The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-07
Why China Has Fallei.

A lecture was delivered the other day
at the Imperial Institute, l4oudou, Nulch
placed I'm a very clear light the causes
of Chna's disasters In the present war
In The course OF his address the lecturer,
Professor X. *. Douglas, said mat al
FIRST the odds seemed 50 vastly III favor
OF the larger empice that people were
inclined to concllrie thdL Japan Hlusl
inevitably be crushed under the heel ol
the big battalions Of China. But TO those
VINO we're acquainted with the character
istcs OF the two peoples ana Inc nature
of the Governments, when .ule tHeIh II
pIeared equally certain that, as Punch
had depicted the giant was destined 10
Taii before the sword of the Japanese
giant killer. The collapse had been com
plete but il was not without parallel
Whenever China had met foeman
worthy OF battle she had lnVariaply
adopted the same ruSeS, ana hdu ulu-
mately yielded, as she was no" dolhs
before the battalions OF Japan. In the
war Of 1910 and again in 1860 the same
course was pursued. In both campaigns
the same buster was at trst assumed
ana the same surrender was made on
the first display OF 1oree
AS II was then so II Is now. There
was no power of resisting formidable
enemy in the huge, unWieldy Empire Oh
China Her strength was TO remain
still and TO impose on the nations pY
pretens!ons 10 power which she did not
possess. When she was 1eriously at
tackled her fiIst object was TO make peace
before her nakedness was exposed ana
before her public reputation was burst.
and if, as happened IN Islo ana was
going to happen now, the enemy struck
down her last stronghold, she would agree
to every demand put upon her III ire
hope that as years went by a PASSIVE
resistance would enable her TO minimize
the conditions of the treaty, when stress
of circumstances had compelled her -
sign, seal and deliver
i;le Chinese were not fighting race,
as recent events have demonstrated u
They were a nation of shopkeepers, ana
IL ever they overran the old world. as
some people were inclined 10 think they
wouI., il would not be the result OF war
Ike aggression, but by the more peace
ful process OF commerce.
War they looked upon as rude pur-
suit and fit only TO be followed by men
of low culture. II was tnoroughly 'Hdl
acteristic of the race that the heroes
in their novels were not those VINO won
renown on the field of battle. BUT those
who gained the highest degrees IN the ex-
animation halls The result OF that con
tempt for the profession OF arms acted
very detrimentaliy on the army. \ eali-
who were most looked up TO in nation
WAS sure 10 be badly served by us fol-
lowers. and at the present day the nlgner
ranks of military officers We're, as rule,
careless Ignorant. incompetent and cor
rupt IL was no uncommon thing at a
held-day to see the commanding Of
fcers slipping tea and tanning them
selves in marquee on the ground, while
their troops went through such eVolu-
lions as they were capable OF.
Another cause Of the complete break
down of the Chinese army was TO be
found In the corrupt system OF Govern
ment which prevailed. one marked dis
advantage OF the Isolated life led by the
Emperor was that it made II impossible
for his subjects 10 feel any personal
loyalty toward him No one could feel
enthusiasm for a being VINO was never
seen and whose power was mainly mani
fest.d. so far as the people were con
cerned by the infection OF the Brayest
punisnments. Another feature when
added indelible disgrace 10 the Chinese
administration was the intense cruelty
which was practiced on al sides. IL
was devoutly to be hoped that neither
our own nor any other Government would
Interfere at the present moment. 1 ne
time was not ripe for friendly overtures
The Japanese were In the full tide OF
conquest. and would naturally ana r!ght-
~ treat with scant courtesy an atleiipt
from the outside to rob her OF lhe
fruits of her victories. When the proper
time came, when China was brousht 70
ner knees, the European powers niiSht
intervene wisely and effectively; but I'M
til then any meddl!ng power couid only
be doomed TO discontinue.