Hangchow, March 15.
A wise letter appears in the local Press from the Educational Commissioner to the members of all Students' Unions, especially those in Chekiang. He say:
I wish to address a few words of warning to the students under my immediate charge; the persistent interference of students in the management of State affairs is threatening to undo any good that has hitherto been done to promote civilization in China. You, students, ought to have but one object in view, namely, the fitting of yourselves to become leaders and educators of your fellow men; and you are going just the very worst way towards the accomplishment of this purpose.
In study the brain requires the utmost quiet and separation from disturbing elements. Yet, what do you do? Instead of giving it these, you subject it to all the ups and downs of affairs inseparably _associated with a Republic which is feeling its way to a stable Government. Could any system as that which you have adopted be better calculated to defeat the object yow have in view?
You are pulling at the root which is the hope of your country. What country ever adopted such a system? Why, even during the terrible upheaval of the Great European War schools went on with unremitting zeal in their studies. The authorities knew only too well that the more fiercely the strife raged the greater the call to education to stick to its task. You argue that all is wrong, and it is up to you to set it right. All? In this sweeping statement you put yourselves on a par with your much-despised "old'" system which argues that nothing 1s Wrong, and we can go on our way unchanged.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.