Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-22

ment congress now In session at The Hague
| is on the road "a the accomplishment of
substantial resulth which will lead to the
| mitigation of theiseverity of international
war if not to its complete abolition. When
his majesty, the Gar, issued his proclama-
| ton, inviting thesnations of the world to
meet and considef the subject of disarma-
ment, 1 hailed 1t With delight as an act pre-
saying the consummation of a movement
which would tend to save many great and
valuable lives and millions of dollars to the
various peoples Of, the world. / regarded
| the disarmament proposition very diffi-
cult to carry out, however, and was con-
WINGED from the start that the meeting
would resolve itself into one for the con-
s:deration Of the more feasible question Of
| International arbitration. My idea has all
along been the establishment Of an interna-
tional court of arbitration, to be composed
of chosen representatives from every ma
ton on earth, and when differences between
nations arise to submit them to this tribunal
| for settlement without the disputants re
sorting to conflict, which in the past has
rever given satisfaction to either the con-
Cueror or the conquered
"Of course when such differences are con-
| sidered the representatives of the nations
| involved can be prohibited from participa-
| ton in the proceedings, it being advisable.
however, to allow them to be represented
| by counsel. The recent war with Spain and
| the conflict now raging in the Philippines
has demonstrated to the people of the
United States the horrors of war, and
Spain, too, no doubt, is convinced that there
are many things more agreeable than mill
tary conflict. The representative of the
emperor at The Hague Mr.. Yang Yu, my
predecessor in Washington and the present
Chinese representative at ST. Petersburg. is
one of the delegates to the conference, and
the Chinese people generally favor it most
heartily ~
Chinese Dismemberment Idle Gossip.
'To what is the cessation in the talk of
the dismemberment of the Chinese empire
attributable?" was: asked.
This idle gossip has stopped for no other
reason than that it has been founded on
nothing but air. do not believe that China
will ever be parceled out among the ma
tions of the earth, as has been predicted by
a great many people. China is able to take
care of her interests, and the progress she
is making every day toward more en-
lighteEed and higher sphere of education
and civilization is adding to her internal
force and strength constantly. The people
of the United States have from time 10
time been acquainted with great many al
legged facts in dispatches from abroad re-
garding the so-called concessions of Chi
neSe territory which have been made to
European nations. | recall that when Port
Arthur was leased to the Russian govern
ment some time ago the newspapers here
were full of reports attempting to prove
that the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of China was near
at hand and that the nations dissolution
was close at hand. The Russians, who are
our friends. have held Port Arthur accord
ing to agreement.
The New Railways in China.
Work on the railroads running through
the empire is progressing and the people
hail these inroads of such an agency Of ed
ucation and civilization with great satisfac-
ton The railroad. in my judgment, is one
of the greatest enlighteners of the age
I'm China, for instance it will give the
nny4,, nitx
and converse with the world, strangers
Will be admitted to their domain. which is
almost an impossibility under present con-
ditions, and those Chinese who are yet
somewhat crude in their ideas will be edu-
Gated to a higher point of cultivation and
magnanimity. The time is not far distant
when the country win be a web of railroads
just as the United States now is There are
immense opportunities for road builders
there there and gigantic sums of capital are
progressive spirit which has taken hold of
the people has also led them to favor the
opening of the ports of the empire. 1t is
probable that wfthinaa short time the ma
ton will follow lin the footsteps of Japan,
which country, pior to July Il, had only
I'VE ports open uhderjtreaty. China already
mas thirty treaty, ports as they are called
They are increasing in number every year
About the only opposition to the opening
OF the ports comes from the foreign traders
VINO want monopoly of the business, and
VINO, with keen business foresight realize
that the greater number Of ports opened to
the world the more Icompetition thev viii
nave to combat. The people, as a rule,
however, are in favor of opening the ports
and throwing the nation open to the COM
mercial world. Z = - -
Demolition of the Chinese Wall.
My attention has been directed to a dis
patch from abroad which tells of the pur-
pose of my government to den1olish the
great and historical Chinese wall. do not
place much credence in this report. The
only reason, in my opinion. which could be
assigned for the demolition of this insti-
tuition would be lack of ground for the
occupation and use of the natives. But the
wall occupies an infinitesinlal portion of
territory, being only a few feet wide and
being situated on the extreme boundaries
OF the empire. There is plenty of territory
IN emma even for its vast population and
the destruction of the wall cannot be i'm
puted to this cause. The wall, too is an
old landmark and is interviewer with the
TRADITIONS of the people. having been erected
centuries ago. The work of its scrup,llous
maintenance has grown to be a pleasure in
the hearts of the Chinese, who would mourn
over its removal. 1 do not believe the re-
port is true"