Tue question is often asked, eager; and adzionaly, in what direction are we to look to find a power strong enough to move China forwards in the path of progress? There are some who ignore the enquiry by saying, that really China has every wish to move fast enough and that no fores'need be exercised. These persons point to the well-known prophecy of Wenseang that when China does move, she will go so fast as to outstrip the wishes of her Foreign propellers, and meantime they let matter take their course. Bat though there are upholders of this doctrine to be found, they are in a very small minority. Most reasonable men believe that the Chinese might be the that lesting them done, sheane i ome better for a little gentle pressure, and
word "retrogression." Still, from what quarter is the stimulus to come? The Foreign. Powers have been at work for years teaching by example, and very little has come of it. The administra" tion is as reckless, improvident and cor-rapt as ever. The people are plunged in the depths of superstition, and the great public works that are imperiously needed by all classes to be in a state of efficiency, are suffered to fall into decay. The reason why the Chinese object to copy from us, is found in the fact that we are so utterly different from them. Our speech, our manners, our modes of thought, our religion, our costume, our habit which is moral costume, are all opposed to the Chinese ideas of these things. The natives object to copying from persons so utterly alien from them in every respect. Now, it is otherwise with Japan. Substantially, the written language of China, and of the Land of the Rising Sun, is one and the same. The people are near neighbours, Certainly they are as much alike as the English and the Irish. A Japanese is far more at home in a Chinese town— though he is distinctly a foreigner—than be woald be ivan English, French, or American town. There is kindred and affinity between them. This being 80, we imagine that China is much more likely to learn from the Island Empire that lies to the East of her than from the various peoples, nations and lanraages, who have come from the West for her good. Japan is progressing in a way which really astounds the Kuroadvocate of rapid advance. The timeworn abuses of feudalism have been removed with an energy and vigour that is positively amazing. Questions of Imperial interest are considered in a frank and sensible temper of mutual accommodation, and with a generous regard for the welfare of all classes, The statesmdn, as far as we can judge, are able and patriotic men, and their efforts seem always directed in the right way. It is impossible not to think that this example must tell on China. The people of this country who go to and fro to Japan by every steamer, must see the contrast between stagnation and movement. They may, for a time, wrap themselves in the folds of that ominous ent that is inscribed with the words " nil admirari," bat there are chinks in the darkest and narrowest mind, and in time the light must dawn on the Chinaman that they manage things better in Japan.
It seems to be more and more certain every hour, that China will not learn from the old countries, and the chances that/she will learn from Japan are be-couraging. The sight of the new Em-comin, tually more and more enpire may stimulate the energies of the old one. There is a spirit of emulation amongst nations as there is amongst individuals, and we do not despair of seeing China entired with some parks of animation caught from her island neighbour. The opinion we broach is one which some of the most experienced amongst the diplomatists now in this country venture to express without disguise, at once by their very utterance giving us hope from an unexpected quarter of convicting themselves.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.