Evening star., 1895-09-21

Hls dOVlcS III regard TO improvements IN
Chinese educational methods, transporta-
tion facilities and other reforms proposed.
He is sanguine in the belief that China is
now thoroughly aroused from Its long
slumber and is certain to plant itself in the
position among the nations Of the earth to
which 1t is entitled by its immense popula-
ton and vast area.
Drawbacks to Chinese Reform.
Yung Wing IL an intelligent and well-in-
formed observer, and his opinions in regard
to China are entitled to special weight, but
I am not confident that there will be any
speedy or thorough change for the better
there. It will be q long process to educate
the Chinese to progressive ideas through q
public school system, and even to get the
system adopted.
It will be a formidable task, the work Of
time to build up patriotic public spirit, to
unite the nineteen discordant provinces of
China into a common country. having any
unity Of feeling or patriotic national senti-
ment. At present this loose aggregation Of
sections that we call China has no more
unity than the warning states of South
America. There Ia where the difference
was between the Chinese and the Japanese
In the late war. Everybody in Japan came to
the support Of the flag. and the stay-at-
homes We'd with those at the front in MAX
Ing the war success. Red Cross societies
and relief associations were promptly es-
tablished, and organizations of trades, pro-
fefsions, laboring men and every class of
citizens were formed to raise money and
supplies for the prosecution of the war.
The Clog of Superstition.
Then there will be the almost hopeless
task Of converting the Chinese from their
almost Incredible superstiuons. Their su-
perstitions are not confined to the ignorant,
but pervade all classes. The great VICE
roy. Ii Hung Chang, who ranks as the
ablest and most intelligent and most pro-
gressive of Chinese statesmen, is as su-
perstitious as the lowest coolie. When he
was shot in Japan while negotiating the
treaty he would not permit surgical treat
ment Of the wound, but sent home and
brought over a Chinese con1uror doctor
to charm the bullet out of his head. The
superstitions Of Chinese medical practice
forbid all surgical operations or post-mor-
tenn examinations, and their doctors know
nothing, therefore, of physiology or anat-
omy. On the viceroy's trip over he was
terribly frightened by the sight of some
whales and thought it was an omen of
danger to China, and when bis great iron
mill Cat Wuchang) was opened he had
sacrif1cial ceremonies performed before the
various workshops to protect them from
the Evil Influences" The fear Of the Evil
Influences" and the solicitude to ward Off
their malign operations is at the bottom of
much Of the conservative opposition to
railroads and various forms of improve
ment
1t causes opposition to the erection Of
high buildings or tall structures of any
kind as interfering with the flow of be-
nign influences, STYLED the Fepg-Shu., and
causing the evil influences to stagnate in
one locality. This caused great objection
by the Cantonese to the erection of the tall
spire Of the Catholic cathedral in Canton,
and by the Chinese in Victoria, Hong
Kong, to the railway up the Peak
Russia Will Have a Big Finger in the
Pie.
1t is not likely that there will be any
formal partition Of China, but the hungry
European powers will all be making in
roads upon her. Foremost will be Russia,
who has China under her thumb through
lending her money, and will most certainly
get the right Of transit and the possession
of a winter seaport as the terminus of
the Trans-Siberian railroad.
Russia will also very likely secure con-
cessions for railroad building in Northern
China, and then England will come in and
demand like concessions in the way Of a
port In Northern China and for building
railroads in Southern China; especially the
much-coveted charter for line from Hong
Kong to Canton.
France will also demand a slice of the
pork, and other countries will not be BASH
full in putting in for a share. In return,
the European powers will probably sustain
the present dynasty of China in power; for
they will all want, in their common inter-
ests, to prevent China from falling into
anarchy.
America in the East.
What part is America to play in the
future of Japan and China?
1t ought to take very important part
If our people and government would only
wake up to the Importance of extending
our trade and influence in the East on the
borders of the Pacific. which is our right
full field of commerce. But SO long as we
pursue out present abject humiliating policy
of crippling American interests in the Pa
cifc, instead of helping them. as we have
done notably in Hawaii and Samoa there
is not much to be hoped for.
About all the part we are likely to take
in the Pacific is to play second fiddle to
England as we have done at Hawaii. 1 see
that a London paper commenting upon the
report that an American has been given
the exclusive right to land a submarine
cable at Honolulu says the other powers
must interfere to prevent this monopoly
by the United States, and demands that
the British government should make i'm
mediate representations on the subject at
Washington
OF course, our administration will hasten
to apologize and to assure its great and
good friend, John Bull, that it has never had
the slightest intention of helping to extend
American interests In any part of the world,
least of all in Hawaii, which 1t recognizes as
English territory.
1t Is to be hoped, however. that we shall
make stand somewhere, and that the de-
mand of England that she shall have a
dominating voice in the Nicaragua canal,
even If we build 1t, will not be allowed to
stop the construction of that work. A visit
to Japan shows the immense Importance of
that canal to American commerce. For in
stance, Japan uses q large amount of Amer
lean cotton-$16. 100000 worth or more an
nually-but it is all or nearly all bought from
English brokers and goes all the way round
by the Suez canal to Yokohama; whereby