REFORM IN CHINA | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 25, 1897

REFORM IN CHINA.

A PRESS despatch dated Tokio, December 22, says that the report of the Society for Diffusion of Christian and General Knowledge among the Chinese contains this paragraph:—

“There is a feeling even among the Chinese themselves, which has lately found expression in many contributions by them to the native press, that this is a critical hour in Chinese history, that great changes are imminent, and that the wisest management is necessary to avoid national shipwreck. Among the younger men there is a great deal of unrest and not a little secret disloyalty. This is greatly to be deplored. All needed reforms may be introduced and ought to be introduced by peaceful and legal methods, and it is our hope that as a society we may be able to turn this misdirected energy into lawful channels, and that, by reaching the minds of those who are in authority, we may help the government by timely advice to recognize the dangers ahead, and to avoid them by introducing such reforms as will take away the just reasons for dissatisfaction. We can not but believe, therefore, that the work of our society merits the heartiest support of all those who have any interest in the well-being of China.”

It is to be hoped that among these suggestions will not be the first strand in the rope which binds together “Church and State” in so-called “Christian” nations, namely, the Sunday established by law; but judging from Japan this will probably be the case.