The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-11-30
The Decay Of China.

The Decay Of China.
There is every reason to believe that
this country has fallen off enormously
in wealth and population during the last
fifty years. The last complete census of
the Empire was taken in 1912 and the
returns then gave a total of $50, 900, 900,
which is the figure at which the popula-
ton ever since has been popularity sup
posed to stand. We know, however,
that since that time half of the provinces
were the scene of an internecine war,
which ragged for some ten years, and
which was estimated to have caused the
deaths of from 20, 900, 900 to 3d. 600, 600.
and the border provinces of Yunnan and
Kweichow have all but been devastated
by the Mahomedan rebellion, not to
speak of minor wars and deaths from
famine in other parts. Taking all these
things into consideration, and allowing
for possible increase in some places,
foreigners best able to judge have been
of opinion that the total of $50, 600, 900
was very much over the mark, and from
250, 900, 900 to 300, 000, 900 would be
nearer it. This opinion has been more
than ~corroborated by the publication of
a census of one of the provinces which
has lately appeared in the Pekin Gazette.
By the letter of the law every province
ought to make an annual return of its
population, but in consequence of the
disorganization caused by the Tapping
rebellion, this seems like many other
things to have fallen into disuetude.
Only one province so far has resumed
the practice-viz., Chekiang. In 1872
this province stood for 26, 256, 900, and
it is now reported as containing only
IL, $50, 900 inhabitants. Chinese returns
are not of course, very reliable, but
they may be taken, in default of better
evidence as approximately correct. At
all events, taking the two returns of
equal value, it appears that the popula-
ton of this province has fallen off nearly
sixty per cent. Now Chekiang certainly
suffered severely during the Tapping
rebellion, but not more so than several
other provinces, and, moreover, it is a very
fertile province and the center of the silk
industry, 10 that the population might
be expected to fill up by immigration
more rapidly than in other places.
If, therefore, Notwithstanding all these
advantages the population in this one
province has decreased by 5000, 000, it
is not unreasonable to suppose that the
falling off over the whole eight OF ten
which are known to have suffered is at
least 100, 900, 900, and that the present
population of China does not exceed
250, 900, 900. The returns of land tax
payable are further confirmatory of this
conclusion. In 1872 the land tax payable
in Chekiang was 1856, 900 taels, now it
stands at only 2,12O, 600 taels and in a
memorial dated May of the present
years, the Governor declares that the
actual collection falls far short Of even
this sum. The same complaint comes
from almost every province. A censor
writing in March of this year on the
financial embarrassment, says: ..Ever
since the outbreak of the Tapping rebel
lion the financial prosperity of tbc Nm-
pire has steadily declinee. ITS officers
have sought to raise funds from every
source, but their efforts have resulted in
no real benefit to the revenue; the re-
ceipts that find their way into the public
exchequer are more insignificant than
ever; the of the Empire are
exhausted, and its people are in a state
of poverty that has 10 precedent in the
annals of the Empire" Tso Tsung
Tang, Viceroy of Nankin, writing at a
later date on the state of affairs in his
own particular Jurisdiction, expresses
himself in much the same terms, and it
would be easy to multiply authorities
Indefinitely. If the revenue free at the
disposal of the Pekin Government--that
is TO say, after deducting the necessary
sums for carrying On the provincial
Government-was correctly estimated
in 1912 as being about G12, 600, 600, the
49, -0xy lor,ua1 from tho coma cn1Iroac
do not probably exceed two or three mil
lions sterling.
Luckilyfor the Pekin Government 9th.
er sources of revenue have been opened
} up, which in a great measure compen.
branches. Of these the principal is the
maritime custom revenue, which now
amounts to upward of "a, 600, 900 ster
ling. 1t is surprising that the rapiG
progress which this branch has made,
gested to the Chinese officials the true
remedy for the present unfortunate state
of affairs. ALI the advance which thu
) country has lately made in wealth ane
prosperity has been in connection will
t foreign trade. The tea and silk districtl
have been large gamers and, apart from
l buc uOdIuS LII GuO ldilllllOS VI lcbiT6u OuI
Gals, nearly all the capital in the coun
try is in the hands of the merchants
bankers and middlemen engaged in for
eign mmerc But of all the numer
Gus memorials that have been presented
to the throne on this subject not one ha
g hit the real cause. They abound in com
plants of peculation on the art of som
officials and of extravaganza on the par
of others, and think that, that bein;
, remedied, all will be well. II does nc
=, occur to them that by promoting the fire
interchange of commodities betwee
different parts of the Empire whereof
the producer could get a better price TO
his produce and the consumer be able t
. supply his wants cheaper, somethin
might be effected. But in their necessi
ties the Government adopted a schem
which was, perhaps, the very worst the
could have tried and the most effectu7
in arresting the development of trade a
s the time when improvement was mo;
needed-viz., the imposition of the in
1 land tax on all goods, without exception
passing from n market to another
This produces a revenu of, roughl,