The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-16
An Interesting Suggestion.

DR.. Edmund J. James, president OF
the University Of Illinois, makes a prop
osition which, it seems to us, ought to
have the attention of our government.
He proposes to send commission to
China representing The American gov
eminent to extend, in a formal way, to
the Chinese people, thru the central gov
eminent at Peking and thru the provin-
cial governments, a cordial invitation
from the United States and from the
institutions Of higher learning in this
country to avail themselves of the edu-
cational advantages which this country
affords.
He calls attention to the fact that
thousands Of young men from China are
already abroad in foreign countries for
purposes of study. Five thousand are
said to have visited Japan for that pur
pose and other thousands are in differ
emit countries Of Europe, three hundred
being in the little state Of Belgium
alone.
Two purposes are to be: served by
this invitation. One is to introduce into
China better knowledge of American
institutions with view to developing
a larger degree of friendship and good
will in China toward United States and
removing the prejudice which now ex-
lists there. The other object to be
served is commercial. The presence Of
hundreds-or, it may be hoped, thous-
ands-of young Chinese students in
America will make them acquainted
with American commercial interests,
American business methods and beget a
preference for American goods.
In no country in the world does the
educated man exert more influence
upon affairs than in China, and if we
can gain the good will Of a consider
able number of educated young men
by bringing them into contact with our
institutions and our civilization, we will
have developed in China an active force
favorable to American interests Of very
great value. The process may be a lit
tie slow. 1t will take several years
to realize results, but they would be
almost certain to follow in our favor
and to be permanent. - .~>- - 49,. &c..
The suggestion is strongly supported
also from the fact that! what Dr., jane,
proposes is already in operation in othel
countries. Whether Chinese students
have been brought into the educationa
institutions Of Europe and Japan BY
special invitation does not appear from
his presentation Of the matter, but the,
are there and the only way to counter
act their influence is to bring consid
cradle number of Chinese student
into our own institutions and in con
tact with our own commercial and polit
ica1 affairs.
The suggestion is timely and ough
to have consideration. The Unite
States, by reason of its larger interes
a in affairs in the Pacific and its desir
for oriental trade, has more to gal
from the developments Of friendly rela
tions with China than any other cou1
try and should adopt every practices
measure. for the removal of that pref,
dice against us which undoubtedly pr,
walls in China on account of the hars
and unwise enforcement Of our Chimes
exclusion laws. DR.. James has give
the government at Washington som
thing to think about. and something
do which we believe would be pr
ductive. of very satisfactory results.
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