Omaha daily bee., 1912-03-15

crn learning has already become the
standard OF education for the officials OF
the empire. II was the demonstration In
1905 and 1905 Of the genuineness Of tho
educational reform which sent some IS 100
young men to Japan In q single year for
the western learning, and some s.sys or
100 more TO Europe and America: far
wider and swifter movement In eduea-
ton than the japanese made In their
eagerness for the western learning. q far
larger number than ever went from
America 10 Europe Cor university train
ing In a single year.
This reform. which rs now In full prog
ress. revolutionlzes the intellectual train
Ing which has prevailed among toc.oceeee
people for 25oo years. II promises to be-
come the greatest single change which
has taken place In the intellectual his
tory OF mankind.
Turning 10 political progress. the met
ropols OF northern China. with q popula.
tion Of i.esoooc In July held the first
municipal election ever known In the his
tory OF the Chinese empire. Yuan shih
Kai. the man OF power IN China today,
holds that the Chinese. from their cen-
turtles Of village government and OF guild
government. are far more ready for re-
publican institutions. and indeed. are far
more democratic In spirit. than the west-
ern world dreams. Hence he is urging
the Chinese government to adopt q con-
stitution. In order 20 prove that con
siitutiond government Is practicable, he
has established o municipal government
in the northern metropolis Of the empire.
Passing through Ten Tsin last fall,
saw lecture hall in which perhaps a
thousand listeners could stand. and was
told that a half doscn such halls had
Just been opened IN the city, In which
illustrated lectures on western geography.
western science. western inventions, etc..
are delivered two or three times a week 10
audiences which IN the halls 10 overflow.
ing. II Tien Tsin persists In demanding
this high standard Of morality and tn
telligence In her voters. possibly fifty
years hence American citizens win be
sending DELEGATIONS 10 China 20 learn the
secrets Of municipal government
Last fall, when ] was In Picking, I had
the honor OF calling. upon our American
minister to China. Mr.. w. w. Rockhiii.
remarked that, from such reports OF
the two hundred newspapers published
In China az received from some Chinese
students who were furnishing a few or
US the summary Of Chinese newspapers,
there seemed then TO be no defense OF
conservatism by the newspapers. Mr..
Rockhill Immediately answered, There
is no conservative party today amang
the officials In Peking.'
He added that there are two parties
in the empire. one OF which he would
characterize as the liberal party and tho
other as the radical party. All parties
believe In progress and are sure that
China must Immediately adopt great and
far-reaching reforms. The liberals. how
ever. believe = studying the conditions
which now confront the empire. and
striving TO adopt such reforms as will
prove permanent and viii not result
either In a revolution or a reaction. The
radicals. upon the other side. are CON-
mitted to all. any and every kind of re-
form. and desire these reforms adopted
Immediately.
"Ali Representatives OF foreign govern
ments and all missionaries In China are
in sympathy with the liberal rather than
with the radical party.
II believe that II We viii strive mora
and more TO let the Golden Rule govern
the spirit Of our dealings, political. IN
dustriai and commercial. with China,
China and the United States can make a
greater civilization along the Pacific
coast than any other, ana one that viii
dominate the globe