THE following from an article recently written by Wu Ting Fang, the Chinese minister to this country, should be read by the Christian people and the "Christian" statesmen of this country and Europe. It contains lessons worthy of consideration. It is a well-merited rebuke from "the heathen Chinese"—
"The spirit of commercialism has lately risen to a dangerous pitch. As a market for the world's goods, China indisputably holds the first place, for the wants of 350,000,000 to 400,000,000 people have to be supplied in some way. It has been said that, as a market, one province of China is worth more than the whole continent of Africa.
"It has always been the policy of China to treat all foreign nations alike. They are all most-favored nations in a literal sense. The maintenance of an 'open door' is exactly in the line of her policy. But unhappily human nature is never contented. WHEN A MAN GETS AN INCH HE WANTS AN ELL. It is now the turn of missionaries to tell us that if there were no foreign adventurers in China there would be no foreign complications.
"Twenty-five centuries ago, our sage, Confucius, the greatest philosopher that ever flourished in China, said, 'Wealth gotten by improper ways will take its departure by the same.' This is equivalent to your proverb, 'Goods ill-gotten go ill-spent.' Nations as well as individuals should not forget this, as the maxim of Confucius as well as your proverb will always come true if any nation or individual should unjustly obtain possession of any property. Some people call themselves highly civilized and stigmatize others as uncivilized.
"What is civilization? Does it mean solely the possession of superior force and ample supply of offensive and defensive weapons? I take it to mean something more. I understand that a CIVILIZED NATION SHOULD RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER NATION, just the same as in society a man is bound to respect the rights of his neighbor. Civilization, as I understand it, does not teach people to ignore the rights of others, NOR DOES IT APPROVE THE SEIZURE OF ANOTHER'S PROPERTY AGAINST HIS WILL. It would be a sorry spectacle if such a glaring breach of the fundamental rights of man could be committed with impunity at the end of this nineteenth century. What would the future historian say when he should come to write about the events of this century? IS IT NOT TIME THAT WE SHOULD AT LEAST RECOGNIZE THE PRINCIPLES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, JUSTICE, AND FAIR PLAY?
"But I do not believe such practise of ignoring other people's rights is generally resorted to, and I am persuaded there are many people who denounce it. China welcomes to her shores the people of all nations. Her ports are open to all, and she treats all alike, without distinction of race, color, nationality, or creed. Her people trade with all foreigners.
"In return, she wishes to be treated only in the same way.
"She wants peace—to be let alone, and not to be molested with unreasonable demands.
"Is this unfair?
"SHE ASKS YOU TO TREAT HER IN THE SAME WAY AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED. SURELY THIS REASONABLE REQUEST CAN NOT BE REFUSED.
"We are about to enter into the twentieth century, and ARE WE TO GO BACK TO THE MIDDLE AGES AND WITNESS AGAIN THE SCENES ENACTED IN THAT PERIOD?"
Mr. Wu hopes not. Let him read the Christian's Book, not listen to the "Christian" diplomats.
