The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-30
CHINA IS NO LONGER ASLEEP
SAYS THE HEAD or THE CHINESE
REFORM ASSOCIATION.
Tier Dark Ages Have Gone. 10 900 Stu
dents Are Pursuing Modern Studies.
She IL II eading ! o 900 European BoOks
and Is Ready to Resist and Resent.

New YORK on his way from MEXICO 10
Europe, addressed last night a meeting Of
the association in a big low room over the
Port Arthur restaurant in Mott street.
His coming to this city was unexpected and
unknown to most Of the head men In China
town. Ii Yik Yu, however, who keeps
mysteriously informed on current doings.
although he rarely comes out Of the back
room of his little shop in Pell street. in
formed n reporter on Saturday night that
his Excellency had just landed and gone
UP to the Fifth Avenue Hotel
When interviewed kang Yu Wan, in a flow
cred silk jacket and blue and pink jewelled
cap, graciously extended a very soft mall
hand and said through an interpreter that
he had made no plans as yet for his stay in
New York, On being asked what he had
been particularly struck with in Mexico
he replied: Nv tn the extent to which its
industries are controlled by American
capital and developed by the initiative of
you Americans.
Also, / was much impressed with the
wretched and ignorant condition OF the
Mexican common people. They are not
so far advanced as the peasants Of Europe
before the French Revolution"
He told of Cinnamon who had made
fortunes in Mexico. The richest Of these is
Wung Chuk, who is worth about eight
millions and owns thousands of acres OF
land.
The interpreter began to have his diff
oulties when his f.Nccllency started to talk
about progress IN China. II sentences
had previously been moderate n easy
to translate. But when ka ng lu wan
started off on the matters nearest his heart
he poured out a fiood Of Oriental eloquence
that the Interpreter could not stem. An
other young Chinaman came up from the
background and helped to the following
effect:
China Is no longer in the dark ages.
She has already reached the point where
Japan vas only twenty years ago, after
wears and wears Of endeaNOr. TINS Is
not because the Japanese were slow in
learning, but rather BECAUSE they we're
the pioneers. They cooked, we ate. We
have now, for example, more than twenty
thousand Chinese students pursuing adj
yanced modern courses of study As to
common schools. some five thousand have
been started in the one province OF Canton.
There are row 4,OCO,m Chinese Tho can
sneak English. Our courts are being re-
modelled after the English system. The
number of books we have translated into
Chinese-text books. technical works and
treatises mostly indicates how extensively
the progressive movement is spreading.
We nave thus appropriated to our use over
ten thousand American, English and ENlro-
rean works"
The Boxer troubles, he said, were over
forever. They arose from anti-fOreign
feeling among the ignoran nj, and ignorance
was rapidly decreasing in China and being
replaced by IA more enlightened sentiment
Of progress throughout all Glasses OF the
population.
"See what happened recently in the case OF
the railroad concession in Canton. When
the Chinese Government got hack the con-
cession from j. p. Morgan 4 Co. the plan
was hat the Imperial Government should
build and own the read, The general senti-
ment in the province, however. vas one Of
mistrust toward the Government. Two
1eformers led a movement to make the build
ing of the railroad a Popular private enter
rrise financed by general sui scription.
These two lueiI We're Promptly thrown into
iail Nv the Viceroy of the province. What
EaDrened then? there was en- uprising
that threatened TO become so serious that
the prisoners were released. To-day the
read is being built by a private c. ~pany to
Which every one. high or low, is a shOScr Der
:" the extent of his means.
Further than that. he added, the Boxer
troubles were over because their immed ate
cause had;heen a plot on the rart of the En-
rress and her scheming Prime Minister,
Iulg Ink, to encompass the downfall OF the
young Emperor.
China is no longer asleep" he said.
"Shc is wide awake and fully able to care
for her interests. See what happened a few
months ago. There we're eight thousand
Chinese students in the schools of japan.
enjoying equal terms with the Japanese.
Iapan IMPOSED on these students some
humil ating and unfair conditions. The
eight thousand students resigned mn ed
ately and left Jaran. Shortly afterward
the japanese Government, in fear lest the
general indignation in China should result
in measures Of tariff reprisal, restored the
old status and the Chinese students re-
turned. having carried their point.
Just as deep a sentiment has been aroused
among nv cour.-ymen by your exclusion
laws We see tI.r immigrants pour into
your land from all countries by thousands
every week. Not only is the law abiding,
industrious Chinaman DESTROYS of making
a living unable to come in with these others,
but our most refined and intelligent men
cannot get the mere passports for travel
that they can readily get in any other
country. The same Wung Chuk OF Mexico,
being anxious simply to travel in this
country, could not obtain entrance. This
is deeply humiliating to all rejecting China
men, and the number Of these is growing
rapidly. To disregard what is simple fair
ness to us to-day means to ALLEVIATE the
sentiments Of a nation able to think and
Get for itself"
He paused a minute and then added
blandly: China now is awake at last.
She knows her resources and her rights,
There will be no more invasions Of China,
for she is ready to defend herself with
cannon and with sword il necessary"
The last phrase caused the faithful in
terpreter some discomposure, but his Ex-
c~ellency smiled and politely bowed %good-by.
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