coal production as
has the United States, but he contends
that China has made wider and more
profound change in her whole attitude
toward western civilization than has
any CtuoF udtlOu.
The latest proof that China's face
is set toward progress is found in the
imperial decree issued last Sunday
promising a change of laws. While
this decree does not promise a con-
stitutiOn, as careless readers have in
ferred, nevertheless it points in that
direction.
A more vital indication of progress
is found in the recent imperial de-
cree making some mastery of western
learning a condition of future employ
ment in the government service. This
decree does not affect existing office
holders, and does not apply to candi-
dates for Office who have already Con-
fucian learning and have received the
first and second degrees. But the sig
nificance of the decree is found in the
fact that it prescribes the Identical
condition for future candidates for
office which the young emperor pre-
scribed eight years ago, and which led
to the Boxer uprising, 1t is significant
that the dowager empress, who then
retired the young emperor for his rad
icalism, now issues in his name the
identical decree which produced the
revolution.
A still more striking sign than this
paper decree is found in the fact that
Yuan Shin Kai, the leading viceroy of
the empire, has already established
more than 5000 primary and second
airy schools in the Chill province, in
order to prepare the young people of
his province for the new government
courses. He is attempting to intro
duce western learning, and, indeed, the
English language into these schools
as rapidly as possible. This creates
a strong demand for American teach
ers, but the pay is too low to justify
young people coming from the United
States to accept these minor positions.
In lieu of American and English teach
ers, the Japanese are being employed
to teach western learning, and in some
cases the English language.
An indication pointing to the grow
ing influence of Japan in China is
found in the fact that II 900 of Chinese
students are now in Toxic striving to
secure from the government institu-
tons and private schools the western
learning. The Young Mems Christian
association in Shanghai has seen the
significance of this movement and has
sent two American and three of our
young Chinese Christians to Toxic to
keep in touch with this group Of
Chinese students.
Another sign of the times is the in
crease of the pOStOfficeS and the null
tiplication of newspapers, especially
along the eastern side of the empire.
1t is at least significant that the only
newspaper on earth published by a
woman and for women, is published in
Pekin.
The Manchu court has always, been
opposed to bound feet, and compare
lively few woman, who gain access
to the court have submitted to this
early torture. A few months ago, how
ever, an imperial decree was issued
exhorting parents not to bind the feet
of their daughters. On the dawager
empress being informed the other day
that the decree relating to bound feet
was having /no influence among the
provincial authorities, another decree
has been issued saying that in the fu-
ture no men will be taken into the en-
ployment of the Chinese empire whose
wives or daughters have their feet
bound.
A more striking indication of the
adoption of not only western civiliza-
ton, but of Christianity, is found in
the decree just issued by Chang Chin
Tung, ordering the New Testament to
be introduced into all the schools of
the Hupeh and Human provinces, over
which he rules. The decree states
that the permanence and high quality
of Chinese civilization is due to the
fact that the Confucian classes have
been taught in China for over 1000
years. The viceroy admits, however,
that western nations have some power
which the Chinese do not possess.