The herald., 1894-11-07

| China is already 80 serious as to bring
within sight the probability OF COM
plete break up OF the empire. The
Japanese, who have ascertaincd. calcu-
lated, and preconcerted every detail OF
their long meditatsd blow with a FORE
thought and nicely worthy OF all ad-
miration, seem to have been aware that
on the very first impact from without,
the internal decay of China and its want
OF national cohesion would result in
collapse. Preparatory to the war they
had organized a perfect system Of eapion.
age; they have in their pay numbers OF
influential mapdarns; they have ar
ranged tor risings in the provinces. and
they speak confidently OF the overthrow
of the reigning alien dynasty and Of the
disruption OF the Celestial Empire into
three separate states.
Far from this being an improbabl
contingency, it should be viswed as q
likely outcome of the present struggle.
Its immediate effect would be to add
immeasurably to the prestige and power
OF Japan and to alter radically the status
of the European powers now established
in Asia. Japan would strive, in such
circumstances. to reconcile and compen-
Hate Russia for her annexation of Corea.
The annexation would be rendered lesa
unpalatable if cloaked under the guise
of an occupation for organizing and ad-
ministering purposes, alter the manner
of the English occupation of Egypt; in
fact, the Japs have already intimated.
with characteristic readiness, that Egypt
would be their model in dealing with
Corea. Russia is anxious to move her
Asiatic from tier south into Manchuria and
lay the great Siberia railway in a much
more southerly direction than is now
traced out; and a port somewhere in the
Bay of Corea might suit her purposes
better than Port Lazaref. France
would also find advantage in extending
northwGrd OF Tonkin and Anam at the
expense OF China. England is the
only power which would contemplate
the disruption of China with concern and
alarm. Its dismem berment would create
new order OF things in which her par.
amount position in Asia would dsap-
pear. The huge buffer state that now
interpoaes between England and her
chief Aeiatic rival, and which may bs
used, in given circumstances, against
that rival, would 90 to enlarge the pos.
sessions OF France and Russia. And
the inspired German press has already
declared that it will be the duty of
Germany as "world power" to eecure
q compensation for any increase Of ter
ritory which may accrue to any one else
consequent upon events in the east.
Such scramble for the pieces of
broken China would be fraught with far
greater dangers than the scramble for
Africa; for the continuance Of the armed
peace among European powers depends
upon the maintenance OF the status quo
not only in Europe. but at all points
where their interests touch.
The convincing force of these consid-
erations and deductions could have es-
capped the attention OF no intelligent
student of politics. And no one &C.
quainted with the traditions OF English
policy would have had any doubt as to
the real business for which the cabinet
council OF the 4th of October was con.
vened so urgently and 60 hurriedly.
Your correspondent had 60 hesitation
in affirming, on that very day, that the
alleged consideration o! measures for the
protection OF Europeans in China wss
too grotesque to serve as O blind. On
occasions of greater moment the foreign
Office and the admiralty ordered, with
out the sanction OF cabinet council,
the movement. not of a couple OF ships,
but OF entire squadrons. The very allie
sstion .: exceptional DANCE: Of Easo.