The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-30
SATURDAY. JUNE 80. 1900.
VAR AND GEOGRAPHY.

For those who are far removed from the
Storm and stress of battle, murder and
sudden DEATH war has not altogether an
ly forward peoples and land of which
the peaceful onlooker would otherwise
remain wholly ignorant
Now. there is in Central Asia city
called Kasfsar. lying north Of kafiristan,
where Daniel Dragot sought to make him
trade routes from khokand and
Samarkand. Alma;i, Aksu and ilhotan,
The last two leading from India to China
This city has always been noted for Its
commercial Importance, which is due
In a large measure TO its location. HOW
over. its commerce is not what affects
US, for if an earthquake were to destroy
kashgar tomorrow morning We doubt
If it would cause the slightest ripple in
the financial life of America
But there are other things that have
happened TO Kashgar that may affect
America commercially and every other
way, and one of these happenings is the
fact that Kashgar, though situated half
way across Asia. has been conquered
time and time again by "a race which
As considered one of the most peaceful in
The world. And to-day kashgar, despite
many and bitter revolts against its con-
uuerors. is held in subsection to the
Chinese nation whom a few thousand
troops from the European and American
nations are seeking to conquer as If it
were a task or no magnitude or diff
Guilty.
In 1883 the Chinese first conquered this
city of Kashgar and held it for a long
time. Then came a revolt led by Yakub
Beg, who won ii back in 1863, massacreing
some 900 Chinese. For fourteen years
yakub Beg, by his energy and perse-
verance, was able to stem the Chinese
tide. but in 1877 the Chinese regained
their ancient domain, not by any sud
den onslaught. not by any brilliant coup
d;etat. hut as the result Of campaign
that had been organized and conducted
for years with the calm, elaboration of
a nation that knows how to wait, and
has the confidence that comes from pos
sessing one-fcurth of all the inhabitants
of the globe on which to draw for troops.
Nor do these troops have TO be maddened
with hashheesh or inflamed with Ma
hommedan ideas of paradise 10 make
them willing to go calmly out to die.
Now. kashsar is naturally a Mahom-
medan cita. It is filed. as every great
commercial center is. with men of many
nations: it may, and probably does, lack
that cofaerence that belongs only to hon.
oGeneous people. but it is net without in
terest for us TO consider the fact that
CRY of 1l2oao people, fortified. rich and
strong, has been conquered repeatedly and
held with slight intermissions by the
Chinese for over one hundred years and
Is now held by them.
The Chinese soldiers, dressed in scare
faces and carrying wild animals in cages,
who went out 10 fight the japanese, are
very different proposition from mill
tary standpoint, from the Chinese who are
to-day armed with modern rifles and
Pelin and 1ien Tsin. The Chinese may,
perhaps. be somewhat duh in learning
their lesson, but when they have once
learned it their memory lasts for genera
lions. and ne doubt if any well informed
dipiomati;st or student of nations be-
iieves ;i,lt the partition of China. fol-
lowing the lines OF the partition of India
Or the partition of Africa, is desirable or
even possible for the Chinese have their
own ideas of patriotism and have no fear
Of death, and that they can in their slow
way wipe out those whom they desire to
remove from their path. as shown by
the mute witness OF the great city of
Kashgar-
we ARE oUTsTRIpI.ISG ALL. OF
THEM.
Il really looks as though these United