Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-01-02


the Chinese again apDeaFed with soth
cient force Do maintsin order in Cen
trail Asia. The Celestial armies had
not then begtfn to recover their former
fame. IL Is true The Tapping rebellion
had been cxlineuixhed, bat Il was not
until 1873 thai the Panihay cspItal
Of Ta-la-foo was stormed and the
Mussulman power in Yunnan utterly
uprooted. This was the first evidences
Of The FevSving energy Of China. With
a pasienees determination and cour-
age worthy Of high praise. the Chinese
next undertook 70 grapple with Kash-
gar. They formed large army, dis
cirlined in something like European
fashion, armed with improved weapons.
and supported even By heavy artillery
OF The most scientific type. Their ad-
vance was slow, but unresting, and
when at length they measured their
power against that Of the Aialik Ghazi
they proved that IA every warlike quail
ity they were his superiors. After
Yakoob's death Kashgar was easily and
completely conquered, and is as now as
little likely to rise successful against
the Chinese power as Yunnan ITSELF
The victory in this instance has fairly
fallen to those who deserved 1t, and we
may rest assured that the Chinese fully
appreciate its meaning. They have
now Fe-established their authority IN
Eastern TuTkestan IN such q manner az
TO entitle them to demand from Russia
the performance Of her promise. The
demand has been made and has been
rejected, but only those who are igno-
rant Of the Chinese character will sup
pose that the rejection has been or will
be accepted as final. A Mission from
Pekin has been sent 10 st. Petersburg
to insist on the retrocession of Knldia,
and If Russia continues 10 refuse she
will have 10 reckon with the enmity OF
China in Asia.
But if il proves that China, always
formidable for the vast numbers Of her
people, has once more become an ac-
tive Power, resolute 10 reorganize her
former dominions in Central Asia, her
antagonism may possibly be q serious
obstruction IN The path of Russian ambi-
tion. There is an earnestness and
persistence in the Chinese character
which is of the highest worth in war
The Chinese are brave. il not with the
ardor Of Europeans, yet with a steadi-
ness and contempt for death TO which
few parallels exist. Their initiative
capacity enables them 10 learn with case
the lessons OF European discipline and
the use Of modern arms. Their skilled
J soldiers, il Is said, have studied German
strategy and tactics, The army which
conquered Kashgar "cloSely resembled, !"
Mr.. Boulger tells US, "that OF Euro
pean Power" Why should China hes
itate 10 encounter Russia, If the latter
J refuses to do what she has promised
with respect to Kuldja: Modesiy is moi
a characteristic OF the Chinese Govern
ment or people, and il may be that 1'so
Tsung Tang, the victor Of Kashgar, Is
eager to match himself against the Rus
sian Generals. He has already shown a
warlike and venturesome spirit by pro-
hibiting Russian trade on the Keshgarian
frontier, and by ordering Russian cni-
zens to quit the reconquered province.
These are violations OF Russia's treaty
rights with China, but the Chinese will
probably reply to any remonstrances
that when Russia restores Kuldja they
will perform their pledges as to trade.
The Russian Government now covers
its re efussl to restore the province annexed
in 1871 by presenting a demand for a
pecuniary indemnity Of two millions
sterling 10 meet the expenses Of the
Russian conquest and occupation. But
the real reason for the refusal has been
avowed by the Russian Press. As a
Russian writer has observed, 'tbe re-
PROCESSION Of Kuldja would be an act Of
political suicide, for not only would il
raise the prestige Of China TO a higher
point than ever before, but ii would
undermine our position in Eastern Asia
by giving the Chinese a strong military
position within our natural frontier.
However Russia may act, therefore, the
re-awakened energy of China may, If IL
continues. create serious endorsements
for her. The Chinese may not rush
precipitstely into war; but their attitude
will keep many thousands Of Russian
soldiers continually yigilsnt on the Iii,
and will SO far weaken the advance ol
Russia on the western portion Of Turkes-
tan. The age ofinvading and conquerins
muliitudes Is past, and there is little
fear that China will pour out her mil
lions TO swamp Western civilization
but a disciplined China. armed and
ambi.ious, standing on the Russian bord-
er, is an element in The Asiatic problem
that cannot he omitted from any future
speculaiions without The risk Of serious
error.