The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-07
UNITED CHINA UNCOMFORTABLE.
Views of David Starr Jordan, Presi-
dent of Stanford University.

1
Views of David Starr Jordan, Presi-
| dent of Stanford University
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. President
David Starr Jordan, President of the Stan
| ford University, writing from Shign. ia
pan. regarding the Chinese problem, says:
The present outbreak is the expression
/ of dissatisfaction which has been growing
| a long time in the north OF China which
| mas relations with the outside world very
| different from the trading and wandering
people of the southern parts
The first source OF trouble, and perhaps
| the least, is found in the work OF Christian
| missionaries. Wisely or unwisely. some
OF these put themselves in direct opposi-
tion 10 the time-honored, but doubtless
very objectionable, Chinese customs. To
overthrow these is, IN the minds Of the
country folk, TO destroy the worship Of
ancestors. to sap the foundations Of Chi
nese morality and generally to wreck both
church and state. The national feeling is
weak in China. but the feeling for ancient
| customs-the feeling which we call con-
science, bigotry, or fanaticism according
to the way it affects US, is exceedingly
strong.
I'm the south of China the people grow
rich through trade or service with foreign
ance which commerce always brings. In
the north bigotry has freer sway In view
Of this, a prominent American in Pekin
said last winter that anything might hap
pen in China, which might come at any
time. The time seems TO be now.
More potent toward Immediate trouble
has been the invasion of railway and min
ing engineers, who wander about the coun-
try, often reckless of native customs or
prejudiees, asking nobody's leave and
needing nobody's objections The Chinese
do not want railroads. Still less will they
consent to have them run through their
grandfathers' graves, and almost every
foot Of land is somebody's graveyard. They
do not like mines, least OF all those con-
Quoted by foreign devils In sacred hills,
and they are incensed when samples of ore
are knocked off from their tombs or their
temples
Everywhere are found agents of syndi-
Gates eager to secure concessions, often
doing nothing with them save to hold them
for future speculation The European ma
tions forget sometimes that Jurisdiction
and ownership are two different things
Jurisdiction is costly, and unless 1t is in
full accord with the Will and customs of
the people over whom 1t is exercised it is
ineffective and Improbable.
This touches the third and most direct
cause Of the present outbreak. The break
Ing up of China. its partition among Eu-
ropean nations, has been freely discussed
throughout the civilized world, not to the
pleasure or the edifcation of the Chinese.
Spheres of influence have been freely laid
out on paper by men who do not know
that the true meaning of sphere of infu-
eace is simply centre of trouble
In commerce and manufacture the Chi
nese will hold their own in any COMPETE
ton They learn to make what they want
n sfy ilf he
rest of the world as teachers. They are
apt pupils, and soon learn to avoid the out
side shipment of raw material Even in
British Hongkong, as we'll as in Singapore
and Manila, it is said that all trade is fall
ing into the hands of Chinese merchants,
who displaee the foreigners by greater at
tention TO business.
Chinese WOrkmen supply most Chinese
demands more cheapIy than anyone else
can do China is weak, but Cinnamon are
strong, and the future of the tropical ORR
ent lies in their hands E7An in Siberia
the Chinese gain foothold faster than Rus
sian influence spreads in China China
cannot be conquered nor divided nor re-
tanned by outside powers if it is once
awakened and united
Some men foresee the formation of two
strong nations-Manchuria and China-!n-
stead OF one nation headiess and irrespon-
slbIe- Some concede Tartar Manchuria to
Russia, in which case Japan will take Ko-
rea, which she does not want save as part
OF the strategy of nations. This japanese
gentlemen freely comedies, but il is felt
that Japan will have to do it. as il has al
ready taken the fractions and improbable
island of Formosa.
may sum up public opinion as it
reaches me in these propositions:
'First-The foreign powers must protect
theiI own Legations and citizens against
Il i
they are doing shoulder to shoulder
fact of which the people of Japan seem
very proud.
Second-The foreign powers must not
make this an excuse for the partition OF
China. This is a thing impossible. and
China, once aroused, not all Europe could
furnish the men to conquer tie cs;ptry
or to hold it in check. No foreign power
can maintain an army in the interior of
north China through a Chinese winter
II China falls apart it will be through the
diverging interests of north and south
This is not likely to happen. Sooner
OF later ii is believed the moderate lead
erss of the north will come to terms with
the Viceroys of the south.
''Third-The European powers. as Lord
Salisbury has distinctly pointed out, can
not guarantee the interests of syndicates
doing business under Chinese jurisdict. on
They can protect their citizens under or
binary conditions, but they cannot foster
foreign enterprises by a show of force.
'Fourth-It is for the general interest of
the world TO hold China together TO
strengthen her Government, so that it can
maintain order at home and dignity abro ad.
or to treat Chinese people wherever they
go just as similar people of other nations
should be treated. It does not for exam
pie, help our own trade or relations with
China to subject her people to statutes
which apply to immigrants or travellers
from no other nation
There is no desire in Japan for war with
Russia OF any other nation. There is |
feeling that Japan will not be again made |
a cats paw for any European combination. |
Ii Russia seizes Manchuria, Japan will feel !
it her duty TO take Korea, a weak, ire |
sponstble, and badly governed nefghbor. |
Everyone hopes that the flames of war
will be confined to the region where they
have been kind1ed"
CURRENT HUMoR.
No Wonder They're Scared