Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-12
CHINA DEFENDED BY A CHINESE

Cf1lNA DEF ID ~ SIllN
To tho Editor Of EUening Ledger:
Sir-To those who are constantly OBJ
servant of and inteligently conversant
| with the current events in the Chinese En-
pire, DIR. +. ]. Goodnow's speech in the
conference held at Hamilton Court. as re-
ported in your paper Tuesday evening, Will
certainly sound strange, IL not surprising.
To believe, as Doctor Goodnow says, that
"the Chinese people are not temperamental-
ly fitted to rule themselves will be to be
msed. China's national life has covered
historical record of about 5000 years
1t was In 2205 b. C. that the monarchc
dynasty was first establshed-that is, the
imperial throne, instead of going to Sc
lected man, was handed down to royal de-
scendents irrespective of their fitness. But
the rulers In the long run could never have
succeeded In maintaining their existence if
they ruled with absolutism. The people
were seldom docile under expressions. The
Chinese history is but a record of dynasties
and rebellions For centuries China has
enjoyed n system of government which has
in recent years been labeled by the mis-
nomer of Absolute Monarchy" In the
olden days the people were able to choose
their rulers. We have on record that GER
tain popular rulers attracted multitudes
to seek for them; their followers looked
like crowds Fastening to market Once
upon time Confucus with his disciples
came across n woman weeping mournfully
because her father-in-law had been killed
by a tiger in the village and then her
daughter and at last her son. Upon being
asked the reason of her not moving to an
other place, she said. because there is
here no oppressive government China's
love for freedom and her ability TO rule
herself is In no sense less than those in the
other nations OF the world. Even up to the
late dynasty the local Government was in
of fhA Tl,n..
In the selection of their officials known as
elders and CENTRES by a system called
village pick and country election" These
men are always standing behind the dis
trict magistrate" to dictate his adminlstra-
ton and oversee his actions Even If the
humblest has purposely been wronged by
officials, he or she Is free to appeal until
justice is obtained or the grievances are
removed
The welfare OF the people always COM
mands the first consideration, hence we
have the saying; THE people Is the first
in Importance and the sovereign the last"
The rulers are given to understand that
they mustN "Venerate the Heaven and fear
the people" 1t can be seen that the
Chinese people are democratic In spirit
They have only been stunted In growth dur
ing these many centuries by those selfish
rulers who use the worn-out teachings of
sages to advance their interests and thus
arrest the intellectual development OF the
people in order 10 achieve their own ends
The fall of the Manehu dynasty with the
rapid establishment of the republican
government has already shaken the mass
to consciousness and realization; and more
over the late reactlonary movement to re-
store monarchy Is another bolt from the
blue In the political horizon of their think
ing minds. Doctor Goodnow said that
China experiment with a republic was not
a success, and the nation would find itself
in the greatest confusion and diffieuIty 10
elect a president every few years To
those who know how successfully the
Chinese people have established republican
government and how readily they have
tried to save the cause as soon as they
found they we're cheated by the reaction
ary agitators the experiment Is. and In
deed will still be- a success The Chinese
may not know how 70 cope with the
hustllng and bustling Of the modern fast
moving world and may not be able to make
platforms or conduct elections but their
power OF learning these things and many
more is ample. for they are consciously
intelligent and not blind as sayages 10 the
things belonging TO the civilized world. This
educative process win not take long. for
the mass OF the people Is not 50 Ignorant
as those would think whose eyes have
been blinded By the thrown duzt
The traditlon-bound atmosphere OF China
makes ths structure Of q republic un-
<sssghlA. - Doctor 0oodnow hellavaa. sna