Evening star., 1900-08-18
RISE OF THE MANCHU RACE
HOW 1T CONQUERED THE VAST EN-
PRE- OF CHINA.
Hatred OF the Present Dynasty I'm the
Southern Part of the i<ingdom-
China's Mild Revenge.


John II. Pathom in Chicago Times Herald
The rise of the Manchu race to its pres
ent position in the politics and affairs OF the
world is wonderful story Of courage bat
eiield victories, dark treachery and indom-
liable perseverance,. In the MIDDLE Of the
fifteenth century the race consisted Of three
small tribes living near the borders OF what
is now the Chinese empire and only escap-
ing the designation OF nomads because in
the winter months they had some settled
home. Even In those days they Were known
and feared by the surrounding tribes FOR
their daring. their contempt for death and
their willingness to run any risk TO add
to their herds and possessions.
Gradually, as they grew In power and In
fiuence. they began to absorb neIghborins
peoples. until al the beginning Of the SIX
teenth century they had become the most
populous and powerful race on the borders
of the celestial empire.
Since their birth as nation the Chinese
mad harrassed them continually and border
troubles had grown thick and fast. A GEN.
tury OF perse cution bred in the hearts of
these people such a hatre,, .. the Chinese
race that they gradually began TO long Tor
sweeping and terrible revenge. In the
year iull the Manchus were possessed Of
standing army composed OF hardy fight
ers. and for fifteen years after that the
project of an invasion of China was thor
oughly discussed and finally arranged
In 1916 the forces of the two nations met
on the borders, and In what came TO be
known as the Yang Wah Sui''-the battle
OF the terrible blade-the Chinese were COM
pletely routed. The conuerors. crossing the
border at its northwestern extremity, raw
aged the towns and vii ages Of the empire
for hundreds OF miles, and in three years
mad secured and held In subjecton seq
tion of territory as large as their own pos
sessions on the other side of the boundary.
In 1913 the Chinese, led by Emperor Hwi
Nang in person. and numbering. it is esti-
mated by the chroniclers Of those days,
24o,co troops, advanced to give battle to
the invaders. The fight lasted four days.
and the Chinese forces were literally cut
to pieces. The emperor was killed and half
his army was destroyed.
Even after this great victory the Manchus
felt their way very cautiously. They ad-
vanced along toward the interior slowly
and deliberately, capturing and pactfying
district after district and carefully refrain
ing from any rapid movement IN country
densely populated by hostiles. In 1861 a new
king ascended the throne Of China. Hun
dreds of thousands of his subjects congre-
gated in the Iangtse valley for q celebra-
tion in connection with his accession The
invaders chose their time and swooped
down on them, cutting the dykes Of the
1angtse river and spreading death and
desolation everywhere. Awed by the Calan-
ity and the menace of a strange and pow
erful people in their midst, great numbers
of Chinese came over to the enemy and
openly vowed allegiance to their conquer
ors. The new emperor was weakling,
with none OF the instincts of a soldier. and,
believing that the time was ripe for "A mas
ter stroke. the invaders began TO push on
to Pekin.
In the year 1643 they reached the walls OF
the forbidden city, with every foot of the
country that lay between them and their
own native land not only under sublection
but enjoying a fairly good government.
There never was any more deliberate or
better planned conquest in the history of
the world. Before the Manchus advanced
from a captured district ii had been pract-
cally made a part of their own nation. II
they could not accomplish this change In
one year they waited five.
In front of Pelin the invaders halted for
two months. One night traitors opened the
gates Of the city and for twenty-four hours
the thoroughfares ran blood. The palaces
and all vestige of Chinese authority were
swept away, and before the year was over
China's first Manchu ruler ascended the
throne
The dynasty has remained there from
that day to this. Instead, however, Of
stamping its impress on the country or
bringing with # any changes in the life or
methods of the Chinese its Manchurian
customs have almost completely died out
and the Chinese literature, religion and
habits have thoroughly transformed the
conquerors. And, more than that. the Chi
nese have actually overrun Manchuria and
so stamped 1t with the Chinese hall mark
that the Manchu nation, al q nation, has
been practically wiped off he map.
Though China has obtained this mild
hammered revenge on the invaders the very
great mass Of the people have never been
reconciled to the cOnquering dynasty, and
the whole southern and southeastern part
of the empire. with Its teeming millions Of
people. may be likened to a smoldering vol
cano, ready at any moment TO break out
into rebellion and place a Chinese family
on the throne. In the whole 80 years since
the Ming dynasty began to rule this deter
mination has been kept steadily alive.
Tot Df,7fr IT,, E,,
all the terrible charges that were laid ct
the door of the rebels and generally be-
lieved, was treated by the European govern
ments in a manner that they are now be.
ginning to realize was entirely wrong. Eng
land and France. failing to see in il the up
rising OF a great national spirit which
could never be kept down permanently,
sided with the Ming dynasty, and il was
this assistance that saved the throne and
smothered the rebellion. What has Europe
won from 1t? Only the bitter hatred and
scorn of the race that II saved and kept
In power. For thirty-five years the Mings
have dealt back dagger thrusts and insults
for every kindness showered upon them.
1t is the general sentiment among white
people who have lived among the Chinese,
and who claim to understand some little
about their motives and their ambitions,
that China will never be in a settled condi-
ton until this Ming dynasty has been ex-
and the old Chinese line of emperors seated
on the throne. The great province OF Sge
Chuan is the head and front OF the TAI
Ping power. a power that is steadily grow
ing and patiently making for its ultimate
object-the overthrow of the line that
usurped the throne $50 years ago.
The Chinese who stand for a return OF
the old kings occupy a vast stretch OF Ter.
ritory covering an area of 10000 square
miles, with its northern boundary extend-
ing $50 miles along the Yangtse and run
ming south In an irregular breadth of from
300 to 800 miles The provinces embraced
in this section of the empire contain from
81. 100000 to 94.0o0.o0o people. and these
millions ever keep alive the belief that
some day they will be able to rise again
and do away with the Manchu dynasty.
These people are intelligent fatalists;
they never quarrel with facts. And their
patience is as deep the sea. They will
walt for the opportunity, and when It comes
they will strike.
Till that time China will never be at
peace.