THE AWAKENING OF CHINA.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 27, 26 October 1907, Page 11

THE AWAKENING OF CHINA.

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■' '.'TJio awakonmg of China has so long been .talked' of t-hat-now it iri reallv taking place it is in dangor-of being overlooked,a "Daily ICxpress". representative was told' by an authority on. Chineso afFriirs.'. -'' ; > : ; "Withiri theiast thrro or four years4;fr'oiri soon l after- tlie 'Boxcr rising—what may bp desqribed; as'a' peaceful' rpvolut-ion'.has beeri gcttirig.uiidpr;way' in" China. 'Sinco'the-close bf,';the'- war - in ' the'' Far, East it ha's'-b'ogun"to develop mora rapidly; and there is littlo'daub.t that. a_ne-tr Chilis-will faiip- the world in "thb 'nest'fifteen' or/twerity.. years;-""'" * V *•-'»;

' A Chineso. gen t ] oinan of education .who- is-'now visiting' London told ; an ' "Ex- • press? 'representative 'that 'one of 'tho"most 'rev-' markable features-of. Chiiii. birth :,of. n.itiorial spirit,' : bringing'-witli ■it'.'an: irresistible .demand-'for: nibdeni -,'Tcnow-; lodge"', and ■; the \ strength oping;' of. thoV posi ti on' of"'China;'among the 'nations. : . : ' .' <"Tho \ tblbgram' ■ fronie Pi* irig' mentions 'an , edict'-.•igaihst'feot-bi ndin^;- J '.bi:tV ; that' is by means tho first'.'edict bu'-'that 'si'ibjec%i' life" ; Said; "\"For .the-pist. 200'"'y6hfs ; sigriifi-' cirit .in this'.matter,.,as in. 'bthers/is tliat ,the','wjstoni v 'i's: ; already?,breaking down- 'Nbt long .ago.JI was in China, and I found that the,, young ;ladies of .'my ,:bwh'' family havo '-'Ir China' -.custqjn t Jr^longer, .^Tia ljflf,f(ir\ip'ng the. more! pnhghtehed,' peopled all ; over <■ the* empire ;th.b•'feet: of 110 longer .being ;boui\d..,', ii-1t..-is.; becoming fashionable "for. wo-. :-mori;.toi have' natural i-feet;-rand,.'beforp •many' years,bound febt. will" be', out, of fashion.- Thai 'is/typical of- many, things in .China:.now. . "The' taking of, opium, ,'fbr -.instancq,, is becoming,.'vcrj, unpopular. . -It- is .truo that. in, some, ;pr,ovinces. the' apti-npium edict is, still almost; unknown,.but is- only rbecauso o the difficulties ot,commuivpat.ion. The Gov-' ernmenVJs dGtennine(l.;to\i)ut ,an end to tli',taking,of'opiuin, and,- thniisanils of opium shops have' liceri,closed, amid , of the,ppoplb.v 'Hie/system': of. education, isbeing .revolutioriised. .Nqto.'schools aro beingopenod, !and .. as ".understood.'.'.'.in,. Europe, is, being taught, instead .of the mere • teaching.', of-,the : :old Chjnese" classics. • Thou:sands.,of, students are going-to Japan, , and they, will help to:spread, tho demand fof, .modern educationall over/;-' China:.•-. .:T)ie Chinese newspapers are becoming,real organs . of.- public.,opinion.; ..They jaro'.far. better writ- • tpn .than :'they, wen;,; and' their circulations are ..rajjidlj; .'grpwing.v', ,In- Peking ...there -: is. „a ;Ja'dies',. newspaper, ,cditerl ,by. a,-woman, and. .'cartoons; are;becoming " popular. • Soon wo .shall have newspaiper ; cartoons ridiculing some .of ipur leading men—at any: rate, I liopo so. - 'Few pboplo haveiso' goodi an. '.opportunity, of feeing/what is ...really going on |in China as 'th'e.:niissionaries 'whb ,arQ: at .work among the :pebplo,.',i>nd : r',',tho ' 'missionaries- . bear'.thtij same testimony, to the ' new,, spirit. in Cli inai: "The Tlrgent pryfrom r 'Chiha" is the title of' a , striking-' article. in-: the. -, "Church iMissionary ■Review'.' for August j.- the monthly/organ of the. Church iMissionary Society, 'in which' tho HpViß. ; .Baring-Gould^sajs:--'."Assuredly. ";rio 'prophetic. Vision is . to , roveal tho wbndbrful iresults 'which. must speedily, follow Upon ;China!s awakening.' ' .What . Western .sciohceiand:cducatipniliiive effected in Japan; unless,a■strohg.re'action sets;in, will, at■ ,110 distant be witnessed in.China.", . ;, ; Here are 'a few facts which .. Mr. Baring-i Gould mentions:-^

.•/••I«r.l9ol'<.t.t»crd;.:wfere. • : 'l76': post offices' in China.; ,in there were ,162G.\. ;/'., j ; ? ■ '■.Ih' .100 l toii 'million Jotters-were posted; ih'!>l9os,-; seventy-six ;--mfl}ions;' : ' '(•'■There fore. now 9000 miles, of railway; -.and :steamers,, oil.almost, every river. .-v.'.jf

Instead-, of'being examined on the teaching' .Of i Confucius, v.tho i studeritsV qualifying . for 'Government- posts are.' now being set • such questions..as':—. ■•-. . :-. _ . . i - What, is the bearing of the Siberian Rail:way on,.China?. ...

i. What is? the bearing of tho Treaty, of Berlin and of. tlie Mouroo 'doctrine on the Far East? '■' ..* : ■' ~ |

' .Explain ,Freo .Trade and Protection. -What-is Herbert Spencer's philosophy of sobiology• - . . ;V; ■' '.i .■ "'".IV • ' State .how, best to develop the resources of China.'by; mines arid' railway's. r ■!

Explain hnw best .to,' guard■■ land arid 'sea froritiers'.from the advanco 'of. foreign Powers.'

What'should, be , the -strategic points 'of China?'

AVhat.nation.has tlio be'stjstamp duty?, '. ; .. H.ow do foreigners "regulate the 'Press, the post office,'.commerce,.' railways, .banks,'-.taxa-tion?'' -. Aiul.how: do they;'get faithful .men?

• It ,:)ias 'been /decided, ' Mr. Baring-Gould says.' .that pyery province-is 'to'have/its iinivorsity,. every",..prefecture/, its ', .high school, and'!every,'village its /primary''school,, and 250,000. teach brs,, are rcqui red at once .tp.'moot the sudden .demand for i Western 1 knowledge. Girls', schools, with, gymnasia and playing grounds,'.are. hbont to bo established.