The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-09-21
PROGRESS
OF CHINA
ALL DEGREES SHOW TREND TO-
WARD WESTERN IDEAS.
More Than 5000 Schools Established
In One Distriet-1t,ooo Chinese
Students in Tokio-Bible
Studied in Two Provinces.

Shanghai, Sept 19.-The Chinese
have made more progress in the last
five years than any other nation on |
earth. not excepting Japan. China has
made a wider and more profound
change in its whole attitude toward
western civilization than has any
other nation.
The latest proof that China's face
is set toward progress is found in
the imperial decree issued last month
promising a change of laws. While
this decree does not promise 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
mont I'm the government service. This
decree does not affect existing othce
holders and does not apply to candl-
dates for Office who have already
completed the prescribed course OF
Confucian learning and have received
the first or second degrees. But the
Significance of the decree Is found IN
the fact that it prcscribes the identi-
cal condition for future candidates Tor
Office prescribed eight years ago by
the young emperor which led to the
Boxer uprising. 1t is significant that
tired the young empeor for his
the dowager empress, who then re
tired the young emperor for his rad
icalism. now issues IN his name the
Identical decree which produced the
revolution.
still more striking sign than
This paper decree is found in the fact
that Yuan Shih Kai, the most power
full viceroy of the empire, has already
established more than 5000 primary
and secondary schools in the Chili
province in order to prepare the
young people of his province for the
new government courses. He Is at
tcmpting to introduce western learn
ing and the English language into
these schools as rapidly as possible
An indication pointing to the grow
ing influence of Japan and China Is
found in the fact that 1000 Chinese
students are now in Toxic to secure
western learning The Young Men
Christian association in Shanghai has
seen the significance of this move
ment. and has sent two American and
three or four young Chinese Chris
tians to Toxic to keep in touch with
this group of Chinese students.
Another sign of the times is the
increase of the postoffces and the
multiplication Of newspapers, espec
iallv along the eastern side of the
empire The postofices have in
creased from about 100 four years
ago to some 1,S00 today. In Tien
Tsin. four years ago, three newspa
pers were published. Today twenty
three newspapers are published IN
that northern port.
A few months ago an imperial de
cree was issued eXhorting parents
not to bind the feet of their daugh
ters On the dowager empress beinl
ing informed the other day that the
decree relating to bound feet was hav
ing no influence among the provincial
authorities, another decree has beer
issued saying that in the future NJ
men will be taken into the employ
ment of the Chinese empire whos'
wives or daughters have their fee
bound.
\ more striking inucation of the
adoption of not only Western cIyili
zation, but of Christianity, is found il
the decree just iseud by Chang Chih
Tung, oruering the New Testamen
TO be introduced into all the schools
of the IIupoh and Human province
over when he rules, The decree state
that the permanence and high qua
ity OF Chinese civilization is due {,