The morning news., 1892-03-26
SAFE ONLY WHEN Isolated.
What Railroads and TeleRraphs
Would Do in China.
From the NeD York Times.

Wnat Railroads and TeleRraphs
Would Do in China.
From the New York Times.
Foo>CHoo. CHINA. Feb. 15.-There is
probably no country in the world where
more hloodshed occurs annually than in the
empire Of China, and the petty wars and in
surrections which are being constantly car
ried on within her borders between the
manda-ins and the people would surprise
western people very greatly were the true
accounts or the number OF lives thus lost
given out. The great lack Of railways and
even ordinary means Of communication be-
tween the various sections of the empire
causes many Instructions TO rise and be
crushed without any news OF the occurrence
ever reaching the outside world. This
serves to the ADVANTAGE of the Chinese gov
ernment, aud TO this advantage may be attri-
outed much OF the conservatism shown by
the officials regarding the introduction of
railways and telegraphs.
The mandarins feel that their hold on the
Chinese people would be greatly weakened,
and probably overthrown, were the differ
ent provinces kept in easy communication
with each other for the entire empire being
in such a general insurrectionary state,
were formidable uprising to occur in any
part it would rapidly spread to other por-
lion were kindled throughout the empire,
and whenever this occurs the fate of the
present line of Manchu line OF emperors is
settled. The mandarins are we'll aware Of
this danger. and so long as they eau pre~
vent the introduction OF railways, tele-
graphs and steamers, and keep the most OF
the population in ignorance, they will
cling to their present conservative policy,
and China will be the ground of numerous
49,
be made TO suffer heavily and without any
prospect Of an uprising In sufficient num-
bers to carry into effect their cherished
hope-of deposiug the present usurping
Manchu dynasty, establishing a line of
Chinese emperors upon the throne, and the
crushing OF the obnoxious rule of the man
darins
During the last year those internal strifes
were probably more frequent than formerly.
Even In this reference is only made to the
coast provinces and those along the Yang
tse river where foreigners are able 20 get
news. What occurs in the interior and
western provinces is hardly ever allowed to
reach the foreign settlements, and 1t is even
doubtful If the government of Pekin hears
OF all OF them-maDy being probably
crushed by the local mandarins aud no re-
ports sent to the central government until
the trouble reaches such Dimensions as to ne
cessitate more force than the local manda-
rims may able to bring against it.
Very often revolts break out among the
peasants against some particularly obnox-
lous mandarin who turns the screw of ex-
tortion beyond endurance, or who may per-
haps sell Justice too bareface1ly to the high
est bidder. On many other occasions
revolts arise from clan or tribe feuds be-
tween marauders occupying lands claimed
by immigrants or native bannermen. Such
teuds. at first OF a purely local nature, in
crease not infrequenrly like an avalanche
by disatfected and adventurous men Joining
on both sides until the troubles often reach
the dimensions Of aformidable rebellion.
This is the perpetual state of affairs
throughout the Chinese empire. Never Is
the country without one or more revots in
progress, and each revolt may be said to
end In the loss of hundreds of lives. When
an insurrection is crushed it Is generally
claimed by the mandarins that all engaged
in it must be beheaded. Thus the number
OF deaths is largely Increased. This method
of government and dealing with disaffection
In China will continue until all the present
system OF mandarin rulership and the Tar
tar, or Manohu. emperor Is deposed aud a
new regime esta olished. This all educated
Chinese recognize, and to 1t may be due all the
present insurrectia mary secret societies wit III
which China is so thoroughly honeycombed
The penalty for critcising or opposing the
mandarins is always beheading, hence the
societies are bound. for self preservation, to
maintain the most absolute secrecy as to
movements, intentions and memberships
The growth of these secret societies has been
almost wonderful, thousands Of new mem-
ders having been enrolled during the past
year, and as yet the mandarians have been
unable in a single instance to find the where
abouts of any lodge or meeting place. Many
supposed nspirators-members OF the
societies-have been captured by the au-
thorities and all sorts of torture resorted to
to extort confessions and thus secure infor-
nation concerning the societies. but each
instance has met with the most signal fall
ure, and to-day the native officials are as
ignorant regarding the intentions of their
secret enemies as ever before.
When the crisis comes and the various
societies rise against the mandarins, the
scope and measure of the insurrection will
probably be the greatest the world has ever
seen. What its bearing upon foreigners
will be is not really known, but it may be
safely presumed that should victory-as is
very probable indeed-perch upon the BAN
ners of toe insurrectionists, the uneducated
masses of Chinese will become fanatics and
will not stop until all foreigners are driven
from the empire or compelled to take refuge
In the treaty ports, where the guns of men
of-war can afford the protection. At pres
ent the internal conditions of Chinese gov
erDment and society may be likened to that
OF smoldering volcano, occasionally giving
out puffs of smoke and only waiting for
some sufficient cause to burst into open and
awful convulsion.