The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-12-09
Chinese Railways.

Ch1nGSo Iea1lWaySs
! Certain British papers connected with
the railroad interests are jubilant over
what they claim to be the opening up of
China to railroad enterprise. The an
nouncement of the TACT that contract
had been signed for the construction OF
the first Chinese railway, was made at
the banquet on the occasion of the re-
cent Darlington jubilee; and on the
same day the rolling of the rails for that
railroad in China was commenced at
Stockton.
Commenting upon this announcement,
the Raitacay Re0aster says
"Ihe above is an astonishing instance of
trade pertinacity. Over three years ago an
association Of English railroad men, well
backed UP by rail makers a. home, made an
offer to the Emperor of China to construct fifty
m les of railroad, to stock it with engines and
ears, and after putting all in perfect order TO
present the whole to tine Emperor. This oaer
was dec in d, under The advice OF The Manda-
rins, with announcement that Fung onui
was not fayo rable to the construction or rail-
roads, OF any other Inns that wefe straighf.
Over two yt ars ago We stated i'll this paper
shat Funs shai ha,l never yet been Known, IN
any instance, to fail in favorable utter
tneir palms; a facJ that We would have ex-
pected this association Of railroad eSpectan.s
10 have found out long before thls. Even now,
the game that is WON Is the greatest that ever
was played. Golden Keys have unlocked new
nlaa keJ Ion English iron, and machinery that
viii compensate for thousand losses ami DIS
Appointments, and very shortly set every lail
mil in the realm In motion, anu once more re-
Vive ito dec. .inlng India trade.
"One-Ghird CT The human Iainily Is contained
In China, and wIth the complet on OF The hrs1
thousand miles oil railroad. me demand viii be
for ten thousand miles more Or I0r the heaI
Ct an Emperor"
IL would perhaps be cruelt to say any
thing to disturb this fullness Of British
Joy on the subject OF their success In
opening up China to the introduction Of
railways, whereby the great iron.mong
ers OF England expect to ''shortly set
every rail-mill in the realm in motion,
and once more to revive their declining
oriental trade." But we verify believe
that their great expectations will end in
disappointment.
Granting even that contract has
{ been signed for the construction Of an
experimental road, it does not follow
that the grant will be either permanent
or secure. The diff ;ulty in the way OF
Introducing railways among the Chinese
is not in the opposition on the part of
their ruling classes Prince Kutg, when
Regent OF the Empire, was known to be
favorable to railroads. But he could
not, and dare not take any step to pro-
mote their construction, for lear OF the
violence of public opinion founded upon
the popular belief in their doctrines Of
the FunG Shut.
The essence Of this doctrine is thai
the building OF any unusual structures
above ground is offensive to the spirits
of the air, the Fa1ag; and that any un
usual digging or disturbance of the natu'
to the spirits of the earth and waters
the Shut; and that the 'Fung Shup be-
ing thus enraged, will visit the people
with dire calamities by breeding pesti
ience and typnoons in the air, ant
droaths in the earth, so that plague, pes
stiience and famine will ensue.
Absurd as all this may seem t,
US, such is nevertheless the abid
Ing faith of that "one. third o
lhe human family" for whom our
British cousins are SO eager to built
railways by tens of thousands OF miles
Any Invasion Of this belief would be re
sented by the millions. of the common
people of China, even to the extent o
msurrecti0n and war against such 0
their rulers as would sanction this ouf
rage upon their ancient faith. And Oh
recount OF the unanimity Of this sen
hment among the people, itwould proba
bly, cost the Emperor his throne, or ever
mis- head, should that magnate attemp
The enforcement OF decree authorizing
The building of railroads through his do
minions.
And beyond this lies still another i'm
pediment, equally serious and univer
sal: that is, the disturbance that rail
way construction would necessaril
eause to the graves of their dead. Ii
China bnrials are not made in ffxet
places, designated as cemeteries; bu
Wheresoever the friends of the decease'
may select site. Consequently tn
graves Of their dead are scattered every
where over the,land. And these Duria
places are held by the people in the mos
sacred religious regard; and any dis
IurBance Of their family tombs would b
eonsidered as the grossest sacrileg
That man could commit. onthis account
Rs well as fIom their deyout yeneratio
pfshe doctrines OF the Fang @ai, sue
Inn6vations as the construction OF raj
roads would necessarily imply, woui
doubtless arouse a storm OF popnla
,eommt,tion such as no ruler ot Chm
would dare TO encounter.
That these British spectators ma
have procured from Mandarins, by ticl
ling them "on the palms" with sufficien