The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-08-16
Chinese Dreams of Conquest.
[san Francisco Guardian. !

1t is we'll known that the Chinese are largely
arming by sea and land. Prophecies and ira
ditions are being widely circulated throughout
the Empire that their last great conquest is to
be over the "outer barbarians." Whether
God will ever permit them to become the
scourge of races who have requited His benefits
laws, or bold denial of His Revelation and a
return to paganism, is a question which it
would be as rash to deny to assert. Father
Hue, the Missionary, some years ago, wrote as
follows, and under present circumstances his
words deserve attention: 1t may be that it
would be possible to find in China all the ele-
ments necessary for organizing the most for
midable army in the world. The Chinese are
intelligent, ingenious, and docile. They com
prehend rapidly whatever they are taught, and
retain it IN their memory. They are perceive
ring, astonishincly active when they choose to
exert themselves. respectful to authority, sub
missive and obedient, and they would easily
accommodate themselves to all the cxigencies
of the severest discipline. The Chinese possess
also a quality most precous in soldiers, and
which can scarcely be found as well developed
in any other people-namely, an incompatible
power of supporting prlvations of every kind.
- We have often been astonished to see how they
can bear hunger, thirst, heat, cold, the difficult
ties and fatigues of n long march, rs if they
were mere play Thus, both morally and
physically they seem capable of meeting every
call which could be made upon them, and with
respect to numbers they might be enrolled by
millions. The equipment of this immense
army would also be no very hard matter
There would be no occasion to have recourse
to foreign nations. Their own country would
furnish in abundance all the material that
could be desired, well as workmen without
number, quick at comprehending any new IN
vention. China would present also inexhaust
ible resources for the formation of a navy.
Without speaking of the vast extent of her
coasts, of the numerous population which pass
the greater part of their lives on sea, the great
rivers and immense lakes in the interior, COW
cred with fishing and trading junks, would
alone furnish multitudes of men, habituated
from hpI N
perienced, and capable of becoming excellent
sailors even for long voyages. The Chinese
will very soon build vessels the model
of those of Europe, and n few years would
enable them to put to sea with such fleet as
has never been seem" No doubt the reader
will think the notion of this Immense army,
this avalanche of men descending from the
high table-land of Asia as in the time of
Tchingg s-Khan, these innumerable Chinese
vessels ploughing every sea and blockadlng
even our own ports, an exceedingly fantastic
one, and we ouEselves are far from thinking 1T
likely to be realized. But when you become
thoroughly acquainted with this empire of 400
millions of inhabitants, when you appreciate
the resources of these rich and fertile countries,
you cannot but ask what should prevent such
a nation from exercising great influence upon
the affairs OF the whole human race. What Is
needed is q man of genius, man truly great,
one capable of utilizing the power and vitality
of this empire, more populous than all Europe,
and which already reckons more than thirty
centuries of civilization. Should an Emperor
arise endowed with a great intellect and an
iron will, determined to break at once with
the ancient traditions and to foster among his
subjects the progressive civilization of the
West, we believe that the work of regeneration
would proceed with rapid strides that per-
haps these Chinese, who now appear such
very ridiculous people, might be Looked upon
somewhat more seriously, and that they might
even be the cause of mortal uneasiness to those
who now so eagerly covet the spoils of the
ancient nations of Asia.