Evening star., 1895-06-08

CnlneSe minister through the interpreter
The Chinese have pot had chance to
show what they could do. They had no
transportation facilities, and they cou-i
not move their troops. Speaking of the
ese have for years patterned after us. For
centuries they We're Initiating the Chinese
civilization. They considered US their
superiors Now, if they can learn the arts
CT war in the space, Of less than a genera
ton there is no doubt in my mind but
that the Chinese can, learn them. 1 have
no doubt of our capacity to do anything
equally we'll, if not better, than the Japan
esq.," a r
The Effect of the War on China.
But, your excelleney,' said I. what do
you think will be the effect of this on
China?' a
1T will probably teach us a lesson" was
the reply. "our government has learned
of the wonders of foreign warfare. 1t
will now realize that we must be prepared
to defend ourselves against the other Ha-
tions of the world, and that in time of
peace we must prepare for war There
is no reason why China should not have
stronger defenses than any other nation
on the globe. We have a vast country
nade up OF one people. We have vast re-
sources which are yet undeveloped, and we
have people who are wonderfully indus
trious, and, 1 believe, as brave as any
people on the globe. What we will now
nave to do is to develop our resources.
So that we can bring supplies from one
part of the land to another at moments
notice. We must reorganZe our army and
navy and must have out troops all trained
after modern methods. We must have
ships and new forts, and we must SO in
crease our military strength that we can
ce1end ourselves against any nation or
all nations
The Chinese Army of the Future.
How much of army might China
have If it were properly organzed?"
1t is hard to estimate its wonderful pos
sibilities in this regard" replied the Chinese
minister. There are now more than 4Oo,-
CU.oW of people under government.
We could easily put twice as many men in
the field as could any other nation of the
world. The Chinese army of the future
Will be numbered by millions, and it will be
ably commanded. The Chinese do not lack
ability to organize forces and to carry out
undertakings. We have men full of cour-
age. men endowed with great executive
ability and men who ought to make good
strategic leaders. And, then, our country
is big enough and rich enough to support a
vast army. There is no SOL better than the
Chinese soil. and few countries produce
more in comparison with the area cult-
waited. We have all kinds of food, and We
nave the material resources which will en-
able us to make with our coal and
iron the guns and munitions of war which
We need. We have already number of
large arsenals. There is one in operation
at Shanghai which employs thousands of
hands and which has shown that it can
make guns with Chinese iron. There are
iron mines near Hankow which We expect
TO see developed, and there are arsenals
and gun works in number of the cities
of the empire. Such works will now be
increased. New plartS VII be established
and the condition of China WILL l believe,
in a short time be materially changed as
to her possibilities of self defense
Modern Machinery in China.
Then this war will lead to the introduc-
ton of modern machinery into Chna?"
"Of some kinds yes" replied the minister
1--WE will have to have much new machin-
cry. but i: will be only of certain kinds.
We will need allik.nds of machinery for
making ordn lnce sand munitions of war.
We Will have to have railroad material and
the machinery for ship-bulding. Such ma
chinery is very expensive, and the importa-
tions Will probably cost a large amount of
money. They will be introduced as ne
cessity. AS to ordinary labor-saving ma
| chinery. however I think China VII keep
out as far as possible all which comes into
competition with the trades and the la
bors OF the common people. We have a
vast population and we cannot afford to
take the bread out of our own peoples
mouths. 1t would be hard to make them
understand that such machinery would
eventually be to their benefit. They would
certainly create trouble if it was intro
duced in large, amount at the start / think
you may safely say that the introduc-
ton of ordinary labor saving machinery
as to matters outside of railroads and gun
| works will be SLOW"
China as the Worlds Factory
''Will China ever manufacture for the
whole world?'
81 think so," replied his excellency 1--WE
have as skillful workers as you will find in
the world. There are few things we can
not make, and there is nothing we cannot
copy. We have enormous natural re-
sources. There large deposits of unde-
veoped coal and iron all over the empire
and our country seems to be well fitted for
great factory. Our labor is very cheap,
and our people are glad to work for the
wages they get. They are willing to work
a whole day at time if they get paid for
it, instead of eight hours, and | think the
time Will come when we will go into manu-
featuring. We will some day export goods
in large quantities to foreign countries. We
Will know what the wants of the rest of
the world are, and We will probably be able
to satisfy those wants cheaper than any
/ other people of the world, and quite as well.
| The time when this result will be obtained
| however. will be far distant. Have you
| ever reflected about the Chinese n arket?
| Think of our hundreds of Millions and re-
member that every man. woman and child
| of them has his wants that must be sa It's
| fed The Chinese markets are enormous
and they will be big enough for US to work
| for for years to come. You cannot quickly
| cnanSe Such vast nation as the chinese.
| 1t must move slowly. The export manu-
| featuring trade will hardly come until after
| the railroads. l think, in fact, that it will
| follow them"
How about the development of China,
| your excellency?" 1 asked. "Will the coun-
| try be developed by the Chinese or by out
| siders?"
q think will be able to develop our
| own resources. The Chinese are good busi-
ness people. They are accustomed to the
| handling of capital and labor"
China and America.
What ought We Americans do to in
| crease our trade with China?"
| lone great thing would be the building of
! the Nicaragua canal. This would bring
you closer to the Chinese markets. You
| ought to study the wants of the Chinese
| people and make your goods as cheap as
possible, in order to compete with those
which are sent to us from Europe
Are the Chinese friendly to Americans"
| There is doubt about that" replied
| the minister. Both the Chinese govern
| ment and the Chinese people are friendly to
| the United States. They think that the
| Americans sincere and just, and they