New-York tribune., 1907-12-22
THE NEW CHINA.
Il MissionGy's Study of Latter Dan
Conditions.

CHINA AND AMERICA TO-DAY Study Of
Conditions and Relations By Arthur H. Smitb
12mo, pp 250. Fleming H. Reven Company
There is an amiable competition among the
exiIes in the Far East for the honor OF being
the Oldest inhabtant- A merchant. diplomat or
professional man who 'came out" twenty years
ago takes off his hat to one who preceded him
b1, a decade But one and all they have to
Weld the championship belt for long residence
to the missionaries. There are missionary FAM
lies with representatives Of the third and fourth
generation who have spent their lives in the
East and there are those born in the West who
have spent fifty years and more in China Dr..
Arthur Smiths record reaches the respectable
fg1Ire Of thirty-five years in the empire, and be
is one of those fixtures TO whom travelling jour-
naIists and book compilers apply for informa-
ton His Ilno..ledge of the language and con-
ditions and his broad and generous sympathies
give. value to his observations. and readers Ct
his Chinese characteristics are accustomed
to regard that work as a standard and classic.
His present essay he entities study Of condi-
tions and relations and in it he makes to his
countryrnen in America strong plea Tor better
trade and general relations with China
In a rapid historical survey he contrasts tie
stability and endurance Of China Win the fleet
ing conditions of land like Egypt. whose name
is suggestive of immenoriai antiquity He
dwelIs upon the reverence of the chinese for the
past. upon their innate and ineradicaoie respect
for the law and upon the inherent democracy
Of the people and illustrates these qualities;
taxes are light and in general fail only on land
and the power of public opinion (which orisl-
mated the boycott to cOerce recalcltrant olciaiSl
is irresistible. In courtesy they have much %
teach US An American bawls to a passerOy
Hello is this the road TO Boston. whereas
Chinese would say: Great Elder Brother may
borrow your light to inquire whether this IS
the imperial highway TO Pezing No Orientai
conductor would lay hands on lady and bid
her 10 step lively. But an age Of transition
on US There is a new South Africa. new
Egypt n new India. and China, too is feeling
the oxygen. No new railway CONCESSION 70 lor-
eigners the reins must be held in native hands
progress is made in manufactures; new metho1S
are installed. and. greatest of all. the western
learning is introduced by the abolition OF the
old style examination.
The whole land is astir. Much has been done
and much may he looked for What VIII Amer
ica's position be? We have always had the ad-
vantage of a clean diplomatic record We have
not been land grabbers. Our statesmen Caleb
Cushing AnSon Burlinsame and John Hay, nave
set lofty standard of international justice An
American asset of value in China has been the
high character of the heads of great mercantl-e
firms which fouriShed two or three generations
ago but these large houses have disappeared
and left few SUCCESSORS. The exclusion Of Chi
nese worknen in Difference to labor unions and
the coarse and brutal treatment Of Chinese Vls-
itors by American officials have rufEed the na-
t;onaI spirit and turned long suffering anu
friendly people to possible enemies China IS
not only the greatest market in the world out
if in her awakening the standard Of living were
raised 80 per cent the result would add com
speaking. two hundred millions TO the
worlds population. 1t is up 70 What are
we going TO do abb - il? We can't De dogs II
the nanger. seeking their trade favors and CIV
ing them nothing but i'll usage in return Ihe
future of China is full of tremendous posSl0lh-
ties and Americas relation to them IS IN her
OWN hands. Such is the fervid plea or caFe-
ful student and sympathetic observer. whose
pages bear evidence of a broad and thoughtru
mind