The record-union., 1891-10-09
WHAT Is THE SITUATION IN cH1NAs

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moving inland to the valleys
WHAT is THE SITUATION IN CHINA 2
We had in Chinese waters in August
but two double-ender boats of light arma-
ment and not at all suited to meet a foe of
any considerable pretensions. The dis
patch in September, therefore, of the
charleston and the Petrol to report to Ad-
miral Belknap in Chinese waters was
discreet and timely, for that there is
unrest in China that renders the situation
OF Americans there unpleasant and dan
gerous is conceded. The Charleston will
reach the station within the next ten
days; the Petrol, which was dispatched
from New York, cannotreport to the Ad-
miral before the last of November. 1t is
very much to be regretted that ship
nearer to China had not been sent. since
Americans have large interests in China,
which may be even now in great peril.
The late outrages upon representatives
OF religious orders by the restless clement
IN China, have alarmed France, England
and Germany, and they are taking
prompt steps to defend the missionaries
should further outbreaks occur. Ameri
can missionaries are in China in consid-
cradle numbers; that they have accom-
plshed any great good, is extremely
doubtful; but they are American citizens.
and must be protected in their residence
there.
IL Is exceedingly difficult to probe to
the quick of Chinese politics; while Mr..
John Russell Young lauds the Viceroy of
the north, Ii Hung Chang, as a statesman.
the peer of some of the foremost the
world has produced, and speaks of his
policy of peace and quiet, yet we know
that the animosity against the Tartar dy-
nasty has not at ali subsidized, and that If
is just now taking the form of active as
sault upon foreigners, in order to involve
the Chinese officials with the dissatisfied
element, for the Government should. un-
and punish those who assault them.
Though Mr.. Young scouts the idea of a
revival of the Tae Ping rebellion. and
considers the secret society infIuenca but
weak, there are authorities now on the
ground that differ radically from Mr.
Young, who has not visited the Empire
of China for several years. These on
lockers give us proof of irritation and
friction among the Chinese that is omi-
nous, and that the greater Governments
of the world believe it is evidenced nv
the dispatch of ships of war in all haste
to the chief Chinese ports. The truth is.
as thus far established, that the Middle
Kingdom is honey-combed with secret
societies, the membership of which is
sworn TO overthrow the Tartar dynasty.
and to obey their leaders implicitly in all
collateral and direct means they NAV
adopt to that end
None of the leading conspirators have
the mental grasp, broad knowledge and
State craft that distinguishes Ii Hung
Chang, whom Grant compared to Bis
marck, Beaconsfield and Gambetta. hut
they have all the cunning imaginable,
are fearless, merciless and cruel, and en-
tertain intense hatred for the foreign
devils" They know how to keep their
counsel also, and how to play upon the
fears, the superstitions and the patriotism
OF the lower classes. AS rule they are
men of wealth, and many of them hold
subordinate positions under the Govern
ment. Such men are not to be ignored
when they conspire to wreck a Govern
ment.
Certainly it is true that there have been
several uprisings lately that speak of
method and concert of action, and all of
them have been directed against the mis-
sionaries. The Emperor has ordered off
the heads of some of the ring leaders. but
1t is not evident that this has put any
check upon the conspirators. They go
about telling the people fearful tales Of
sacrifices of human bodies made by the
missionaries, and charging that Chinese
boys have been inundated by the foreign
priests upon their affairs. Moreover, the
Chinese generally are beginning TO feel
that they are able to cope with other ma
tions. They have, according to Mr..
Young, a far better disciplined infantry
than we in America have any idea of; it
is so far from being a rabble lot, that an
exhibition of its skill amazed Admiral
Davis, whose marines, he admitted,
could not compete in drill with the Chi
nese. They have large number of great
guns, and as for troops, can throw mill
ions into the field where any other ma
tion can muster hundreds of thousands.
The military spirit, Mr.. Young AYERS,
Is fully possessing the Chinese, and they