The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1900-08-23

! Chinese element continued in full force
over 10 years This was the TAPPING
rebellion which was finally crushed by
English aid.
The Chinese social and political or
ganization tends TO armed uprlsings.
The imperial government is weak, and
the people look to themselves for re-
dress against all classes of evils. AL
though under an imperial regime, Chi
ma is really ruled in its local affairs by
the simplest form of democratic prin-
ciples After patiently enduring griev-
ances for long period the populace
arises and in its blind yet irresistible
way enters a bloody protest More
powerful than red sealed edict from
Picking is the mysterious appeal
placarded in every village of the dis
turbed provinces.
Whether or not the present move
ment indicates that China is making
her last stand against the encroach-
ment of foreigners, either Asiatic or
European, IT is certain that the people
have been for generations at least
brooding over the sway of influences
which are not purely Chinese. There
are vast districts in China where it
is said the population prides itself
upon being of a purely Chinese strain
and that in those districts not only the
national spirit, but what passes in 9TH
er countries as patriotism, is the strong
est. That fact shows that there is an
element at work in China and has been
| for centuries which in time of general
upheavals must assert itself either in
blind fury or in a methodical and sys-
tematic movement to assert it's views
and principles
The last national struggle of China
was against the Tartars, who came
down from the north and first conquer
ed and overran the country, then were
driven from power and forced back
across the border. Eventually they
reconquered China, and since that time
the dynasty and dominating influences
have been Mantchoo, or foreign from
the point of view of the true blooded
Chinese.
1t would be strange that if in an
old civilization like China there should
not be degeneracy, and in the Mant-
choo element in the government may
be found evidences of degeneration.
The court, courtiers and the royalty
have gone from bad to worse until at
the present time the souls which domi-
nate at Picking are of the vilest stamp.
In other words, the government of Chi
ma is rotten ripe for change. Is the
best element of China determined to
make the change, and when the change
comes will that element get the upper
hand? 1t may be that China has for
the last 90 years been simply brooding
over the evils which have rested upon
or threaten her, but the events Of the
last few weeks show that the powers
of Europe have moderated the
strength of the national movement
among the Chinese. The war with ia
pan unquestionably opened the eyes of
the thinking man in China as nothing
short of war and a defeat would have
done. There were two parties at the
time of the war, one for and one
against clashing with Japan. The
throne secretly entered into the war,
met with humilating defeat and was
compelled to show that humiliation in
| public, whereas the conservative Chi
nese element was not in favor of the
war until after it had begun and the
nation was humbled by the pygmy
race from across the Yellow sea. Then
the dormant faculties of the empire
began to awake. China was not ready
for war when it came, not ready in
| cnnffppapt nd Il,
preparation, but when the war ended
the entire nation was filed with
fighting spirit. The peace which the
rulers negotiated with Japan was more
unpopular than the war itself, and I'M
der some forms of government I'M
doubleday there would have been an
| armed revolution, overthrowing the
| dynasty and at the same time recover
Ing from japan what had been taken
from China by force of arms. After
the cession of valuable territory to
Japan as the result of the war there
followed the cession of domain to Rus
sia, to England and to Germany, all
Of which the conservative element op-
posed.
The encroachments by the foreign-
ers since the Eruption by Japan into
the affairs of the old kingdom may
seem trivial. but taken In conjunction
with the events Of the past 80 years
the wise heads Of China must be con-
WINGED that the work cannot go on
much longer without not only destroy
ing the integrity Of China, but the
structure Of her civilization. 1t Is for
her civilization that China will fight II
she fights at all. Material wealth Is
under the ban Of the religious teach
ings Of China. For this reason all the
promises Of greatness through the
adoption Of foreign ways do not ap-
peal to the Chinese. Their cry is and
has been for generations, 1--WE wish to
be let alone" And under all the con-