The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-08
EIGHrING PRoGREss

FIGHTING PROGRESS.
What Is the matter with China? Tt IS a
fertile country. tho people are Industrious.
ana. IN a certain way. enterprising. the
lands are in a high state OF cultivation, the
cities are large and fourishing, and dis
tinguished gentleman. who has spent many
years OF his life In China, said once in our
presence, that in the best Chinese society
We're to be found men and women who
would compare In intelligence. refinement
and culture with the same number Of peo-
pie in the most enlightened nations of the
earth.
What, then, is the ulai-er With China2
The answer Is simple. It IS thousand
years behind the times, 1t lacks progress
within, and the masses of the Chinese tpeo-
pie are determined that progress shall not
resist progress, and, as we nave on more
than one occasion remarked in these coll
uHns, progress cannot be resisted. Pro-
gress never stands still. It is always on
the march. It is the most aggressive thing
in the world. 1t does not go INTO some Of
=
are no inducements there, but wherever
there Is chance of improvement, TO that
place progress viii 60
It is only few years ago that Japan
and China were on dead level. They
were both heather nations. They were
both non-progressive nations. They were
both exclusive. and they cared not to have
dealings with the outside world. A treaty
was made between the Powers of the
earth and japan. and another treaty be-
tween the Powers and China. II was pro-
vided in these treaties that in China and
japan each Of the Powers should have the
authority to protect its citizens. China
readily agreed but Japan raised the OBJ
lection tina: this was reflection upon her
civilization She said that her own govern
ment was amply able to protect foreigners
from harm, and that there was no occa-
sion for any such stipulation as was con-
tanned In the treaty. She insisted that this
CLAUSE in the treaty BIS stricken out, but
the nations OF the earth insisted that 1t
should remain. And again and again did
Japan protest and finally she was told to
qualify" Those in authority in Japan
then began 20 study tina, word, and finally
to grasp its full meaning. They soon un-
derstood that the meaning of it was that if
Japan was 10 be pu. upon the same footing
with the great Powers Of the earth. she
must adopt their ways. This work of the
reform was begun then and there. Japan
no longer stood in tho way of modern pro-
gress- She opened her doors TO the world.
She sent her young men away to be edu-
Gated in Europe and America, she adopted
In, system OF government which prevailed
In European nations, and in few years
she had progressed 50 far as TO be ad-
mitted into the comfy of nations. IN
many respects China was greater nation
than Japan. But tho Celestials refused 10
adopt European ways, and foreigners went
in and showed that they were going TO
carry progress into China whether not.
Then il was that the Boxers arose and
determined TO drive the foreigners out or
pu, them to the sword. And so the massa-
cres began, and SO they have continued.
and China has shown a savagery which
has Mortified the civilized world. But
China has sounded her death knell. We
had hopes little while ago that the in
surrection would easily be put down. and
that the integrity Of the Empire would be
preserved, bu: it gets worse and worse, and
whether or not the Chinese Empire be dis
membered, ii IS very certain tina: the Pow
ers will take a hand in its government.