Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-07-21
CHINESE GORDON'S PROPHECY.

CHINESE GORDON'S PROPHECY.
There was probably no European
more qualified to express an opinion OF
the Chinese than Col. Gordon, more
commonly called Chinese Gordon,
| whose career closed at Khartoum in
January, 1885. His military associa-
ton with them during the two years,
from 1868 to 1865, when he command
ed the Ever Victorious Army, as it
was styled, gave him unique ex-
perience Of the Chinese and an insight
into their somewhat complex charac-
ter.
With the crudest of material and in
sDite of the strongest opposition, an op-
position that would have been fatal
out for the loyal support be received
throughout his short term of service
under the Emperor of China from Ii
Hung Chang, be organized force that
under European officers Of nearly every
nationaiity, including some Ameri-
oons. suppressed the TaeDing rebel
ion then threatening the existence OF
China and the dynasty. The opinions
ne expressed therefore have at the
present moment exceptional value.
Oae which he gave confdentially to
A friend in 1880 when he was just on
he point OF leaving Tor India, where he
had accepted'the post of Secretary to
he Viceroy, Lord Ripdon is just now
If particular interest. Speaking Of the
Caepine rebellion, and OF the courage
,f the Chinese troops, be denied that
thew were towards in one sense. He
acid that they did not fear death,
hough be had seen them stand up
brayely sometimes and then fee like
sheen afterward. But what Europeans
would have to consider was, he said,
.be awful consequences of general
movement. when least expected, in the
vast inert mass of hundreds Of millions
of men to overwbelm the foreign devils
ghom they hate like poison.
The danger of such an outburst, Cor
don said, became greater every year Oh
account of the way the Chinese were
,eing continually harrsssed by the
European States with demands for
| compensatiops, in some cases just,
n Others quite frivolous. When
,nev saw that their only means
# meeting the aggression wss
to organize an army with improved
weapons, tden they would buy guns
and rifles and ships, and with the aid Of
Europeans, who would always be found
ready to drill and organize them, they
would create fornid BILE army.
OF one thing Gordon felt quite sure.
The DAYS when Europeans could march
I'D TO Chinese troops in position, or IN
letence of position, and sweep them
away like flies, would soon be over.
There would be no military prOmepades
~ few hundred British and French
roops through the country, driving
thousands of Chinese before them.
Speaking of the authorities, Gordon
said a mandarin was never 10 be trust
ID. and he was only too glad when he
left their service. The English, 10 his
opipion, made the mistake OF thinking
hey were welcome wherever they went.
nut in fifteen or twenty years they would
End proof to the contrary. With all their
supersttions, their vices and their ig-
norance, the Chinese were, in Gordon's
stimatiOn, far too good to be ruled by
the class that governed them. The
governments of France, Russia and
! England, he emphatically declared, had
for the forty years before the time he
spoke treated the Chinese most scan
tslously.
Current events are proving how ac-
curately Chinese Gordon judged the
situation, and the regret is that certain
defects of character ard temperament
should have caused him TO abandon q
position in which be could have rem
dered great service TO China aud civlli-
zatiop. In the light Of what is passing
ia China today, Gordon's words OF
tgenty years ago have propnetic
ring.