The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-10
OPPORTUNITY IN CHINA.
Great Chances for Foreigners If Vice
roy III Has His Way.

The great subject among Europeans
in Shanghai is the opportunities that
China viii offer should Viceroy Ii
be able TO carry out the projects
that he has had In mind for severai
years. II IS known that for ten years the
viceroy has sent frequent memorials 10
the throne urging the Improvement and
reorganization OF the army and the navy.
the purchase of proper arms tpe engage
ment Of competent foreign officers. the
placing of all the great depart
ments on the same footing as
the customs service with for
eign officer al it's head. the building of
railroads and telegraph lines, and many
other schemes, which. had they been
adopted. would have revolutionized China
and would have made the present war i'm
possible.
In all these schemes the yiceroy was an
tagonized by Wing Tung Ho. the emperor's
tutor who until recently had houndless
influence over his pupil. The viceroy's
memorials were pigeonholed, and II was
only when things came to head. after
the degradation OF the viceroy last year.
tina, Ii was able TO present the facts TO
the emperor and 10 prove that he was not
responsible for the failure OF China in the
war The young emperor then promised
that he would put no obstacle In the way
OF the viceroy. and when the peace fs
ratified and China has arranged to pay the
big indemnity we may expect 10 see the
Old viceroy begin the herculean task OF
furnishing an honest and efficient admin
istration OF the great departments OF the
government.
In this work Ii will be forced 10 call
upon foreigners. and English and Ameri-
cans will he those 10 whom he viii first
turn Sir Robert Hart is the best known
instance Of what an honest and efficient
European may do in administering an i'm
nortant branch Of the public service In an
Oriental country when he is allowed to
have a free hand II is over thirty years
since Hart first took hold of the customs
service Of China. II was then in the
same state OF corrupt inefficiency as a
dozen other departments are nov. He
organized IL on the lines of the English
service. and he insisted 50 strongly upon
honest and careful work that he soon had
his department as we'll conducted as any
in the world. The great opium revenue
would have furnished rich plckings for
corrupt governors. but Sir Robert saw to
II that these peculating Chinese officials
had no chance TO levy on the receipts or
20 Squeeze" an importer Of goods. This
work. Of course was not done without
frequent attempts al interference on the
part Of high Chinese offics as, hut Sir Rob
ert would tolerate no meddling I'm his de-
a
he was able TO turn over to the govern
ment was the best proof OF the value of
his system.
No other foreigner has ever enjoyed the
priviie ges accorded TO Sir Robert Hart
Whenever European adviser has reached
any prominence ne has met the fatal or
position OF the palare coterie. and his
powers have been 50 seriously impaired
that he could DO nothing: and to pre-
serve his self-respect he has been forsd
20 resign This has occurred so often that
men OF genuine ability would have moth
ing % DO With the Chinese service. no mat
ter how large salary was held ont = an
inGucement The proof % this was seen
IN the mere handful ~ foreigners who were
IN the CN'ness service when the war With
Japan broke out.
Mai Won rtauaeoken was n fair Speci-
men 81 the mAn who. through the favor -
some governor ~ A province. had been re-
tanned as foreign advisers. Won Han
recken actually dreamed that he could re-
organize the army in the field and make
q stand against the Japs- He accom-
panied the regiment ~ Chinese recruits
that embarked on the transport Kow-
shins and he was one OF the small body
81 foreign officers mat tried % induce the
Chinese commander - this force TO sur
render II was a 81 ~ luck that Won Han
neckerl's career did not end with the sink
fnE 81 this transport lie had the good
fortune 20 escape the fsts ~ the as1 poor
devils WHO went down With the transport.
and soon after he was heard from again In
Tfeu:sin. urging more new schemes
for tia strengthening ~ China's army
and navy. There 81 10 record that ne ac-
cosnpNShet anything. Last month the
major. evidently sore over his military
and naval rascos was Welded to q Voun-
woman 90 Tientsin. ard gossip says tina.
ne Will take his liberal fortune and return
70 Germany Won HanneCken hal a Sreas
opportunity. but II iS doubtful whether
any one could have made head against the
oproSffton which he encountered HIS
special sIoctate VAS Nj Dafrlnz. an ex-
customs ofscsr, Who Is row serving as
foreign adviser - TIRE governor % Ten
tSsn Dstrlng was selected as Il member
% the first peace commission which China
sent - japan He rad neglected 10 secure
0roper credentials 50 ne and his Chinese
associate returned with greaE Joss -
face YET ~ secured the position %
foreign adviser 20 ire taatai ~ Tleuts.n.
4 -,{ace which must give Sim "A large So
Rrv EN knows he customs business thor
aurhfv ard ~ understands TIE workings
Of the Chinese mind. but ne seems 10 lack
fae, and Judgment, and u - toaotfal
sxhsrarr ne vii re able 20 hep foreigners
IN the Nav ~ conces s3ons-
Several English and American rrornos %
ers have arrived here lately ready 80
-~srs psvRnta~s - any move on the part
~@>AA.s~