The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-07-31
THE FUTURE OF CHINA.

-
would be like cutting up an Apache
There would be just as
MANY Apaches left and, owing to the
of guardians. there would I
be more to irritate them. We might |
afford to irritate the Apaches. he says,
because we are strong enough to crush |
the tribe: but how about such policy !
towards the Chinese savages," who
number four hundred millions? Would
not partition mean interminable war?
And if so. would it not be better to let
China stay as she is and withdraw for
eign influences from her until the en-
pire gets ready, as Japan did, to seek
them of her own accord?
Those who have lived among the
Chinese here, in California or in their
own country, would be last to group
them with savages, despite the horrors
of the present uprising of their danger
Gus classes. No race can be judged by
it's worst elements, our own no more
than the Mongol. When great MOB
ravaged New York in 1863 and again
in 1871 and when Chicago rocked In
1856 to the reverberations of murderous
bombs; when helpless Chin amen were
stoned to death in the streets of san
Francisco and negroes were burned at
the stake in Texas the American peo-
pie were not thereby classed as bar
barous nation. And though the pro-
portion of savage rioters is greater in
China than in white countries, the
masses of the people remain peaceable
and industrious, just as they are here
and to a great extent in California.
They are ready to accept any govern
ment that gives them life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness.
We find a strong illustration of this
truth in the history of japanese rule
in the Chinese city of Kinchow, dur
ing the war of 1S94-95. At first, on be-
| ing captured, the natives (Manchu-
rians) shut themselves in their houses
and stores and hardly dared peep out
by day or venture forth by night.
Finally when they found that the Jap
anese respected their rights of prop
erty some of them began to trade with
| the newcomers in rice and fowls. AS
the Japanese paid literally and always
in silver, the Chinese ventured further
and opened general stores, which did a
thriving trade. If soldiers did any pill
fering they were promptly brought be-
/
governor sat with Chinese side-judges
and dispensed justice according to the
wisdom of Solomon. Confidence in the
courts being established the whole Chi
nese population went to work for theii
conquerors in a most friendly spirit
Under the rule of their Mandarins the
Kinchow cart-drivers had earned the
promise of fifteen cents per day IL
brass cash for ten or twelve hours
hauling; under japanese rule they go
one yen per day in silver for the sam
amount of work. They were sure o
their daily wage and what they earne'
they did not have to divide with al
official.
Thereupon the natural thing came I
pass The Manchus did not want t
return to their native jurisdiction
they begged that their late enemie
would stay forever. When the Civ
Governor left Kinchow to accompan
the troops that crossed the Gulf @
2 Pechi-li to capture Wei-Hai-Wei, tn
z citizens of Kinchow addressed a memo
rial to the Emperor of Japan askin
4 that the new orders be recalled. The
: were frantic when they learned tina
the Japanese intended to give Kincho'
and the surrounding province of Lilac
1 tong back to China and all that wer
able to move asked permission to settl
in Japan.
This brief narrative of an interestin
historical fact, the truth of which is
e matter of personal "Reminiscences, cor
vinces us that partition would b
greedily received by the mass of tn
I Chinese people providing they could b
assured of good government and i'm
: munity from official blackmail. Ths
{ is about all they ask-a chance to iiv
and let live. They have no visible loy
= for the Chinese empire and most {
c them never saw the Chinese flag. Man
of them dislike the foreigner but thu
i is because they take him for THE
L Convince these people that the foreign
! er means to deal fairly with them an
II enhance their material welfare ar
It they will prefer his rule to that of II
= mandarins. We shall have a peacef1
: and Industrious China If the powers {
/ their full duty as the agents and pr
! tectors of civilization; we may new,
u have one If the natives are left to the
Is own sad devices.