The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-15
A STARTI ING SUGGESTION.

What Might Happen if a Great Military
Leader Appeared in China.
Interview with Elk Minister Young.
Have you any serious expectation that the
Chinese may in the future look for conquest
''The influence of China upon the politics of
Asia and Europe I have always considered a
stupendous problem. The conditions of Chinese
life and civilization are, l. think. more important
than the western nations disposed to think.
China is a vast territory, with every climate, ev-
cry soil it is rich: it has dense population, and
it has been a harmless. Indifferent element in
the economy of the globe because of the doclle
character of the people and their aversion for
war. The soldier is not esteemed in China. and
therefore the tendency that we find in other ma
tons for gifted men to seek arms as means of
advancement is not encouraged. / remember
during my first interview with Lii Hung Chang
he asked me what my profession had been in
America. l replied that of literary man. oh,
he said, so am L. Literary man is the highest
rank that can be attained by Chinese official
and frequently in our conversation he would re-
fer to the fact of my profession as matter of
special congratulation.
1.-THE different dialects of China, the fact that
no two provinces speak the same language, the
want of communication, the disintegration of
the empire arising from this, has made China
easy prey to any power that may wish to seize
part of it. But this, think, is being overcome.
If any great mind like the leaders of the hordes
that swept over from Tartary and overran Europe
and Asia in the middle ages-such as Genghis
Khan Tamerane or Attila-should rise in
China, with the genius to consolidate the peo-
pie. to break down the differences in language
and customs which separate Canton from Pekin,
and Shanghai from Hankow, there is no know
ing how the problem may end. They have ad
vanced further in this direction now than peo-
pie may imagine, especially in the question of
discipline and arms. Lii Hung Chang has given
especial attention to this | remember when az
Ming Pc with Admiral Davis, now III command of
our squadron. we received the Taotai Govern
or of the province, who called on me on the
an-ofwar, and the Admiral gave him special
drill of the ships company. When the
Admiral, his staff and myself returned the
call next day at the Taotais residence he gave
US battalion drill of Chinese troops. The
commands were given in English. The tactics
were those used in the English army. The
drill had proceeded only few minutes when
the Admiral said~to me: These men beat my
men on board of the man of-war. We can't do
well as that Of course. am not soldier,
and cannot critcise drill, but here is the opin-
ion of distinguished naval officer, and it was
the opinion of all the staff present. The drill
was perfect
Now, if that spirit pervades China and if
the discipline which controlled that battalion of
men In NingP Pc were extended throughout the
empire, as it will be and is being extended, may
there not be contingency in which the west
IN powers will have to deal with the largest
army that ever was created! That consider
ne most serious problem in our modern civiliza-
ion. Russia with her policy of extending her
.ontiers, may, perhaps, before this contingency
has ripened, obtain control of the northern
provinces. Her tendency is to press in that di-
reetion. England has simply a commercial in
terest in China, and cares for no other. never
heard any intimation that England looked for
ward to extending her empire in Asia into Chi
nese dominions. II would be too serious a
problem