The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-26
American Trade Interests to Save
Dismemberment of China.
PROGRESSIVE IDEAS NEEDED.
George r.. whitman. of the Ameri-
can Baptist Missionary onioh'
who Has spent Eight Years IN
the Empire. Talks of Conditions
Under Present system Provinces
Cannot he Kept Under Control.

That China will not be allowed to lie
like water-iog on the map OF the earth
and the interest now being taken ~ the
United States IN the extension Oh COM
merce in the Far East VIII be one OF the
means taken TO inject progressive ideas
into the empire and prevent IT'S dismem-
borment by the powers OF Europe ~ the
opiniof, Of George y. Whitman, mission
airy OF the American BAPTIST missionary
Union, Of Boston. who arrived In the city
with his family from the Hakka people In
Central China last night.
For the last eight years Mr. Wnitmah
has been iahoring in China. and this is
his FIRST vacation. He Will spend month
ut the missionary home at Burton, and
. then 20 East FOR a year before returning
to his post at Kiayihg. He is Thoroughly
conversant with the conditions in China,
having Travelled over a great portion OF
the empire, and he IL strongly opposed
to any policy that will call FOR breaking
up of the empire.
sIt Is nearly eight years since ] last
set foot on American soil. he SAID at the
Hotel Seattle last night. = have been To-
the port OF Swatow I'm the interior OF
China. The people that l and my col
league. Mr.. Campbell, have boen laboring
with are known as the Hakka, or High,
ianders They come from the North and
live in the hin country. They number be-
tween 10000, 600 and 100000. They occupy
A portion OF three provinces. the southern
part OF Foiien. the north and northwest
ern portion OF Kwangsi and the southern
part OF Kiangsi. They are the only people
In all China who DO not REQUIRE the wo-
intercourse between the women and men
there than In any other part Of the empire.
Women are looked upon. as more than
things; They work mt all sorts of jobs.
and In the fields with the men,
troublesome secret Society.
I'VE are troubled with secret societies.
but probably mol to such an extent as in
some other provinces. We have what In
water society. They are most troublesome
when the price OF rice Is high. Then they
so on raids, They loot pawn shops and
destroy missions and other property where
there IL d chance TO secure booty. How
ever, In times OF plenty, when rice Ia low.
they exhibit no special enmity toward
Christians
within the last year the Basel mission.
conducted by Germans and the Catholic
missions. has suffered severely, ami de-
rnands from the German government are
now pending settlement with China. Sever
al alarms were given during that time, and
ut each all foreigners nave taken to the
hills On one occasion they destroyed two
German chapess In the Hinnen district and
made an attempt to wreck the mission
compound. This was several months ago.
When they approached the compound they
were seized with fear that Il was under.
mined with dynamite or ground thunder
as they call II. and II escaped When the
matter was reported. a body n soldiers
was sent from the fort. and the ringiead-
ers were arrested. Three were artefward
beheaded In kiawing.
Cannot Control Provinces.
'.China IL not, In her present, condition.
ahae 10 prevent the ravages OF these secret
spctctios or suppress the numerous prov
fncial rebellions. To this condition IL due
the danger OF acknowledgment. The powers
are continually being called In to demand
fndemnities for pusraEes until they are
getting tired ~ Il.
"a former Judge 10 my city. shortly
after the death of tho emperor was re-
ported an appointed minister to Japan.
He only got ~ far as Shanghai. when he
was arrested. and had 1t not been for In
t~fercnce ON the part OF the Japanese
treated. lie stated thai what China
needed was a thoroughly drilled police
f0rce In each city TO assist the TROOPS in
keeping order. Hut would this dof There
is no such thing as patriotism in China,
and tho force would as likely as not be
subject 10 fits OF rebellion. Under the
present system II would be impossible to
keep police force on duty. There is no
loyalty 10 tho government and this IL not
surprising when you consider that In the
army tho officers draw the soldiers pay.
keep II. and otherwise treat them badly.
Poisoning the Empsror.
Chimes. officials are corrupt Even In
the palace Z IL impossible 10 tell what Is
soins on THE general opinion, however.
IL that the empress dowaxer w siowly
hui surely poisorins the emperor 20 death.
He to there prisoner. but. contrary TO
dsrees everything, Il l. true that in a
proclamation he ahdicated the throne in
favor OF Put Sing. Hut that proclamation
saiissgd .seh 2 storm among ihs hissher Of
press dowaxer 90 modify Il, and now Put
Sing ia but the heir apparent to the throne