http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=mandarin&allowed_in_frame=0 http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=mandarin&allowed_in... Judging by the etymology p

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=mandarin&allowed_in_frame=0 http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=mandarin&allowed_in... Judging by the etymology presented here, meaning officials, "mandarin chinese" being then "chinese as spoken by officials", I would take it as simply a rewording of his condemnation of the tendency for admiration of title in place of admiration of the title holder, which he otherwise goes on about. A disease of officiality. I don't know if an overtone suggesting a cultural judgement over some perceived chinese tendency for admiration of title is intended or not.