The Chinese Spirit of Non-Resistance Will Disappear
Title
The Chinese Spirit of Non-Resistance Will Disappear
Subject
chinese immigration, racism, anti-racism
Description
A description of the reason for the Chinese "spirit of non-resistance" to poor treatment in the West - the lack of support for Chinese immigrants by the Chinese government. Editorial by Sui Sin Far, published posthumously in 1915.
Creator
Sui Sin Far
Source
Boston Daily Globe
Publisher
[no text]
Date
1915-02-15
Contributor
Sui Sin Far
Rights
Public domain
Relation
[no text]
Format
[no text]
Language
en
Type
[no text]
Identifier
[no text]
Coverage
Japan
China
Boston
Pacific Coast
California
China
Boston
Pacific Coast
California
Original Format
Text
Text
Sui Sin Far. “The Chinese Spirit of Non-Resistance Will Disappear.” Boston Daily Globe. 7 February 1915: 46.
The Chinese feel keenly all the wrongs and indignities suffered by them, politically and otherwise; but they do not deem it wise to resent them—not yet, especially as the conscience of America in regard to China seems to be awakening in manifesting friendship and benevolence toward her.
Besides, they perceive that Chinese education, during the past few generations, has proved itself wholly inadequate to fit the Chinese to take care of their country, protect it from Western as well as from Japanese aggression, develop the natural resources or govern it in any way, save theoretically; that the Chinese, as the Apostle Paul said of some early Christians, are “ever learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth”; that the mind of the Chinese youth, instead of being uplifted by power derived from its own intelligent observation and conflict with life, was stultified by being trained to depend upon the minds of those who, while they served the needs of early generations, could not adequately serve the needs of the later generation.
But the Chinese who are particularly discriminated against everywhere, by the laws of all Western Nations, make no vigorous protest whatever against the terrible wrongs that are done them, and find no vigorous champions among the public-spirited and liberal-minded Americans. Newspapers and magazines which eloquently decry the lesser wrongs to the Japanese are silent in respect to the greater wrongs to the Chinese. And the reason for their silence is found in the fact that the Chinese are themselves silent.
It is also true that the Chinese narrate the stories of their many sufferings at the hands of the whites along the Pacific Coast. When I was out West I was told many tales by Westerners of how, up to a recent date in California, the Chinese, who helped to make fruitful the hills and valleys, were insulted, ill-treated, robbed, murdered and made the victims of the worst people of the Coast, without any reason or provocation.
Now, whether the Japanese espouse the cause of the Chinese or their own cause, they, as fighters, will always be respected; while the Chinese, as keepers of the peace, will be despised. While admitting that the Chinese of today are meek and humble, I would like to exculpate them from the charge of lack of spirit; of bearing insult and wrong without resentment; of being obsequiously peaceful.
A Chinese student replied to me recently, when I admonished him for not answering a certain college professor who had publicly insulted the entire Chinese Nation and the yellow race: “The Chinese are not in a position, yet, to fight or contend. We have been crushed for many centuries and will remain crushed some time longer. By fighting and engaging in disputations with other Nations we only waste our energy and bring trouble and create animosity. At present we are not powerful enough to assert our rights.”
This is the spirit of the Chinese and of the Chinese student from the President down. Such a reply does not prove lack of spirit or cowardice. On the contrary, it proves thoughtfulness, caution and wisdom. It also makes clear that the time may come when even the meek Chinese will take an assertive stand and give a polite notice to the aggressors. There is limit even to a Chinaman’s meekness. The answer of this Chinese student also makes it clear that the Chinese are a self-controlled people, ruled by the head rather than by the heart—that is, the educated class, who alone possess the weapons with which to fight. It does not, however, excuse the indifference of their Government to the woes of their poor subjects in foreign lands. That deplorable and manifest lack of spirit must be admitted; but it is not admitted for the Chinese; it is admitted for the Chinese Government, which is altogether different from the Chinese people.
I believe that when the minds of the Chinese are fortified with the knowledge and their hearts are assured with the conviction that behind them is a Government strong and able to protect them, the Westerner will not have reason to complain of the Chinese lack of spirit. When that time comes the Westerners may well watch the Chinese spirit with due anxiety.
The history of the Chinese should also be considered by those who would behold them with clear vision. The religious training of a people is responsible to a large extent, not only for their sins of commission, but for their sins of omission. Most of us are what our teachers have made us, and we shall be what our American teachers are making us. The Chinese student in America is bound to guide the destiny of China.
When China makes her vast power respected, and the Occident learns to deal justly with her, we may expect the barriers between the races to be broken down.
The Chinese feel keenly all the wrongs and indignities suffered by them, politically and otherwise; but they do not deem it wise to resent them—not yet, especially as the conscience of America in regard to China seems to be awakening in manifesting friendship and benevolence toward her.
Besides, they perceive that Chinese education, during the past few generations, has proved itself wholly inadequate to fit the Chinese to take care of their country, protect it from Western as well as from Japanese aggression, develop the natural resources or govern it in any way, save theoretically; that the Chinese, as the Apostle Paul said of some early Christians, are “ever learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth”; that the mind of the Chinese youth, instead of being uplifted by power derived from its own intelligent observation and conflict with life, was stultified by being trained to depend upon the minds of those who, while they served the needs of early generations, could not adequately serve the needs of the later generation.
But the Chinese who are particularly discriminated against everywhere, by the laws of all Western Nations, make no vigorous protest whatever against the terrible wrongs that are done them, and find no vigorous champions among the public-spirited and liberal-minded Americans. Newspapers and magazines which eloquently decry the lesser wrongs to the Japanese are silent in respect to the greater wrongs to the Chinese. And the reason for their silence is found in the fact that the Chinese are themselves silent.
It is also true that the Chinese narrate the stories of their many sufferings at the hands of the whites along the Pacific Coast. When I was out West I was told many tales by Westerners of how, up to a recent date in California, the Chinese, who helped to make fruitful the hills and valleys, were insulted, ill-treated, robbed, murdered and made the victims of the worst people of the Coast, without any reason or provocation.
Now, whether the Japanese espouse the cause of the Chinese or their own cause, they, as fighters, will always be respected; while the Chinese, as keepers of the peace, will be despised. While admitting that the Chinese of today are meek and humble, I would like to exculpate them from the charge of lack of spirit; of bearing insult and wrong without resentment; of being obsequiously peaceful.
A Chinese student replied to me recently, when I admonished him for not answering a certain college professor who had publicly insulted the entire Chinese Nation and the yellow race: “The Chinese are not in a position, yet, to fight or contend. We have been crushed for many centuries and will remain crushed some time longer. By fighting and engaging in disputations with other Nations we only waste our energy and bring trouble and create animosity. At present we are not powerful enough to assert our rights.”
This is the spirit of the Chinese and of the Chinese student from the President down. Such a reply does not prove lack of spirit or cowardice. On the contrary, it proves thoughtfulness, caution and wisdom. It also makes clear that the time may come when even the meek Chinese will take an assertive stand and give a polite notice to the aggressors. There is limit even to a Chinaman’s meekness. The answer of this Chinese student also makes it clear that the Chinese are a self-controlled people, ruled by the head rather than by the heart—that is, the educated class, who alone possess the weapons with which to fight. It does not, however, excuse the indifference of their Government to the woes of their poor subjects in foreign lands. That deplorable and manifest lack of spirit must be admitted; but it is not admitted for the Chinese; it is admitted for the Chinese Government, which is altogether different from the Chinese people.
I believe that when the minds of the Chinese are fortified with the knowledge and their hearts are assured with the conviction that behind them is a Government strong and able to protect them, the Westerner will not have reason to complain of the Chinese lack of spirit. When that time comes the Westerners may well watch the Chinese spirit with due anxiety.
The history of the Chinese should also be considered by those who would behold them with clear vision. The religious training of a people is responsible to a large extent, not only for their sins of commission, but for their sins of omission. Most of us are what our teachers have made us, and we shall be what our American teachers are making us. The Chinese student in America is bound to guide the destiny of China.
When China makes her vast power respected, and the Occident learns to deal justly with her, we may expect the barriers between the races to be broken down.
Collection
Citation
Sui Sin Far, “The Chinese Spirit of Non-Resistance Will Disappear,” Who Was Sui Sin Far/Edith Eaton?, accessed May 5, 2024, https://suisinfar.omeka.net/items/show/20.