The San Francisco call., 1908-04-27
CHINA ON EVE OF
GREAT AWAKENING
New American Consul General
at Tientsin Tells of Pro-
gress in Orient

The most significant feature in the
awakening of China, and what prom
ises to be the most potent factor in
raising the empire to the level of great
western nations, is found in the ear
nestness with which the government
is pursuing its policy of general edu-
cation" said E. T. Williams, newly ap-
pointed consul general at Tientsin, who
arrived at the ST. Francis hotel last
night. Williams has been in the orient
for 81 years. AT the time of the Boxer
outbreak he was in the employ of the
Chinese government. Later he was
secretary of the American legation at
Shanghai. He received his appointment
to the consulate at Tientsin March 4.
He is on his way to take over the
post, having just returned from Wash
ington, whittier he was called by Sec
retary Of State Root
''As yet China Is not feeling to any
great degree the results of this cam
paign of education he continued.
There are about 10000 Chinese stu
dents in Japan and about 400 in this
country. They are also scattered
throughout the countries of Europe.
There is very pronounced movement
among the wealthy Chinese to buy
back various concessions sold to for
efgn capital. They have begun their
own railroad building, and are at
tempting to do their own construction.
But they lack good engineers. There
are some students who have become
proficient In the schools of Japan and
America. but they are few who are
able to handle big enterprises.
The Chinese have no idea of the
western system of incorporation. Nor
are they skilled, as are westerners in
the handling of money. Stock COM
na0i6S on Chinese
ally looking with distrust on each other
in such combinations. For long time
to come China will have to depend on
European or foreign capital for the de-
velopmeht of its resources.
ARMS BECOMING NOBLE
THE disfavor with which the high
born Chinese looked upon the military
career in days past is rapidly disap-
pearing. In the old days the carrying
of arms was not looked upon as an
honorable profession for noble youths.
There is now a military academy es-
tablished in Peking dedicated to the
purpose of teaching noble youths the
use of arms. Military drills in the
schools Of the empire are compulsory,
and uniforms are worn by students
above the ages of s or 10. China has
now standing army of 10000 drilled
by Japanese and equipped, and armed
after the Japanese fashion. A national
song, quite a novelty in Chinese life,
is now being taught and sung in the
schools. 1t resembles very much the
Japanese national anthem
THE laws of the land are being mod
ernized TO abolish extra territorial
jurisdiction. A general codification of
the laws, making them to harmonic
more with the international laws of the
occidental nations, is being rapidly
pressed by a special commission. Law
yers are being admitted to practice.
Trial by jury is being introduced and
schools of law are being established.
The only system of combining judicial
and administrative functions in one
person is being abolished. These re-
forms. of course, are not being gener-
ally felt. In the interior many of the
old customs remain unchanged.
DISORDER IN SOUTHLAND
The country is prosperous and
peaceful In the south of China there
IFS frequently a revolutionary cry for
separation of government-dismem
ment, 1t is usually called. Chinese par
ties in japan and America have also
fostered the idea of dislodging from the
seat of supremacy the Manchus. But
these cries are not heard in the more
Intelligent circles.
I'm spite of a strong desire among
the Chinese that the American exclu-
sion laws be relaxed, the feeling toward
this country is very friendly So much
work of a charitable nature is con-
stantly being done by Americans in the
orient that the Chinese look upon the
Americans as their friends and bene-
factors. The missionaries have a great
and good influence.
There is no rivalry between the
Japanese and the Chinese. In fact, the
Chinese as race looks with unconcern
on the boasts of other nations, He
is nation in himself, isolated and
proud. The idea of Japan ever gaining
a preponderous influence in the empire
never enters into his calculations"
Treasure TrOve