… these young men have made good progress in their studies. Their morals have been good; their manners singularly polite…In many ways they have proved themselves eminently worthy of the confidence reposed in them to represent the great Chinese Empire. Though children and youths, they have seemed always to understand that the honor of their race and their nation was committed to their keeping. As a result, many of the prejudices of ignorant men towards the Chinese have been removed. We deeply regret that the young men have been taken away just at the time when they were about to reap the most important advantages from their previous studies.

In this letter the president denied the rumors that the students received harm rather than benefit

from overseas study. They believed the rumors ruined the reputation of the US and its education.

December 15th, 1880:

Wing wrote to me asking me to go to New York and see Gen. Grant, and try to enlist his services

The tree that was planted behind President’s Grant Memorial Hall in New York was sent by Li Hongzhang in 1896 when he visited America.

Mark Twain recorded the whole process of meeting General Grant with Rev. Twichell.

Joe had been sitting up nights building facts & arguments together into a mighty * unassailable array, hoping Grant would sign the petition to the Viceroy of China.

After almost three months, Reverent Twichell received Rong Hong’s letter on March 10th, 1881.

General Grant’s letter has done its work. Viceroy’s telegram to Woo instructs him not return to China with the students at present but to consult Minister Chen. Chen and I are one in this matter. He would never allow it to be broken up.

Rong Hong was full of hope that all his endeavor would save the Chinese Educational Mission.

Educational Mission. He also hoped that Chen Lanbin, its former Commissioner, would support the Mission at this critical time. However, Chen Lanbin quoted Wu Zideng in his report to the emperor: ‘foreign cultures are fraught with defects, the lack of Confucian inculcation rendered the students weak in moral bearing.’ His report obviously cast a dark shadow on the future of the Chinese Educational Mission.

When The Mission’s fate was uncertain, the Sino-US relationship also deteriorated. In the 1880’s, an anti-Chinese movement spread from the west coast of the US. As Chinese laborers were more competitive in jobs, dissatisfaction began to simmer. The images of Chinese laborers were distorted and anti-Chinese riots broke out. This sentiment was exploited by politicians, who stirred up racial discrimination aimed at overturning the 1867 Burlingame Treaty and curbing the inflow of Chinese laborers. In 1882 the U.S. passed the Chinese Exclusion Act.

According to the 1867 Burlingame Treaty, if Chinese wished to study in American colleges and academies, the US should grant them the most preferential treatment. Li Hongzhang was anxious to have his boy students attend US military schools. However, this was thrown into question by the anti-Chinese movements across the US.

Editor:Ge Ting