The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-06-19
NEW CENTER OF INTEREST.

The center of interest has indeed
changed, and the eyes of all the world
are now upon China. Events are rush
ing forward with immense rapidity, and
there seems every chance of a final
struggle against the Manchu reaction
aries and the western powers, who will
be acting practically in the interests of
the reformers. Indeed, the whole plan
as outlined seems to come direct from
the reformers.
There are several things to consider.
One is the appeal of the emperor to the
powers, which is made through the me-
dunn of one of the leading reformers.
Another is an advance of the powers,
including the United States, upon Pc
kin, the probable aim of which is to
protect the ENJOYS and representatives
in that city, and yet another, is the at
titude of Russia towards the dowager.
The appeal of the emperor is evidently
the appeal of the reformers. They want
the emperor removed from Pekin to
some city in the south, as Nankin or
Shanghai. AS was pointed out yester-
day, the reformers are strong in the
south, while the conservative
Manchus have the greatest influence in
the north. Under the protectorate, of
the united western powers, and in the
name of the emperor, the reforming
Chinese are to undertake the civil adj
ministration upon western lines. The
present disorderly mobs of so-called
soldiers are to be disbanded and force
of Chinese constabulary or gendar-
merle, Differed by Americans and Eu-
ropeans, is to be used in keeping order,
and supporting the civil authorities.
This plan is in a great measure what
was outlined as feasible by Lord
Charles Beresford in his many speeches
upon China. He was always strongly
opposed to partition and believed that
Chinese regeneration should come from
the Chinese themselves.
The present advance of the powers
upon Pekin can only be a demonstra
ton; there is not sufficient force to
undertake any serious military action.
But the presence of a thousand or a
couple of thousand western troops in
Pekin, armed with modern rifles and
having quick firing guns would be quite
sufficient to completely protect the
members of the embassies and any mis-
sionaries that can fall back upon the
imperial icty. But beyond that it does
not seem possible that the westerners
can do much. Still the westerners in
China are in very much the same rela-
tive position that Cortez was to the
MeXicans, or Pizarro to the Peruvians,
and the little force may achieve some
great success which will suffice to turn
the future of China into different chan
nels.
The possibility of intrigues between |
Russia and the dowager empress would !
throw very different light upon the
two precious subjects. If it be So then |
Russia will champion the reactionary |
party and the division of China will be
inevitable. The Russian influence is
among the Manchus; it has no foothold |
in the south. If Russia backs the en-
press she will take possession of Pekin |
and then each power will strive to ac-
quire it's particular sphere of influence |
This is the more serious aspect of the |
case in China. The dispatches, as re-
ceived, are not thoroughly clear, and |
they leave the matter largely to spec
ulation. If the reform program is car
ried out we shall have a regenerated |
China, taking it's place in time, among
the powers, just as Japan has taken
hers. If Russia takes Pekin, we shall |
have a disintegrated China, with the
strong possibility of an endless success |
sion of struggles for power which will
mean a succession of wars. Russia has
ever been the evil genius of the east.