The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1895-10-12
THE YELLOW WAR.
Facts About the Struggle Waoin9
Between China and Japan.
Enthusiasm Of tho Japanese for Battle
and Ignorance OF the ChIneAo Con-
oerninE Its Progress-Prob-
able After E6eCta.

The American board of foreign mis-.
sions representing the Congregational
church, has secured the opinion of
Rev. Henry Blodgett, D. D., Of Pekin,
who has spent forty years IN the serv-
ice of the board and thirty years in
Pekin, and who is now in this country.
DR.. Blodgett has responded to the re-
quest of the board as follows:
Among the common people of China
little is known regarding the causes of
the war or the facts occurring in its
progress, and the widest and most alb
surd rumors are af1oat. In Japan every
thing is published, and their cities and
towns are illuminated at every victory
over the Chinese. In consequence,
partly, of this, the most intense enthusi-
asm for the war prevails, even the boys
and girls in their schools practicing
military drill. On to Pekin' was the
cry everywhere as we passed through
the country. The treaty powers desire
peace and will use their influence
to secure it. China is ready for
peace, even on humilitating terms.
Japan may consent to give up
the march on Pel5in and grant terms
of peace such as can be accepted. Yet
these terms may be somewhat difficult
70. find. They involve the interests of
European powers, AS well as those OF
China and Japan. The great Siberian
railway will be finished in few years.
win Russia be satisfied to have Vladivo-
stock, port which is closed by ice four
months each year, as the terminus of
this railway ON the seaboard? VIII she
not wish for her transcontinental rail-
way port farther south which is open
all the year; that is to say, port of
Korea. But such port would make
Russia a leading power on the eastern
borders Of China and in the Pacific
ocean. VIII England consent to such
IN arrangement? VIII France and Ger
many consent? VIII China and Japan
consent? The only solution seems to be
to give autonomy to the nation guaran-
teed by all the powers. AS for For
mosa, Great Britain and France would
both oppose the cession OF that island
to Japan. It is a matter Of course that
heavy war indemnity should be sought
be compelled to agree. 1t is not i'm
probable that close commercial and
political relations. will spring up be-
tween China and Japan. For the most
part missionaries have remained in
their places. In Pekin and elsewhere
work is carried forward without OBJ
struction. Thus far the mission
aries of the seven stations of the Amer
lean board in North China have
continued at their posts and engaged
in their usual labors. Without doubt
rulers and people will be greatly hui
inflated. With the common people the
matter viii end here. They leave
national interests to the government.
The government. the literary classes.
and the business men Of China have
been taught grand object lesson on the
futility Of their old methods and the
necessity Of adopting the new. In No
vember the writer in passing through
the city of Osaka was permitted to visit
forty-nine wounded Chinese prisoners.
They were ouartered in the largest
temple in Osaka. They were furnished
with sufficient bedding and abundant
food. The best medical and surgical
aid was afforded them, the surgeon in
charge having received his medical
education in Berlin. They seemed
cheerful and thoughtful. When we re-
member that early in the war Chinese
governor offered one hundred and
fourteen dollars for the head of a
Japanese private and double that
amount for the head of an officer, such
treatment of Chinese prisoners by the
japanese is the more remarkable. Nor
is it greatly to be wondered at if in q
single instance at Port Arthur the
cruelties of the Chinese provoked re-
ta1iatiOn" I"