The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1900-09-06

of the empire, one after another, cor
rupt and degenerate rulers were de- |
throned by revolutions carried through !
with bloody wars. 1t is in accordance
with Chinese morality to put a bad
sovereign out of the way by violence.
He is set down as a william" and q
fellow" hence not entitled to respect.
But "a ruler is never put to DEATH"
In the revolutions which rescued China
from decay the war leader usually
usurped the throne without serious OPP
position, the people taking it for grant
ed that the ability to win victories
meant the virtue and wisdom to rule
q nation The war leaders proved the
truth of the principle by their con-
duct, and some of the best things in
Chinese history may be traced to the
reigns of war lords. When there were
no wars, the life of the palace brought
about corruption and In time the ne
cessity for change Of dynasty.
Generally the warriors turned their
energies to internal improvements, and
the roads and canals of China were
constructed to facilitate intercommuni
cation for national purposes, chiefly in
time of war.
Feudalism in China was destroyed
by war and the Tartar hordes for cen
turtles kept beyond the border by main
force, but at the end of the first thou
sand years of the Christian era the
Tartars held sway. In the wars with
the great Khans, especially Kublai,
who overran all western Asia and east
ern Europe, the Chinese fought better
than the people Of other countries.
Finally the Tartars were expelled and
kept out for 200 years. Then the Mant-
choos, taking advantage Of civil war
In China and favored by treacherous
general, subjugated the Chinese and
have ruled them ever since.
The Chinese reasons for avoiding
war and neglecting military training
are due In part If not wholly to the
ethics taught by Confucius. The use
Of force is universally abjured, and the
spectacle of prizefights is unknown in
the Celestial Kingdom. For another
thing the Chinese policy is such that
the people are taught to revere the
locality of birth, to live and die there,
generation after generation, and mill
tary service and war would break up
this strong feature Of Chinese social
development.
Chinas wars Of the last half century
have been against the aggressions OF
outsiders. The first was the opium
war with England, which began in the
, thirties. The opium war had its tes
party, although the commodity in dis
= pute was not tea, but opium. Tit
Chinese destroyed large quantities be
longing to English merchants. Thu
way in which the Chinese authorize
got possession of 10000 chests of tn
drug shows the popularity of TIL
heathen The ultimatum to the mel
chants of Canton was that If they di
not turn over the stuff within thre
days the water would be shut off froI
the foreign quarters Of the city, a
the end of another three days foo
1 would be denied the foreigners, an
q for further delay the last degree o
severity would be dealt out. In th
fighting which followed the Chimes
! showed their lack of training for th
field. At Chinkiang they fought we
for time, but seeing themselves ovel
powered they soon abandoned th
walls and, after dispatching thei
wives and children to prevent desecrs
ton by the 'barbarians," committe
Il, suicide rather than surrender Nal
l. kin was subjugated by the fleet will
out bloodshed, and as result the Enl
- lish secured a heavy indemnity an
the opening of several ports.
But the war had more disastrous r,
suits for China than the loss of none
;. and prestige The secret societies ha
- a new reason for being. and in a shol
. time, several arose with the war or,
Down with the foreigners tt
. opening of ports was resisted, Englisl
men were killed and the disturbance
developed into an open rebellion, lie
by a fanatic who, assuming the tit
Heavenly king" established a capiti
= and entered into rivalry with the en-
peror.
. The ancient city Of Nankin, IL
. second city Of the empire, became IL
. seat of the new dynasty. In the ca
. ture Of Nankin the rebels Shove
. how the Chinese fight when under IL
. spur of fanaticism. The garrison (
. Mantchoo and Chinese soldiers W,
. a large one, but after blowing up II
. gates the rebels rushed In and not on
. slaughtered the troops, but every Man
. choo inhabitant, irrespective Of age.
The generalship displayed by Il
. TAPPING leaders was more worthy
- perpetuation than their civil polit
The prophet Hung was fanatic al
could rally the people to his faith, b
he had no administrative powers al
10 no moral stamina. Chang Wang, b
let chief general, was, however, host
himself for the field. He could PHI