The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-05-02
THE HOPES OF CHINA.
PLAN FOR GENERAL RECoNSTRUCT.
ION ARE PLAINLY OUTLINED.
IChines e Mail, Hong Kong1.


Very shortly after war between
China and Japan was precipitated
through the over-reaching policy of the
Chinese rulers on the one hand and the
over anxiety of the japanese to prevent
the landing of Chinese soldiers on
Corean soil on the otlrer it was the
generally expressed opinion amongst
Europeans resident in the East that a
series of defeats to Chinese arms woUlr
have the result of endangering
the Mar chu dynasty. a dis
credited dynasty. defeated gen
erals, and disgraced fighting
men. These were anticipated to lower
the prestige of the governing authors
ties IN the eyes of the multitudes of
Chinese people, to whom mandarin rule
at the present time is typical of all that
is iniquitous, oppressive, and corrupt.
For low at the Chinese are in the scale
of social morality and culture, taking
them las concrete race. they must have
some degree OF natural instinct of
right and wrong which from time to
time stirs them up to spasmodic out
bursts of protesting revolt. For
eminent. the training of the
Chinese for centuries has had deaden
ing etft ct upon the men al life of the
masses of the people: there is "A lament
able lack of that spontaneity of action,
of that intellectual vigour which ena blrs
races like men to rise on the stepping
stones of dead selves to higher things.
Like all peoples who have just ground
for dissatisfaction with the existing order
of things, the Chinese have resorted to
secret societies in the hope of ameliorat-
ing their condition. but the difficulty of
obtaining homogeneous and stimuli
taneous rising has all along thwarted
any and every demonstration in the
cause of liberty and reform. 1t is a
d,fllCut task to instill spirit of patr.
otto enthusiasm into the vast hordes OF
inert Chinese humanity, spread over
an extent of territory SO large as the
Chinese Empire, The country does not
lend itself to recolution. The secret
society organization is generally too
weak for the object of its t unders and
supporters. The provincial govern
ments are able to quash rebellion before
it emerges from the incipient stages of
incubation. For these reasons we do
not think the ruling dynasty Is in dam
diCted. If revolution is to be effected
it must either he the spontaneous act of
the present rulers. or il must be the out.
come of an enlightened conception of a
higher ideal of government spread
through the masses of the people.
OF late. a good deal has been written
of the probability of a rising headed by
the members of the powerful orgapisa-
ton known as the Kulao Hui. In the
Gcngtse Valley, it is reported that
symptoms of revolt have been detected.
and the authorities have sent armed
vessels along the waterways to be ready
! for the anticipated rising. We are in IA
position to state that the author tiles
have good reason 10 fear popular ris-
ing, but it Is from quite an unexpected
quarter. When the rising does come il
will be on the part of large section OF
the population III the Provinces to the
south of the Gangtse. although it may
include the people OF that locality
| Quietly, unOstcutatiously, cautiously,
The inhabitants of South China have
been fairly well organised. and all that
is needed to kindle the flame of popular
revolt is "A leader of outstanding merit,
a man of nigh principle and fearless
spirit, VINO is prepared to march at the
head of the Party of Reform and to lead
I it, if need be, against the disorganised
soldiers of the Empire, even to the gates
of Peking itself. We have every reason
to believe that had not Japan been SD
precipitate she might have had
the Peiyang Squadron handed over to
her without Il blow being struck, with
out precious life being lost and with.
out the delay attendant on the assault
and capture of Port Arthur and ", ihai-
wei Again, had it not been for the
advice of the chief organiser, the men
in the Yangtse Valley would have been
in open revolt several weeks ago; but
the party in the south was not borough
ly organised, neither WAS it sufficiently
we'll equipped, and the midland men
were persuaded to refrain for the
time being from taking active
measures against the Manchus.
This we further know. 1t is the inten-
ion of the revoutiunists who be
long to no Sc, ret society and are banded
together for he sole purpose of reform
ing the government OF the country, To
effect coup detdt by peaceful means
if possible. What they desire IN their
way although it Sc. ms impossible to
realise any such feeling amongst ody
OF Cinnamon, is a constitutional uphea
val. tn rid their country of the iniQultuuS
system of bnrea ucratic misrule which
has shut out China from Western
influences, Western trade and
Western civilization. We do not sup
pose for moment that the whole
labouring classes understand in the full
est sence the intention of their leaders.
All they do know is that under the pre-
sent sy stem they have no security OF life
Loo. Inf nj
prise are stified by the petty mandarins.
Aspirations for personal enrichment are
blasted by vampire ike administration
which is sucking the life bl ood of the
people. There is nothing to induce
men or women to raise themselves to q
higher plane of existence. They are
born ana reared in an atmosphere OF
legalised robbery and degrading sub
lection; what the. effect is upon the
Chinese character the world at large il
beginning to realize.
China wants reform. The Picking
muddlement, the repeated exposures oI
population in high places indicate where
reform is most needed. The reformerj
have a good'c The Foreign Power
ought TO welcome this internal move
ment in favor OF IA radical change in tn,
government of the country. 1t is posi-
sible, aud we will even go further AM
say it is highly probable, that there vii
be "a disorganisation temporarily O
} foreign trade, with all the horror
r inseparable from civil war, but wilhou
9 this preface of disorder there Is httl
hope for recognised and orderl
. China, where laws will be fairly admin
istered to rich and poor alike, wher
officials will have to live upon thei
salaries and not prey upon the people
where the Central Government wi
seek first of all the betterment of tn
masses and the opening up of the En-
pire to the advantages of internatiOut