Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 231, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1914 — U. S. SCHOOL HELPS [ARTICLE]

U. S. SCHOOL HELPS

Aids Educational Awakening in New Chinese Republic.

Play* Prominent Part in Spread of Liberal Idea*—Judge Loblnger'a Addreaa at Recent Commencement Day Exercise*. Shanghai, China. —At the commencement day celebrations at St John’s university, Shanghai, an American institution which has prospered in recent years, Admiral Tseng Ju-cheng, military governor of Shanghai, inspected the cadets and paid them some well-deserved compliments. At the presentation of degrees Judge C. S. Lobinger of the United 'States court for China gave an address on the subject of American educational work in Asia. He congratulated the university ppon having sent out so many to take their place in the new situation which confronted China, and observed that in the future development of China St. John promised to play a larger and still more honorable part. One of the facts which most impressed a newcomer to China like himself was the

predominance, of Americans in the. educational awakening of China. In the vicinity of Shanghai alone there were several Institutions of higher learning which, like St. John’s, owed their origin and existence to American initiative. The speaker Instanced Soochow and Nanking universities, and said these institutions could be found duplicated in almost every one of the 18 provinces. He went on to refer to the increasing number of Chinese students in universities in America, and said that the forces of higher education in China were largely under American auspices. A very considerable portion of members of the American University club of Shanghai were Chinese who had graduated in American universities. These were facts which could hardly escape the notice of even the casual visitor. What was not so obvious was that this educational effort of America in China was part of a great national undertaking begun long ago, and now carried into almost every part of Asia. Along with the spread of the English language, there had been diffused ideas of democracy and liberty of which the English language and literature was so complete a vehicle. The movement had had much to dp with the Balkan renaissance, it was behind the struggle of Persia for liberty, and It was playing a part in the modern movement in China. It was to be hoped that the present intellectual and political changes now being wrought would be accompanied by a corresponding moral awakening. Mere learning without character was dangerous, and the government lacking a moral basis rested upon sand. Along with other nationalities Americans naturally hoped for a larger share in China’s foreign trade. If it was to be the good fortune of America to become the teacher of Asia, he did not fear that its commerce would flow entirely or chiefly into other channels.