The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-04-02
THE FUTURE IN CHINA.

Affairs in China are of deep interest
to us, personally, as regards our own
trade, which in volume last year
amounted to about, $500, 900, and also on
account of the growing interests of the
United States in that part of the world
which are now assuming proportions
of immense magnitude. Under such
circumstances the movements going on
in that Empire are worthy of study.
Though the most conservative coun-
try in the world, the wave of western
progress has knocked admfttance"
among certain classes, and the present
reform party is the direct result of the
study of western methods of advance
ment and government. This has come
about through the number of Chinese
who have resided abroad as traders.
and whose children have been brought
up on western plans. In this work
Honolulu has had some slight influence
Many young Chinese have been brought
up in our schools and have acquired
the western habit of thought. This
ieayen has been gradually extending
lump Of China.
The world was surprised in the early
part of 1898, when the young Emperor
issued a series of decress which showed
that the reform party had gained access
to the imperial ear and had convinced
the imperial mind But this was short
lived. The Dowager Empress and the
conservative party got the upper hand
by coup d'etat. The heads of some
of the principal reformers fell, and the
remainder fled for their lives. For a
time the reform movement was crush
ed. On assuming the reins of power the
Dowager seemed disposed to grant con-
cessions and improvements. But such
hope has long since departed.
The Empress has recently been issu-
ing the most tyrannical of DEGREES. She
seems to be thirsting for the blood of
the reformers who escaped her clutches,
and has offered 100000 taels for two of
them, dead or alive, which is a very
neat little premium upon murder. She
has moreover been reappointing some
of the most fanatical anti-western Chi
nese to responsible positions, and evil
IDENTIFY with the object of getting rid
of western influence, announced that
the Chinese Government cannot be res
ponsible for the safety of missionaries
and those in charge of the mission
schools in the interior.
The result of all this has been the
concentration of a large naval force
from all the powers. The United States
is represented by a powerful squadron,
and every country in Europe is strongly
represented. Only the other day an
Italian man of war FASTENED through
here to strengthen the force of that
government in Chinese waters.
| There is certainly a very large cloud
in the East. No one can predict exactly
what will happen. The reformers side
with the Emperor, and would work
their way by a slow process of reform,
maintaining much of the present form,
The revolutionists would sweep away
the present system entirely, though
they do not seem prepared to offer any
thing in its place. They may be re-
garded as the Nihilists of the East,
There has been incipient civil war in
the southern provinces for some time
past Whether this will come to gem
eral confagration is impossible to fore
tell. But whatever happens the west
ern nations and Japan are prepared
to take a hand in the affair, and each
win be eager to obtain some commercial
advantages. What should be done is to
obtain equal rights for all and throw
aside distinctly selfish policy.