Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-30

Prime Minister OF China during the mi
nority OF Tung Chin in the early sin
ties, often said, You are all anxious
to awke us and start us on a new road,
and you will do it. but you will all re-
greet 1t, for once awaking and started,
we shall go fast and far-farther than
you think-much farther than you
want His words are very true.
The first doings of the Boxer patriots
show that their plan of operations was
on the one hand to destroy Christian
converts and stamp out Christianity.
and thus free China from the lin their
eyes) corroding influence of foreign
cult; and on the other-not to hurt nor
Kill but-to terrify foreigners, brighten
them out of the country. and thus free
China from foreign trespass, contami-
nation and humiliation. And these are
the objects which will be kept in view,
worked up to. and in all probability ac-
complished-with other weapons in
their hands-by the children or grand
children of today'S volunteers.
A POSSIBILITY.
I say ''in all probability" for only
either certain kind OF foreign inter
vention. begun now and steadily and
systematically pursued, might avert
1t, or another agency, working n GER
tain radical change, might turn ma
tional energy into another channel. II
the powers could agree T11teae- tAnn=
selves and partition China at once. and
thereafter, with Il common understand
ing, give fullest effect to the old Chi
nese idea and discourage militarism:
make it law that none of their new
subjects could drill, enlist. or carry
arms prohibit their own and other ma
tons from there engaging in any kind
of trade in arms and employ only their
own race for military and police work
there, 1T is possible that the peace
loving, aw-abiding Industrious China
mi OH no trnT ", trc i,,or
until the lapse of centuries had given
other civiiZing influences time to work
through successive generations and so
change the composition and tendency
OF the national thcug"t and feeling of
the future as to carry it into that
sphere of international life where
friendly relations. common interests
and international comfy take the
place of diction, jealousy and race
hatred, and thus blot out the yellow
Peril from the future OF humanity.
Or If, in spite of official opposition
and popular irritation, Christianity
were to make mighty advance and so
spread through the land as to convert
China into the friendliest of Il iendly
powers and the foremost patron of all
that makes for peace and good Will;
that, too. would prick the Boxer bal
loon and disperse the noXious gas
which threatens to swell the race
hatred programme and poison and i'm
peril the worlds future
The words "imperil the worlds flu
ture" will doubtless provoke a laugh.
Well. let them do so. but let them
stand! Twenty millions or more of
Boxers. armed. drilled, disciplined, and
animated by patriotic-if mistaken
motives. will make residence in China
impossible for foreigners; will pay off
old grudges with interest. and will
carry the Chinese flag and Chinese
arms into many a place that even fam
cy will not suggest to-day. thus pre-
pairing for the future upheayals and
disasters never dreamed OF.
In fifty years time there will be mil
lions of 2of,:s III serried ranks and
wars panop'y at the call of the Chi
nesc Government: there is not the
slightest doubt of that. And il the
Chinese Government continues to exist,
it will encourage-and it will be quite
right to encourage, uphold and develop
this national Chinese movement 1t
BODIES no good for the rest OF the world.
hut China will be acting within its
right and will carry through the ma
tionai programme. Nothing but parti-
tion-a difficult and uplikely interna-
tional settlement-or a miraculous