Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-09
A CHINESE BANKER
Yang Szu Talks on the Cause of the
Boxers Uprising.
WAS IT UNCLE SANS FAULT?
He Thinks Our Government Failed
to Support individuals.
WAR BEGUN TOO SOON
Copyright, 1907

think about. I don't agree with him. 1
don't want to assent to all that he said to
me today. but there Is material for good
deal of thinking in the words that he
poured forth at me.
1t is in the southern city of Pekin that
Yang Szu makes his home. Under the
same roof are his Golfers for Yang is a
banker. He is sharp, shrewd yellow man
one who has been down to Tien Tsn and
Tong-ku, and even far as Shanghai and
Hong Kong.
The Shan-si province had the honor Of
being Yang's birthplace. This is quite
natural, for nearly all of the money
changers and bankers in the empire came
out of Shan-si For centuries the men OF
this province have ruled in China's tinan-
cial circles. They are great accumulators
of money, and they are also honest
These Shan-s men have means OF 'un-
derground communication developed to
such an extent that they generally get news
from a distance more quickly than the
Chinese officials. Yang and his fellow pro-
VincialS who buy and sell in the money
marts have their fingers always on the
popular pulse.
Probably more than any other Chinese
these upper Shan-si men interest themselves
in what goes on outside of China There
is a reason for this-a reason so vital that
it breaks down for them all the natural
Chinese conservatism and dislike for FOR
eigners. The exchange on silver in other
countries means much to these Shan-si for
eigners. Yang Szu knew all about the re-
cent rise in copper values before the world S
markets felt the rise keenly. Yang bought
heavily of copper from sources outside OF
China. The little copper cash, or Whlch IL
takes 1000 to make a dollar, have been so
influenced by the higher prices that today
plain copper is worth 40 per cent more in
China than 1t is after it is cast into cash.
e h,tc,
this knowledge. He and few of his clans
men may yet have corner on the cash OF
the empire.
Yang Szu's Talk.
Having spent some years in Shanghai
and Hong Kong Yang uses our English
tongue with some fluency. He doesn't talk
with every one, but for some reason he has
opened his heart-or at least his mouth to
me-and much and strange Is the Informal
ton that he gives me. Yang is model OF
courtlineSs. He never becomes excited. but,
leaning back in his odd squat little teak
wood chair, after he has prepared my tea
with his own hands. he half closes his
eyes and looks out at me through those
narrow little Sits while he listens to my
questions or answers them
Il can tell you something that Will sur
prise YOU" said Yang to me this forenoon
He has done that so often before that am
satiated with surprises. 1t must be some
thing strange, lnQeeu, tflat Will surprise
me after all he has told me. After watch
ing me swallow two or three sips of tea,
he launched out into what he had to say.
l am not going to give his own words too
closely, for this isn't a dialect story, but
1 shall follow his words as closely as l can
in ordinary English.
''Do you know who is to be blamed for the
Boxer uprising?" asked Yang, presently.
Shan-si is a region where they raise Box
ers by legions, and Yang ought to know all
about 1t.
Your country is the nation at fault" he
went on, slowly.
THE United States at fault for the Boxer
uprsng?" 1 gasped. This was making it
a little too strong for me. But there was
no sign of levity about Yang. He spoke
with the air of a man who means what he
says, and l have learned to have a good
deal of faith in this tall, portly old yellow
man.
yes. 1t is your country's fault" went on
Yang Had the government at Washing
ton done just as 1t ought to have done with
in the last ten or twelve years there would
have been no trouble-no white men killed
no siege of the legations-no foreign devil
armies in Pekin today
I'm the name of common sense. what did
we have to do with it-with this blood
thirsty Boxer business?' I demanded
And why the United States more than the
lands grabbing powers of Europe?
you Americans did not do what you
should have done in the first place. Once
we Chinese trusted your nation. We looked
upon you as great, good-natured. big-heart-
ed people who would take nothing from
us for which you did not give us something
good in return.
But you have changed all that. You did
not stand by us as our friends. There We're
rich concessions to be had for building
railroads and for opening up mines of
great richness. The Americans came to
China prepared to bid for these privileges
There were men here from other nations.
You Americans made the bids that We're
I
preferred that you should take ali the
Should Have Backed Cfti-
''But the men who were here from other
nations had stronger backing in a diplo-
matte way. The nations of Europe threat
ened us that If the Americans secured the
then these Europeans would
seize our ports and take away from US
all else that was worth having.
Your Americans acted individuals.
What could your individuals even your
syndicateS do, when your European rivals
the world at their backs. Your govern
ment should have backed up your citizens.
That was great mistake.
II was told at Shanghai that England
had asked the United States to join her in
demanding that concessions be granted
only to the highest bidders. Your govern
ment at Washington took the view that
It was a matter for individuals, and that
the government could not interfere in the
matter Weak! Very weak"
why SOP 1 broke in. Our government
has never believed in interfering more
than was necessary In the affairs of indi-
yiduals. That is the American idea"
you will change 1t some day" asserted
Yang, shaking his head. You will find
put how foolish you have been"
But why?' 1 persisted.
DO you know what our Chinese notion
If government fS?''
II haven't seen any Chinese government
vet. Your government was out when we
,alled at Pekin to pay our respects"
lad said it, But Yang, who never allows
himself to become ruffied, merely opened
he Sits over his eyes a little, took fuller
ook at me and then lapsed back into his
normal conversational squint.
1--WE believe in China" resumed Yang,
that 1t Is exactly governments business
% look out for the individuals interests.
That is the only excuse a government has
'or being. When our government doesn't
ook out for US, make a change in our
.ulers. That doesn't happen very often.
You Americans have much to learn of
what government means. You are chill
lren, babies in that branch of learning
Here in China we have had four thousand
5ears of experience in government. All
If the questions that are still troubling
you younger nations we have settled here
ong ago
Our eXperImentfng was done thousands