A COURSE ON CHINA.

At this time when China is undergoing a great political change, we are forcibly reminded of the lack of any sort of course on China in the Harvard curriculum. We do not understand the real causes of this political change, which the strength of local government has facilitated, because we have no knowledge of Chinese history and progress. We attribute too much to western influence. But the republic has been established by Chinaman and to succeed must be based on Chinese customs and experience.

Last year Bishop Root of China speaking at Harvard said that he was ashamed to find no course in this University on so great a nation, a nation whose inhabitants form nearly one fourth of the population of the globe. There are thousands of Americans who go to China to preach and to teach. But America apparently thinks she has nothing to learn.

There is in America an ignorance that has an intellectual political, and commercial bearing. There are relations between the two countries and the relations are bound to become closer, and the only way to make them friendly is to have some basis for a mutual understanding. China knows something of us, but what we know of China comes to us largely through newspaper reports. The Eastern republic will soon be, not only the largest but one of the most powerful nations of the world. If America would live at peace with her, America must know her. We must know China's history and government, her religions and philosophies, her literatures and art. Let Harvard take a step in the right direction and establish a course on the subject.