The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-09-08
BY "NEMo.n

AAAHA DFNANfH ~ ANA AlttN = lAN WI
the Chinese Empire is that it is
divided into eighteen huge prov
inceS which are not possessed OF
any sense of national unity and
therefore cannot he expected to
present a united front against
outside interference. Further
more these provinces are 80 re-
mote from one another and the
means of communication SO de
fectiye that it is safe to assume
many millions of the Chinese
scarcely Yet know that there has
been war with Japan and Ger
tainly do not understand all its
consequences.
Some one has wisely remarked
that when great fortunes were
made at war. war was business,
but now that great fortunes are
made at business. business is war.
The fact that Germany. England.
America and France. in minor
degree, are great commercial ma
tons, producing more than they
can consume, is reason enough
for their anxiety to create new
needs among four hundred mil.
lion of people and then to cater
to them. Russia also though not
Vet supplying all the necessities
OF her own hordeS. some still
little better than savages. is wise
enough to perceive the value of
an unbroken territory from west
to east with ocean outlets at both
extremes and she, therefore. is
vastly interested in the northern
portion of China and has already
gained control OF an ice free port
as the Pacific terminus of her ST
berian railroad. The completion
OF that Siberian railroad WILL
mean the very rapid settlement
and development of the better
portions of Siberia, land that
Is 10y no means one of snow and
Ice as we have hitherto inferred
from our old biographies.
The lack of unity in the Chi
nese Empire, the lack of progress
III modern methods, and the lack
of the strength that comes from a
knowledge of unity have permit
ted since little Japan demonStrat.
ed the weakness of her hulking
adversary in 1895, some very
sharp practices, particularly on
the part of Germany. On two
occasions already, because of as
saultS on missionaries. she has
taken violent possession of pieces
OF territory on the sea coast as
compensation for the death and
the losses inflicted upon these
"SoldierS of the croSS.r France
also has picked some very unwor-
thy quarrels in the south and has
not been above aSSociating her.
self with pirates and rebels in or
der TO make her hold more strong
III Cochin China and in Siam. a
formal tributary of China. Eng.
land and Russia have proceeded
with a far greater show of decency
in their diplomacy; the former
being for a while the only one
brave enough from a business
standpoint to demand the !:open
door" policy of trade privileges
to all and special privileges to
none. To maintain her point of
view. less than two years ago, her
guns were almost Shotted against
Russia, whose attitude in China
was expected to be one of selfish
ness. The wisdom of her line OF
action is now shown by the fact
that the Emperor of Russia has
declared that his Chinese ports
shall be free and unrestrict
ed. When these two great ma
lions thus act together, the other,
will have to dance to their piping
or clear out. 1t is now safe t.
assume that Russia and England
though long time at enmity il
Asia, first on the northern from
tier of India and now on tlH
northern frontier of China, vii
nevertheless act together in en-
deavoring to keep up the form o
the Chinese Empire, as a safe
guard against anarchy among tn,
millions of these probable pur
chaSerS. Their men and thei
money, in conjunction with Amer
lean machinery-if America rec
ognizes her Pacific Importance
will develop the vast mineral an,
agricultural possibilities o
China. This will be effected b,
the great civilizerS-Steam, cleo
tricity, mechanics and breadtl
of information.