Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-01-23


Then, said Gordon. won had bet.
ter negotiate a peace This advice
was followed, and there was no war
with Russia.
But while all this is true, it does
not follow that Japan. with her better
military organization, will find the
road to Pekin as easy a one to travel as
that which he is now pursuing. Re-
cent dispatches state that they propose
to attack Tien-Tsin. This city is really
ON the road to Pekin, and only about
eighty miles distant. But it is
situated some miles up a shallow river,
the mouth of which is guarded by forts
which have been termed the strongest
in the world, and which the British
were unable 70 pass. They are mounted
with Krupp guns, and would prove q
very formidable obstacle to the Japan
ese fleets. Should tho japanese at
empt an advance on Pekin after max.
ing landing at some other point on
the coast they would find themselves
confronted with the flower of the
Chinese army.
Japan has been anticipating this
war for long time past. She has her
spies everywhere in China. and the
Chinese know this. If China should
march her best slodiers around the
Gulf of Pe-Chee-Lee to meet the Japan
ese in the frontier region, which they
have hitherto made the theater Of their
operations, the Japanese could land
force lower down the coast and make
an advance upon Pekin almost unop-
posed. That is why China has not
massed her best fighting material at the
seat of war.
II am not at all surprised that the
war has resulted as it has. thus far. I
anticipated that the Japanese would be
successful at the start The wretched
organization of tho Chinese army rem.
dered this inevitable.
"But believe that if Japan pushes
her efforts too far she will have harder
fighting to do on the road to Pekin than
she has yet done. do not expect her.
however. to do this. ] think the war
will end with the establishment Of a
Japanese protectorate over Corea and
the payment by China of an indemnity.
Much has been said of the lack Of
patriotism among the Chinese. This
is only statement of partial truth.
The past history of the country proves
that the people are capable of the
Hottest patriotism. When the Man.
choos conquered the country in 1914,
when international dissensions had laid
it open to attack, the most heroic valor
was displayed.
"rhe present foreign, or Tartar,
dynasty is not beloved of the people.
They regard it very much as the natives
of India regard their British sovereigns.
They are conquered people. Their
attitude toward the government is,
however. a peculiar one. The fatalistic
element in their character comes into
play here. Every Emperor of the Tar
tar dynasty has emphasized the fact
that the rules by the will Of heaven,
and that the preceding dynasty was so
bad that heaven decreed it's overthrow
"The Chinese believe that the Tartar
yoke has been imposed upon them as
punishment for their sins. With char.
acteristio submissiveness to what can.
not be escaped, the Chinese accept their
rulers as a matter of necessity and
without enthusiasm. 1t is scarcely
oumstances, that in fighting their bat.
ties the loyalty of the people should rise
above lukewarm temperature. But
from what know of them, I believe
that if prince of their own race were
on the throne to-day. their ancient
patriotism would revive and be as
ardent as it ever was in the past.
The stories told of Chinese warfare
of banners hung upon the walls with
hideous dragons painted upon them,
are true in measure. But it would be
ridiculous to suppose that intelligent
Cinnamon attach any importance to
such devices. This is simply the form
which superstition takes in that coun-
try. Among the most enlightened
people. leaders and governors Lave not
been above employing correspondingly
effective methods of operating upon
ignorant and superstitious minds.
Taken all in all, the present
dynasty is really superior to the one
which it displaced. The chief cause
which led to the fall of its predecessor
was the intrigues of the palace cham
berlains and the influence of favorites.
The present dynasty has vigorously
suppressed the power of these chamber
lains and avoided the mistakes Of its
predecessors. There have been several
formidable revoits against them, but
all have failed.
"This result has largely been brought
about by the sagacity Of the Emperor
in attaching to their interest what is
known as the literary class This class
embraces all the officials, civil and
military, in the empire. Every official
has to pass an examination before he Is
appointed to place. In every village
at least two or three of these men can
be found. Whenever villager has an
important letter to be written, he re.