The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-21
WAR In Hi ORIENT
DIR. STANLEY AsCRIBEs THE BLAME
TO CHINA.
Interesting Lecture OF u Returned
Missionary-He Believes China Has
a Wonderful Future.

Rev. DIR. Stanley, a returned Japanese
missionary, pleased a large audience at
the Seventh Presbyterian Church last night
with his talk on the Oriental war. DIR.
Stanley has dwelt long in the Orient and
is familiar with the peculiar character of
the people of both races. He denounced the
Chinese as being treacherous and untrue
TO their promises, and charges the direct
cause of the war to them. He says the
Chinese violation of the treaty of 1884 pre-
cipitated the trouble. From an imaginary
map of China, Japan and the peninsula,
Corea. the speaker pointed out the various
movements of both armies and made clear
his statements.
A spirit of hostility showed itself among
the Chinese forty-two years ago. In 1853
when Commodore Perry, with an American
gunboat, invaded the japanese waters and
opened up the way for American trade
the Chinese nobility looked Upon the
japanese government with scorn. The
Chinese emperor cried "Wojen,' which
means contemplate, and the cry was taken
up by the people. Since then the Chinese
have looked upon their neighbors with con-
tempt. Twelve hundred years ago the old
Empress of Japan herself led a band of
soldiers into Corea and held the peninsula.
From that time until the present Corea
has been the bone of contention between
China and Japan. Twenty-three years ago
the Chinese government instiSated a re-
bellion in Corea, on account of which some
of its subjects were beheaded. Japan asked
China to make restitution, but the govern
ment said, 'Corea is not our country" thus
waving all claim to the little peninsula.
In 1884 the treaty between China and Japan
declaring Corea a free country was made
and signed by the emperors OF botn king
doms. 1t was declared that in case of re-
beliion in Corea neither China nor Japan
G0lltG IN II r. WiThntf TNl nslfJnl IN
the other. China violated the treaty by
causing the King of Corea to SO harass the
people that they arose in a state OF mutiny,
and then attempted to settle the dis
turbance.
DR.. Stanley told how the japanese began
to prepare for this war ten years ago. The
heads of the War Department at Toxic
felt that the struggle was inevitable and
spent nine years mapping out q prospective
campaign. So thorough was the work that
when the Emperor of China made his dec
~laration of war the Japanese were familiar
with every foot of ground in Corea and the
greater part of China. Although Japan
struck the first bow. China was clearly
dissatisfied with the Tartar dynasty and
they lacked the patriotism OF the loyal
soldier spslestno They fyr hated tpssl the the g6 as,ra tdro, that
the insignia of slavery, and the war could
have but one result. On the other hand
the japanese citizens f1ocked to the aid of
the beloved Emperor and rendered their
services as soldiers. Three hundred thou
sand japanese with the war cry, All
" III ~ Otl tAS
emergency and volunteered to go into Corea.
No said the Emperor, eve do not need
you. We have 10000 government troops;
go back to your homes and earn the money
to pay for this war" Besides the brave
~proffersa of the middle class the titled mobiles
of Japan handed over to the Emperor a
vast sum of money and instructed him
to use the money in the further equipment
of his army. Take it without interest
they said and pay it back in forty years.
With such loyalty the land of the rising
sun could not but triumph.
In the opinion of the lecturer the Amer
lean does not understand the Chinese en-
pire. 1t is a slumbering nation that will
be awakened some day by education and q
true religion. The higher class OF Chinese
is not seen here. In his own country the
wealthy Celestial has a beautiful home and
he accords royal treatment to the traveller.
The late Secretary Seward once said that
the greatest diplomat of the world was
Viceroy Ii Hung Chang, the present Prime
Minister of the Chinese empire. IT was this
official who had the yellow coat torn from
his back by the Emperor when the latter
found that the fortunes of war were against
him. 1t was also Ii Hung Chang who after
ward accepted the abjcct apology of the
Emperor and is now in Japan to assist
in a settlement of the strife. DIR. Stanley
says so broad has been the education of
the masses in Japan that 80 per cent. Of
the people are now enlightened.
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