The times., 1899-03-10
The Fate of China.

II is becoming evident that America Will
be obliged. however reluctantly, to take
some part in the proceedings which VIII
end in the partition Of the Chinese En-
pire, but there is no occasion for the anti
expans;onists TO worry themselves on that
account. Such action on our par; means
simply The securing of a port harbor. na-
val station and colonial area, such a
Germany has at Kiao-Chou. II does not
involve any extended business governing
alien peoples, ncr does it lead TO the ques-
tion of a Chinese vote 1t is purely busi-
ness transaction.
The eventual division of the Chinese
Empire among European nations is prac-
teal certainty It is one of those things
which are inevitable in the history of the
world. Such an event would be somewhat
different from any other political transac-
tion in history. The partition of Poland
was effected merely for political reasons,
without regard TO the good of the inhab-
itants or the possible benefit TO the COM
mon people Of any other nation. II was
done against the determined win OF the
Polish people. and il is one of the TRACE
dies of the nineteenth century. In the cas-
. of India one Of the motives which induced
her vaTious conquerors to cross her bor-
ders was undoubtedly desire OF what is
called loot India had been kncwn as the
land Of gold, jewels. and precious things
in general ever since Europeans were ac-
quainIed with Asia at all. Moreover sh2
had been conquered several times by dlf-
/ ferent nations at the time when British
/ rule began. and tine result is an infinite
variety Of customs, nationalities, religions
and traditions spread over a land more
/ than half the size Of the United States.
[ In the case of China The conditions are
different in two important particulars.
One is that The opening up of China would
undoubtedly be Of great benefit to the Chi
/ nese as well as to the rest of the world
! There is not much likelihood that this al
ready overcrowded country will ever be a
good place for foreign colonists to make d
! living; the work Of improving the condi-
/ tions will have to be done by the native
under foreign direction. Il is said that the
province Of Shansi contains the largest coal
I field in the world, and that the possibli-
ties of modern methods of agriculture in
China are equally great In addition TO
coal various other minerals OF commercial
value are found in the Empire and with
( a few scientific miners and some capital
China would become a most important fac
tor in the worlds business. Labor is
cheap and the Chinese are extremely quick
10 learn new trades; the climate is not un-
healthful for Europeans and there would
be but little trouble from hostile natives.
since the Chinese are quick to see what is
for their own advantage and do not often
resent the presence OF Europeans in any
violent manner.
The other popularity OF the present sit
nation is that instead of being of n mixed
stock like the inhabitants of India, or in
tenseiy patriotic and jealous of national
prestige as the Polish people were, the
Chinese are all of one race, yet so pro-
vinciaI in prejudice and so weakened in
their government by political corruption
tha. they offer remarkable opportunity
TO European nations. They are clannish,
but not IN any way patriotic. They cling
to their own customs. religion. and national
dress most of which would be undisturbed
by any European invasion. but there is no
D spirit StfOES enough 10 Ntlh inc "uOIt Hd-
tion into one body for The resistance OF
foreign encroachments Through long iso
lation they have become sluggish and un
progressive The national character OF the
Chinese could not be modified by any
amount of foreign influence: it has the
iliimitable persistence of the Oriental.
Their manner of life could not be essen
tally altered; and nobody is likely to at
tempt either task Under European con-
troll there would he changes Of n radical
nature in the government. Incompetent
and greedy officials would be turned out
engineers would be set at work; a compe-
tent police force would be established; the
most barbarous of the native customs
would be abolished, and famines, foods,
and Instructions would cease All this
would better the condition OF the common