St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-24
AS MISSIONARIES SEE THEM.

DR.. Neriess Talks Abo"t the Chinese a,,d
| Their Troubles.
| There is now naturally much excitement
on account of the war with France. While
people in Europe and America are receiving
reliable Geographic information of all impor-
tant events here day or two after they have
transpired, most of the Chinese, as here in
the interior of this province, only know of
events week or ten days, and often much
longer, after they have happened, and the
accounts received are very contradictory and
unreliable.
From fear of internal rebellion and local
banditti, many of the walls of the villages
are being repaired, and in some places the
panic has been SO great that the harvesting
of the crops in the field has been neglected.
In some places on my route l have been
taken for an advance scout for
the French army, and in others as a scout
engaged in reconnoitering the interior in
order to ascertain the whereabouts and plans
of the banditti supposed to be preparing Tor
predatory excursion to the coast.
The defeat of the Chinese in the south by
a French army vastly inferior in numbers is
very CALLING to the national pride. At first
reports of Chinese victories were eagerly cir
culated and believed. Now it is generally
known that the part taken by the Chinese in
the engagements at Fuchau bic fight
ing much less than passively submitting to
be slaughtered.
After more than twenty years. preparation
for war, the establishment of arsenals for the
manufacture of cannon and small arms, and
learning to construct war vessels after for
eign models, the incapacity of China even to
defend her own soil from foreign invaders is
at first difficult of explanation. The fact
cannot be justly accounted for by physical
or mental peculiarties of the
| race. Their physical DEVELOPMENT
and powers Of endurance are hardly sur
passed by any race. They are undoubtedly
less sposed to fighting than Europeans, but
under the Influence of resentment or des-
peration will often throw away their lives
wit1out hesitation. In the late engagements
at Fuchau they evlnced such stoical indiffer-
! ence in the presence of death as would have
1 done credit 10 veterans in foreign army.
| Some of the young men who a few years since
returned from America took part in the en-
gagement and gave evidence. 1t is said, Of
| GOODNESS, courage and efficiency which com
manded the admiration aud respect of for
eigners as well as natives, and which, under
different leaders, might have done much to
change the fortunes Of the day.
Many causes combine to produce the pres
ent military inferiority OF China. The prin-
cipal Of these may perhaps be summarized
| as follows:
! There is little patriotism in China, or
| rather, Chinese patriotism terminates on the
distinctive ancient institutions and cIylliza-
ton, rather than the present government.
! The ruling dynasty is not only old and effete
| but 1t is Tartar dynasty, aud as such the
feeling is very general that it Is not worth
lighting for, and that the best interests of
the country would be subserved by It's giving
place as soon as possible to another.
The soldiers as rule are worthless and in
efficient, many of them gamblers and opium
smokers, who have entered the army because
they have no means Of livelihood, or we're
| too lazy to work. They are poorly paid, and
are the terror OF the neighborhoods where
| they are quartered in time Of peace, and in
| time of war would be sure to run on the
| slightest preteIt.
The military leaders are trained in the use
of the bow and arrow and the military art as
practised centuries ago, aud are utterly ig-
Dorant OF science as applied 10 modern
arfare and foreign drill The com manding
military offc er is sometimes subject TO the
authority Of superior civil officer who has
| gained his position by literary merits, and
whose training and adaptations arc only lit
erary. Though they have made some adj
vance in the use of weapons, having re-
! placed the old native matchbox with breech-
| loading rifles Of their own manufacture, they
/ still keep a few decades behind the times,
/ AID are now as untitled as ever TO take the
| fe ID against a foreign army possessed Of
repeating rifles and Calling guns.
! Added 10 Ties disabilities, the want Of
/ railroads put the Chinese at great disadvan-
tsge. Their solIiers, numbering in the ag-
| gregste perhaps one million men, are apt 10
I be quartered where they are not wanted, and
before they can be got where they are wanted
/ IT Is too late to be Of service.
Il should be added that faiseness and in
/ sincerity have produced an utter and almost
/ universal want Of confidence between the
/ Chinese themselves, and rendered their best
} plans unreliable and uncertain.
At this time CON paDies Of soldiers are con-
stantIy passing through the country from the
interior Of the province, on their way TO
/ Chefoo, and soldiers at Chefoo are con-
stantlv deserving. The only thing accom-
plished thus far is n show OF activity on the
| part Of the officers, who no doubt report
extensive military operations to the capital,
and keeping the country people, who do not
know what II all means, in a constant state
/ Of excitement and apprehension
The presence Of one Of the foreigners ira
yelling from place 70 place as usual, with re-
liable Information Of the real state Of things.
and ASSURANCES that there Is no immediate
danger, has done much To restore confidence.
II had been rumored that foreigners bad all
been driven from the country. In most
/ places have been received az cordially az in
more peaceful times. And with proper pre-
cautions hope shall not be InoIest-d-
CaEL scHUaz IL TO lecture on Ben Franklin
/ while making bis sontkern tour.