The Portland daily press., 1896-04-02
THE FAR EASTERN QUESTION:.
dustriaI.
(Lafoadio Hearn in Atlantic Monthly. }

| tLa1caalo dearn IN Atlantlc Monthly.
| The far Eastern question of most i'm
portance was first offered for English
sociological consideration in DIR. Pear
sons wonderful volume, National Life
and Character % published about three
years ago. While reading q number of
criticisms upon it, I was struck by the
fact that majority of the reviewers had
failed to notice the most important por-
tions of the argument, The rude shock
given by the book TO the Western pride of
race, to the English sense of stability in
especial, to that absolute self confidence
which constantly impels us to the exten
sion of territory. the creation of new
colonies, the development of new re-
| sources reached By force, without any
suspicion that all this ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
may bring its own penalty, provoked a
state of mind unfavorable to impartial
reflection. The idea that the white races
and their civilization might perish, in
competition with race and a civiliza-
zion long regarded as semi-barbarous,
needed IN England some philosophical
patience to examine. Abroad the con-
ditions were otherwise. Far seeing men,
who had passed this better part OF their
| lives in China, found nothing atrocious
in DR.. Pearson's book. 1t only expressed,
with uncommon vigor and breadth of
argument, ideas which their own long
experience in the far East had slo WY
forced upon them. But of such ideas, it
| was the one that most impressed the
Englishman in China. A partial reason
may have been that DR.. Pearson's argu
ments in 1898 appeared to deal with con-
tingencies incalcula bly, remote. But
what seemed extremely remote in 1898
has ceased 10 seem remote since the VIC
tories of Japan. The fate of China as
an empire can scarcely now be called a
matter Of doubt, although the methods
| by which it is to be decided Will con-
tinue to afford food for political specu-
| lation. China must pass under the dom
ination OF Western civilization; and this
simple fact will create the danger to
which DR.. Pearson called attention.
1t is true that the author of National
Life and Character did consider the
possibility Of military awakening of
China; but he also expressed his belief
that it was the least likely of events,
and could hardly be brought about ex-
| cept through the prior conversion Of all
China to the warrlor-creed of Islam. Re-
cont events have proved the soundness
of this belief; for the war exposed con-
|
worse than had ever been imagined g.
condition which could not fail to para
| lyze any attempt to rouse the race out of
| lethargy. With the close of the oam-
paign the world felt convinced that no
military regeneration of China was pos
sible under the present dynasty. Spas
modic attempts at revolution followed
| bat some of these exhausted themselves
in the murder of few foreign missiona-
ries and in foolish attacks upon mission
stations, with the usual onkeQuences of
Christian retaliation, executions and
big indemnities; and other uprisings,
even in the Mohammedan districts, have
/ failed to accomplish anything beyond To-
cal disorder. Nothing like a general
revolution now appears possible. With
out it the reigning dynasty cannot be
overthrown except by foreign power; and
under that dynasty there is not even the
ghost of chance for military reforms.
Indeed, 1t is doubtful if the Western
Powers would now permit China to
make herself as strong as she was i'm
agined TO be- only two years ago. In
her present state she will have to obey
those powers. She will have to su bIpit
to their discipline within her own Dor.
ders, but not to such discipline as would
enable her to create formidable armies
Nevertheless 1t is just that kind OF dis
cipline which she will have to learn thai
is most likely to make her dangerous
The future danger from China will be
industrial, and will begin with the time
that she passes under accidental domino
| ton.