The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-18
CHINA,

There's something rotten in the state
of China, and there has been for a long
time. The congested condition of tn.
population, combined with the scarcity
of food in many Of the provinces, per
petually fans the flame of popular dis
content. Insurrection has become {
chronic disease of the empire. Forty
years ago the Pai-ping rebellion arose
from the very same causes that are
operating to-day. Tens of thousands of
Cinnamon hocked around the banner OF
revolt. They oyerran the fairest pro
vinces OF the empire, and for thirteen
years held the u of ofticialdom at
bay. Indeed, it was not until Gordon
was invested with the control Of tho
campaign that the Chinese authorities
were enabled to regain some measure of
composure and finally to beat down the
rebellion undsr their feet. The griev-
ances of the instruction Of forty years
ago are as rank as ever they were. Not
a year passes but in one province or
another numbers of the native popula-
ton perish of famine. Crop failures,
foundations, the wretched system of
transportation in vogue, and the gulf
that separates the governors from the
governed are only a few Of the many
causes that might DO alleged for this
miserable state of affairs. 1t is not that
the masses have any distinct conception
of the incapacity Of their rulers. In
deed, the people have not yet attained
to any distinct idea of what the func-
tions of a government should be. Their
revolts are the %objectless swellings and
mutterings Of a sea of popular discon-
tent rather than resolute endeavors to
substitute the new form of government
for the old. Loyalty and ~disloyalty are
equally unknown. The Chinese forces
fatty refused to fight the English in 50
and the French in -, but several cen
turtles have gone by since there was any
clean cut rebellion against the imperial
dynasty. The time is out Of JOINT. but
the Chinese people are as hazy as the
prince of Denmark ever was as to how
they shall set it right.
The insurgents, who are at present
plundering a section of the empire, are
probably in an equally vague condition
Of mind. They are conscious of their
wrongs and sufferings. Their discon-
tent demands some victims. Who they
may be is a matter of little Importance.
Some one ought to suffer, and they are
willing to exercise a wide liberality Of
Judgment. And this is just where their
action involves American interests. 1t
is not that they are robbing and massa-
cring their W countrymen. That is a
misfortune We might manage to console
ourselves for, and leave to the discretion
OF the constituted authorities of the en-
pire. But the rebels are not content to
stop there. Foreigners and mission
aries are their special d%etestation. Race
prejudice is strong among the ignorant
population of China, as indeed it is
everywhere in the same class. The
carefully tended homes of American
missionaries are in striking contrast
with the wretchedness of their own
surroundings, and with the usual IN
stincts of a mob, they are eager to plum
der and murder those who are better
situated than themselves.
China and Japan are we'll stocked
with American missionaries. In the
single province of Chih-li, there are said
to be no less than tifty-two. Their citi-
zenship entities them to the protection
of this country. Experience ought to
have taught us what to expect from the
government authorities at Picking. They
will express tho %profoundest regrets.
L ey will pay and pay largely for the
m sleeds of their mobs. But resolute
tr :tment of the national sore is a more
h oc course Of action than they could
ev r be expected to be guilty of. We
n d a minister to China, need him es-
p~)5ially at the present time. Blair has
uraWn his salary long enough. Ben
jamin Harrison would show some Wis
dom in attending Immediately TO the in.
forests of u citizens in the fowery
kingdom. The important dickerlnp for
g denomination can stand by for a while
end II the boy cannot be trusted to keen
bis mouth closed for a minute when
fathers back is turned, he had better
DO muZzled this hot weather.