Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 1921 VILLAGE RULE IN CHINA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, 24 March 1921, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 1921 VILLAGE RULE IN CHINA

IT la nearly as misleading to speak of a Chinese Government as of a Chinese State, says Mr G. T. Ornio in the Nineteenth Century. China is a. vast society of village, communities knit together hy lies of blood and of common social and ethical ideas and customs. The village, consisting nearly always of one family—sometimes for convenience or security of two or three —is the beginning and end of all Chinese life. To every Chinese, at homo or abroad, his village is his homo, the shrine of his ancestors, and the place of his kinsmen. It is independent and self-governing, save for some few reservations. To the Chinese I he life uf (he individual is hut a small matter, meaning little except in so far as it enables him to raise or to dignify the position of his family, his home, and his people. Life in the village is hard, but neither toil nor penury lulls, and all know how to relish their leisure hours. The a flairs of the village arc decided by general voice, led hy the greater knowledge and experience of the

elders or the schoolmaster. Yel lies', simple* age is nii| golden There are! trouble-; :\n■ I .ptanvls, dirt and mu ip j wardm-v., de.r-ase .slid ignorance, and hardships ami sufferings, especially j for ihe weaker sex. Loving hands of, robbers cause' crimes and tragedies.] Official interference is reduced Ui a j minimum, hut among" the officials j tliere is much corruption. In recent j years China, says Mr Orme, has hiulj two dangers one from within, Ihe I other from Japan. ‘‘Why should we not leave to .laoan ihe I lerenlcan lasKj of purifying it ami '-efliitg it on ifsi feet f 'l'he answer is that in this poor and anli'piaied civilisafnm there lies ihe {greatest potential force lor good or evil (li.ai the world has even seen; Unit l.y no efforts of oiir.s ran it he dissipated or destroyed, hut ninsf one day in the irresistible march of events play a great, perhaps a,decisive, part in (In* world’s history: 1 that on the help and guidance sin* lacks or receives from the host spirit ol the West will depend her future, relations ions and to (he world." China mav he driven into dislike, or even info hostility, io Britain, '“and thus inio ihe arm*- of Japan, seeking only to use her for selfish and material ends.” or British sympathy and assistance, like Unit ot Gordon and Hart In the past, may guide her into a path of peace and wisdom not inconsistent with her great, traditions and ideals. China nnist learn to organise herself on such lines as she may find congenial io me.'i, the dangers inreatening her without and withm.