The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-09-17

Increase of the post Offices and tn,
multiplication of newspapers. especial
ly along the eastern side of the empire
The post offices have increased from
about one hundred four years ago 10
some eighteen hundred today, The
number is still pitifully small, but the
rate of Increase Is a just cause OF
surprise and a styiking indication OF
progress. In Tientsin, four years ago,
three newspapers were published To-
cay twenty-three newspapers are pub
lished in that northern port. 1t Is at
least significant that the only news
paper ON earth published by woman
and for women Is row published In
Pekin.
The Manchu Court has always been
opposed to bound feet. and compara-
lively few women, who gain access
to the court have submitted to this
early torture. A few months ago, how
ever, an Imperial decree issued
of their daughters.
On the Dowager Empress being in
Termed the other day that the decree
relating to bound feet was having in
fluence. among the provincial authori-
ties. another decree has been issued
saying, that in the future no men will
be taken into the employment of the
Chinese Empire whose wives or
daughters have their feet bound.
1t is uncertain WHOM this latest order
will go into effect, and whether Ii will
he strictly enforced or not. Neverthe-
less the fact that several Viceroys are
following In the footsteps OF the I'm
peria1 decree, and that the authorities
at Pekin are demanding that the
others comply with the Imperial man
date. leads to the Impression that this
form of Oriental barbarism may be APP
preaching its end
( 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 in
troduoed 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 classics 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 He
is sure that this is not due to any SUI
periorfty of the westerners over the
Chinese, but to the fact that the west
ern nations have in their possession
certain teachings which the Chinese
have not yet mastered.
He thinks this superiority is due to
the Bible. and In order to make the
Chinese not only equal but superior to
their western competitors, he orders
the New Testament taught, alongside
the Confucian classics. among the S.
100000 people over whom he rules
Perhaps the most striking indication
of the Chinese desire for western pro-
gress is found in the recent imperial
decree attempting to establish the
Christian Sabbath. The decree makes
the Sabbath Day a legal holiday. 1t
is not probable that the decree will be
largely followed throughout China, as
indeed 1t is mot probable that Chang
chih-tung's decree ire regard to the
New Testament will be largely observ-
ed. These DEGREES, however, show the
aspirations of the Chinese for western
civilization.
Some American and English officials
and indeed some of the missionaries
ern influences are swiftly and strongly
reinforced the present movement may
result in reaction which will indefin-
ftely delay the emergence of the Chi
nese into modern eivilixstion. "a
Indeed the recent radical decree put
ting two native Cinnamon in charge
of the imperial customs is likely to
lead to the retirement of Sir Robert
Hart, the ablest English official in
China and to the decentralization of the
customs service Only the hearty and
speedy cooperation of western nations
In the present struggles of the Chinese
can prevent similar radical attempts
at reform by the natives followed by
similar reactions
In a word. China is today wehre ia
pan was thirty years ago; and If Amer
leans and foreigners resnond to one
of the greatest opportunities which.
ever confronted the western nations
and guide this cropping empire into
modern liberty, modern education and
modern inventions, 437,000,000 human
beings will enlarge into Western civ
illzation within generation.