The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-09-07
THOUGHTS ON asia,
What The New Century Will Do.
MANY CHANGES 10 COME,
BY G. GROSvENOR DAVE.
Written For The Commonwealth.

Written For The Commonweal tn.
"A Glance over Asia.-In the Chimes
empire are about four hundred mllllo
human beings, practically all OF whom
are Ignorant of what we call civiliz:
tlon. From their own point of viey
they possess civilization older j,
years than any OF the "forelgn devils,
towards whom they have in the pas,
shown such intense hatred. But thei
civilization, though in advance of al
other two thousand years ago has stooc
absolutely still, until their leadership j.
like the leadership of the small boy
*ho boasted to his father that he was
first In his class-lnquiry proved
that he was reckoning form the wrono
end.
Another popularity and one tba,
booes i'll for the future integrity OF the
Chinese empire is that it is divided in
to eighteen huge provinces which are
not possessed of any sense of nation al
unity and therefore cannot be expected
to present a united front against out
SIDE interference. Furthermore, these
provinces are SO remote from one an
other and the means OF communication
so defective that it is safe to assume
many millions OF the Chinese scarcely
yet know that there has been a war
with Japan and certainly do not under
stand all its consequences.
-
Some one Las 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, Eng
land, America and France, in minor
degree, are great commercial nations,
producing more than they can con-
sumo, Is reason enough for their anx-
iety to create new needs among four
hundred million of people and then t.
cater 10 them. Russia also though
not yet supplying all the necessities of
aer own hordes, some still little better
than saYages, is wise enough to per-
eeive the value OF an unbroken terri
tory from west to east with ocean out
lets at both extremes and she, there
fore, is vastly interested in the north
ern portion OF China AMI has already
gained control OF an ice-free port as the
Pacific terminus OF her Siberian rail-
road. The completion of that Siberian
railroad will mean the very rapid SET |
tlement and development of the better
portions of Siberia, land that is by |
no means one of snow and ice as we |
have hitherto referred from our old
Biographies.
The lack Of unity In the Chinese en-
oire, the lack of progress In modern
and the lack of the strength
hat comes from a knowledge Of unity
1ave permitted, since little Japan de-
nonstrated the weakness OF her hulk
ng adversary in 1895, some very sharp
PRACTICES, particularly on the part of
Germany. On two occasions already,
because of assaults on missionaries, she
las taken violent possession OF pieces
II territory on the sea coast as compen-
alton for the death and the losses in
Iicted upon these "soldiers of the
ross" France also has picked some ]
cry unworthy quarrels In the south
nd has not been above associating
erself with pirates and rebels in order
0 make her hold more strong in Co
hin China and in Slam, formal trib ,
tary of China. England and Russia !
aye proceeded with tar greater show 6
T decency in their diplomacy the i
ormer being for a while the only /
ne brave enough from business I
Iandpoint to demand the "open door" y
olicy of trade privileges to all and i
oecial privileges to none. To main v
.in her point of view, less than two g
ears ago, her guns were almost shotsed Q
gainst Russia, whose attitude in China i
as expected to be one of selfshness. 8
he wisdom OF her line of action is h
ow shown by the fact that the EN- t
aror of Russia has declared that his y
hinese ports shall be free and unre- :
ricted. When these two great ma r
ons thus act together, the others will b
ave to dance to their piping or clear
1t. It is now safe to assume that 1
ussla AMI England, though a longi
me at enmity In Asia, first on the
orthern frontier of India and now on q
le northern frontier OF China, will "
,yertheless act together in endeavor- Il
g to keep up the form of the Chinese q
nplre, as a safeguard against anarchy " J
nong the millions of these probable t.
nrchasers. Their men and their mon fl
:, in conjunction with American ma u
America recognizes its :.
acific importance-will develop the Il
.,