The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-21
SATURDAY, JULY 81, 1900.
TT MAY BE A TREMENDOUS UN-
DERTaKISG-

Every one has his opinion about the
Chinese situation and The Times may,
therefore state its opinions without run
ming the risk of being thought presump-
tuous. In our opinion there is far more in
volved in the matter than the average
man thinks The Chinese have a civiliza-
ton of their own which differs essentially
from ours in many directions, but it IS a
civilization nevertheless, the development
of which has been going on steadily upon
fixed lines FOR thousands of years. and the
Chinese are Just as much devoted to their
theories and ideas, strange aus we may
think them. as we can be to ours
E:ents have been happening of late
which have seriously alarmed the Chinese
people Germany has established herself
upon their territory and claims authority
over 4 large section Of it France has
established herself upon another large sec
tor of It. Russia is making encroachments
upon her in another quarter, and Great
Britain has given strong evidence of an in
iention to take for herself what will COM
pensate for what the other powers
have taken. All these things together
have made a deep impression upon
the Chinese mind and they caused
them to ask themselves the qnes
ton, whether the west proposes to over
throw eastern IDEAS and end Chinese civili-
cation as an existing institution. When we
think there are some Chinese who are out
OF sympathy with the present insurrection-
airy movement in our opinion, We make an
error. We believe Ii Hung Chang is
much a part of what is going on as Prince
Tuan is, and that all of China is in as
earnest sympathy with the movement as
the whole of the South was in the South's
interest in our Civil Var. We believe.
further. that China has been preparing for
the present struggle for some time and that
she is in far better position for main
tanning herself than the world had sup
posed.
The western powers have got to do
something in view of the present situation.
and the important question is. what shall
that something be? Two courses are open
to the world. One is to content Itself with
such reparaiion and indemnity as it may
secure by bombarding the Chinese seaports
and eAacting money indemniues from
them The other Is to make war upon
China, as a nation, march an army to
Pekin and other important places; hurnil-
late China. as nation, and compel her.
as nation, 10 make such reparation as
they may think the case requires The
first course Is a very simple one. but what
is to be said of the second?
IN their war with the japanese a few
wears back, the Chinese learned the inn
portance of modern arms and western or
Eanization and methods of making war.
and 1t is plain that they have been profitng
by their lessons They have certainly pro-
v.ded themselves with a large supply OF
modern rifles and cannon, and with am
munition for ipcth. Further, they now have
factories in which all can be manufac-
tured; they have also secured the services
OF foreign driIl-masters 10 teach their SOL
tdiers how to drill and organize How
many soldiers they have thus taught, no
one. of course. can know, but this we
know, that a private. we'll disciplined. can
quickly discipline regiment of recruits.
The Eh7nese nave an unlimited supply OF
men who make the best soldiers. capable
OF any amount Of fatigue and who can live
on rice alone. and those whom they now
have drilled are sufficient Instructors to
drin an army Of ten millions of men. These
are the conditions which any man can see
must probably exist, and II they do exist,
what is the rest of the world going to do
about 1t? The experience OF the allies ar
Ten TsiE proves that the Chinese soldier.
when well armed and drilled. is a tough
subject TO encounter. and the dispatches
TO the London papers say that tae
Japanese contingent In that fight showed
tsself In every way superior TO both the
European and the American soldiers. It
WAS . perfect machine With every appoint
ant pkex and conpaetA Nor need this