The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-17
CIVILIZATIONS BLUNDERs.
Causes That Have Made the Chinese
Savage and DOgged Fighters.

II AlicO0Ao 1iSPottA-
A decade n a half ago sundry English
pamphleteers, Lord Wolseley among them,
produced the yellow peril to make Europe
uneasy. The hardness and fatslism of the
Chinaman were magniied, his aptness to
learn was proclaimed and the prediction
was made that when he was given an in
centive n taught modern war the COL
lective force of 4OO, 600. 900 of him might
sweep civilization from the earth.
Civilization declined to be impressed with
terror, and the war between Japan and
China presented prima facie evidence that
the bugbear was imaginary. In that war
the Chinese proved themselves to be inert,
undisciplined, without patriotic incentive
and destitute Of military courage. The
Chinese army was of less military effect
iveness than a d~isorganized mob. The Chi
nese administration was corrupt and the
Chinese military equipment and machinery
were centuries old and then broken down.
1t was concluded that such a dismal fail
ure need not be feared. A few years have
passed and a change has come. Now the
Chinese are alert, jealous TO fanaticism,
armed with modern weapons, their artil-
lery at Tien-Tsin being superior TO that of
the allied forces. Where the Chinaman
would not even defend a fortified position
formerly he is now persistent and UNI
wearied In attack. He is savage or half
civilized; but he is proving himself a ter
rible fighter. What has produced the
change from the abject, servile and in
different Chinese of the Chinese-Japanese
war to the savage and dogged fighters or
the year 1900?
The answer to that question is calculated
to make Europe look foolish. For while
the position of China was humiliating then
that OF the European empires is little bet
ter now. Concluding that the Chinese were
incapable of being a threat to civilization
they set about. without even stopping to
think, the acts that were calculated to
make them so. 1T being determined that
nothing could inspire the Chinese people
to fight for their country the European
powers found the match which would start
that fire. They seized the territory of the
sacred empire. They corroborated the Chi
nese suspicion that missionaries were the
precursors of fleets and annexing armies.
They violated the sacred bones of the Chi
nese ancestors by digging up cemeteries
to run railroads through them. The effect
was produced. The inert, despicable mass
had nov become a ravening giant.
But the European work did not stop
there. After the war with Japan it was
seen that Chinese military science was
ridiculous. 1t taught the art of throwing
the enemy off his guard by lulling him
with sweet music from the Chinese band
and then striking terror into him by harsh
anu 6hadth L1bAOPS AoetOACo ~
explain to China that this was all wrong.
Russian and German officers rushed to in
struct the Chinese In the art of war. The
sequel proves that the Chinese learned
I even more quickly than the Japanese.
Nor was this all. The Chinese arsenals
were found TO be filled with m%atchlocks
and javelins of the date of Marco Polo.
Europe rushed to supply the deficiencies.
Germany sold China 100000 Mausers and
numerous Krupp guns. England shipped
her Whitworths and machine guns of ex-
| ceeding long range. This was trade; and
was not trade the whole purpose of ORR
entail exploitation? 1t was profitable. and
il has turned out the most costly profit of
the age.
There is little evidence that the Chinese
have the organizing facility and the power
of sustained effort necessary TO make
them a danger outside their own borders.
1t is not fully proved that they have the
lasting qualities for prolonged resistance,
even in China. The yellow peril does not
yet threaten Europe or America. Indeed,
when to the above record Is added the
| spectacle of 10000 Caucasians at Tien-Tsin
paralyzed for lack of homogeneous and
| prompt obedience to a central leadership,
the question intrudes itself whether the one
tangible peril to civilization is not its own
greed, jealousies and stupidities.