The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-26
THE GERMANS IN CHINA
MISSIONARY KILLIE SAYS THEY ARE
WELCOMED BY THE NATIVES.
He Describes the Great Bribery Gus
tom Which Prevails in All
Official Circles.

| To anyone who may be interested in the
study of the true condition of China and
| the Chinese, rich fund of practical knowl-
| edge is offered by Rev. Charles A. KiIie, a
| former resident of Indianapolis, who has
been engaged, since 1889, in the Presbyterian
mission work in that country Mr. Killie
| is at home on his first vacation, and while
| hunting up old friends in Indianapolis gave
few facts connected with his work Mr..
! killie has labored in the province of Shan
| tung, which is contiguous to Kiao-C Chow,
the present scene of German controversy
With regard to the latter, Mr.. Killie
states that while the Germans have not a
single excuse to urge in extenuation of their
act OF seizure, yet their presence is warmly
welcomed by the natives and will be of in
calculable benefit to the country and popu-
lation. The main evil that it will eradicate
will be that of corrupt government caused
by the universal custom of official bribery
Bribery has a hold on China, according to
Mr.. Killie, which cannot be shaken off ex-
cept by foreign rule. AS an example of it's
workings, Mr.. Killie described an interview
which he held with a district governor who
was passing through the province in which
the mission is located on his way to the
seat of the late war with Japan. In speak
ing of America, the official said: I'm your
country public officer can be honest if he
wants to-" YES" said Mr.. Killie, "but 1
presume that he can do the same thing any
where. Whereupon the Chinaman gravely
shook his head. and said, simply, mot in
China" Continuing, he said: How much
do you think receive as salary ?"-the man
held the rank of almost a king. Mr.. Klie
evaded a direct answer II get one thou
sand ounces of silver a year" about $780,
This was not enough to pay the, expenses
a no hpVx ~
nearer by adding, land l pay the minister
ten thousand ounces of silver $4,000 year
shame he at once illustrated to Mr. KiIlie
the fact that in order to exist he must
squeeze those beneath him.
AS matter of law the land tax known in
this country by agitation as the single tax
is the only legal tax. Custom however by
bribe-enslaved officials, has placed a tax on
action involving the sale of a peck of grain
cannot be conSummated without the parties
appease the money-grabbing officials. The
wage scale for skilled labor, as laid down
by Mr.. Killie'S experience, is a revela-
ton. When the mission buildings were
erected $50 skilled masons, carpenters and
other tradesmen were employed for five
months, and the average wage earned was
cents a day, and applicants for enc hun
dred miles around fought Tor the places.
Extreme poverty seems to be the character
istic condition Of the entire people, with
few notable exceptions. Private tutors take
edge impaired is the same practically as
that Of the period preceding the Christian
era. On the Chinese maps of the world
China is portrayed as representing nine
tenths of the world, and few colored spots
of minute proportion denote the existence
around the edges of their empire of Eng
land France Russia, America, ETC.
One piece of information impaired by Mr..
Killie will be of considerable interest to
Americans generally, and that is that the
Chinese now in this country are not as a
matter of fact, Chinese at ALL but Canton
csc, who do not even speak the language
of the empire. In manners, customs, dress
and features they are altogether dissinilar
to the speakers of the Mandarin" an
guage, as it is called. In this tongue is
written all the literature of the county. |
The Cantonese do not represent the Gu |
ture or literary taste, such as it is, of Chin, |
and are considered as inferior by their mas |
ters the true Chinese. Milk and butter ar |
unknown as articles of diet and potatoes
have never been heard of. Cows are worked
as horses are until old age or disease makes
it necessary to convert them into q leath-
cry substance which passes for meat. Rice
is commonly supposed to constitute the
principal diet, but Mr.. Killie says that this
is a mistake, as rice in some portions of
China is very expensive. Beans, however
the plain Boston variety-are found all over
the country and are in reality the universal
food of the masses.