Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-01

seem to Indicate. for owing to their peculiar
customs Of ancestor worship and the small
regard for female infant life, her popula-
uon contains greater proportion of able
bodied males than any other equal popula-
ton to be found in the world.
Outnumbered Two to One.
All Europe has an arms bearing popula-
ton or less than 5000. oO0 men, and North
america contains but 1900 600 more. The
whole civilized world is thus able to mar
shai less than 50.O00,000 men, and but a
small proportion of these would really be
dVaiiapie Tor transportation across the seas
Tor an offensive demonstra ton against an
oeter power. But for every one of these
ou,cu,ooO men. China has two, with the
ADDED advantage that they would be on the
defensive, in their native land and fighting
TOR their own homes and institutions In
rose other elements that go 10 make up
me potential strength of a nation such as
endurance, indifference tn discomforts. abil-
ity to subsist on the smallest rations and to
thrive amid uEsanitary surroundings the
chinese are unmatched Why then should
we call them mad when they dare defy
those who seek to divide and destroy their
empire?
Hopeless Task.
The conquest Of China may well be aban-
dcned a hopeless task. The powers
should negotiate peace with China at once
securing, II possible, the restoration of the
emperor to his throne. but in any event
making whatever concession or promises are
necessary to bring him back to the capital
at Pekin and release him from the power OF
those anu-foreign conspirators who now
hold him.
The punishment of those who have been
the leaders and instiga tors in the present
uprising may safely be left to the emperor,
and 1t is safe venture that within one
year from the time that he Is safely on his
throne, there will not be one Of those for
whose heads The ministers are now clamor-
ing but will have received his just deserts.
1t must be recognized that the demand for
their punishment now, while both the en-
peror and the empress are in their power
and under their control, is not only useless,
but piece of folly likely to bring the most
disastrous results
The delay the negotiations and the
continued slaughter Of the people by expedi-
tons, which fail utterly to distinguish
friendly natives from those who have JON
ed In the upris' ng, have driven the Chinese
people well-nigh to desperation; their pa
pers and their leaders are all clamoring for
war as the last resort and the sole means Of
preserving their country for themselves
The power and influence of friendly vice.
roys will not long suffice to keep them under
control. and having once risen for des-
perate defense of their country. they may
turn upon those who have lately been their
despoilers, and. not content with regaining
their own, seek in addition, a bloody ven-
geance.
The yellow race has not been without its
great military leaders. and 1t Is certainly
within the realm Of possibility that another
Attila or Gengh's-Khan should arise in the
present crisis, and there are some who, be-
Heving that history repeats itself in cycles.
think that the time has come for another
great movement. of this race. Should they
be right, 1t will be well for us that a broad
ocean lies between our country and theirs.
GUY MORRISON WALKER.