The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-08-05
CHINA AND JAPAN.

CHINA AND JAPAN.
favor of a peaceful settlement of the
Corean dispute, says the New York
Tribune, they appear to have failed to
effect their purpose. For fortnight
the trend Of affairs has been directly
toward war. The recent fighting al
Seoul made 1t well-nigh inevitable, es-
pecially since the attack on the Japan
ese was said to be instigated by the
Chinese Resident; and the sinking of a
Chinese transport by a Japanese gum
boat made much further in the same
direction. And now we have the an
nouncement that war has actually be-
gun. 1t is a war that must be re-
garded with regret, and into which the
combatants are surely not entering with
eagerness. Neither China nor Japan
really wants to fight: Corea certainly
does not; and England, France and
Russia, all deeply interested in the case,
can scarcely be supposed to desire a
war which may extend into their own
European circle.
Specializing upon the probable result
of the war, supposing China and Japan
to be left to fight 1t out between them
selves, is naturally rife: and the most
common estimate seems to be that Chi
ma has the advantage chiefly on her
side. And at first sight the chances Of
pvictory do appear to be decidedly in
China's favor. Her population Is eight
or ten times as great as that Of Japan,
and she can therefore put q vastly
larger army In the field. Her territory
Is Immediately contiguous to that OF
Corea, so that she can send troops
thither by both land and sen, while
Japan must send all hers by sea, The
navies Of the two powers are not great
" unequal In strength, but the coasts
and ports OF Japan are considerably
more vulnerable than those of China.
The latter country therefore, has in
rthese material particulars a decided ad-
vantage over its antagonist.
A more important factor, however.
than mere numbers Of position is that
touched upon by an intelligent China
man long resident in this country, when
he said "The Japanese are the real
Chinese. They represent the best ele-
ments Of the Mongol race" His words
were entirely true Not only are the
Japanese the best OF the Mongols but
they are close rivals of the best OF the
Caucasians, The progress they have
made during the past generation has
never been paralleled by any nation in
~ Sh~tt q pSiiou. III tuuNdbOib inVuS- /
tries, liberal government, and indeed,
oil the elements of civilization. Japan
is to be ranked with America and the
nations OF Western Europe. rather than
with Aslatic countries. And such quail
tiles tell In war as wen as In peace
The arscnals, foundries, and shipyards
Of Japan are comparable with the best
in the world. The organization and dis
lclpline Of her army are far superior to
those Of the Chinese, And In pluck.
persistent valor, and patriotic spirit.
there Is no comparison between the two.
The true Chinese were, perhaps. many
generations ago, the equals of the Jap-
anese. But they have long been over
borne and crushed BY the Mantchoorian
ghrtass who are now the dominant eles
iaeat n ne empire and who cOntrolI
Its destinles. The true Chinese made
one tremendous attempt to reassertl
shemselves N the Tsiplng Rebellion.
and bat for foreign intervention would
probably have succeeded; bnt they were
beaten. ana have since had little partl
IN public affairs The ruling classes In
China. then. represent the worst ele-
meats Of the MongOl race. as the Japan
ese DO sAo bsst. and those slsmsassl