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and that she should demand a fair field with "open doors."
From such instances, of which more might be cited, it is apparent that Japan is doing her duty in the way of helping China to the benefits of material civilization. But her influence is being exerted for good on higher planes. For, as the editor of the "Japan Mail" observes, "every Japanese subject employed in China in whatever capacity will be a centre for diffusing the light of liberalism"; and "the Chinese are apparently to be led along their new path by the Japanese," who "have some degree of distant kinship with the Chinese."
The words of Dr. Hirth will add weight because he is, perhaps, the most eminent Chinese scholar in the country and holds the professorship of Chinese in Columbia University, New York City. He spoke as follows:[1]—
"No capable observer of events in China since the Imperial Court returned to Peking can doubt that the government has decided to adopt the policy of Japan, which is to take the methods of western civilization for their models. In directing the new movement in China, Japan is taking the lead over other foreign nations, and this, it is asserted, is due to her superior command of the language.
"Moreover, every educated Japanese is imbued with the ideas prevalent in Chinese literature, religious and political, and hence he has a different standing in the
- ↑ "The Political and Commercial Reasons for the Study of Chinese."