Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01

local resources. accepted the nationalist
ton. The Importance and gravity Of the
action of assemblies and local organiza-
tons in Sze-Chuan and Hounan may 10
estimated from the fact that their COM
blned population quite considerably ex-
ceeds that of the United States. and il
about one-fourth OF that of China.
*
The action OF the imperial government
has been described by a Chinese writer
as "a truly unexpected and unfavorable
blow to provincial autonomy" An early
successful issue in Sze-Chuan will be a
welcome evidence of that central,
ordinated power which is vitality essen
tial to the future unity of the Chinese
empire.
If space permitted much might be said
as to advances in the relations OF China
with other nations, especially in connec-
ton with Russia and Japan. With Rus
STA the tangled web of Monaghan affairs
has been Strengthened as to consuls and
export trade. while questions to boun-
DIARIES and as to local trade privileges are
under adjustment by definite treaty.
In Manchuria the status quo has been
preserved beyond the expectations OF
earlier years. The Sungar agreement.
just signed. and the demands OF China for
representation in the government of Har-
bin indicate much improved relations
with Russia.
With more than 10000 Chinese students
in Japan, with the formal invitation by
the japanese diet for a friendly visit OF
the provisional Chinese parliament. and
the inflow of a thousand merchants as
guests of japanese trade bodies IL
augurs Well for the Improvement of
friendly relations between the two
xxli Inx-a hnat
financially cemented by the recent Jap
anese loan to the government OF China
The coolie troubles with Dutch Indies.
involving the mooted questions of citi-
zenship. have been adjusted by an agree
ment with Holland whereby consular
representation is granted to China.
Ii is evident that there no longer exists,
If ii ever did, that fanciful China which
neither knew nor wished to know aught
save its own. The world can no longer
consider China as an inert non-receptive
nation. inapt to recognize occidental inn
provements and hostile to all changes.
In truth. China, recalling the rise and
fall of other nations and systems. insists
son convincing proof of the wisdom and
value of projected changes for a nation
q more than io1ooo,00o living under vari-
Gus environments.
x
Unfortunately the proof lies in the fact
that China has been usually approached
from without. and so has changed only
in military matters. He is an inattentive
student of Chinese history who does not
recall great changes thus produced, viz.
the Pei-ho forts of 1860. the founding of
Narsenals the telegraph from Picking TO
Shanghai the naval bases of Port Arthur
and Wei-hai-hei, and the military schools
of Tien-tsin, Marking and Hankow, with
japanese instructors. Non-military was
the wonderful successful customs sys-
TEN of the late Sir Robert Hart
Now is to be noted educational changes.
with 1ooO0 scholars studying in Japan
in 1906 At home have been founded the
postgraduate college, the University OF
Peking with ferty-six separate courses; :
normal schools, schools of modern IAN
guages of law and of medicine.
Justified are the adverse criticisms OK
present educational institutions when
Judged from occidental standards. Few
consider, however. how vast is the field
and how few the qualified workers.
1t is most probable that less than
100000 Chinese have had the advantage,
even in part, of a modern system of edu-
cation. That means. ignoring the enor-
nous demands for public officials, that
there is but one instructor for more than
1000 people. Doubtless there are Soo.ooAn0
people in China who are themselves total
ly ignorant of the phases OF modern
science which today move the world.
Under such conditions it is one OF the
many wonders of the twentieth century
: that the educated, overworked group or
Chinese progressives have accomplished
SO much in the celestial empire.