The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-26
GRAVITY OF THE CHINESE
PROBLEM.

II lDOdtAh
been brought face to face with so serious
a problem as the situation in China now
forces upon it. The allied powers now
hold the capital, even the forbidden city,
They have rescued the foreigners in Pek-
ing and they may be able to do so in other
parts of the empire, but they have not
reached the ruling dynasty. nor have they
been able TO communicate with Its men,
bers. 1t is probable that, having begun a
war to expel foreigners and western civili-
zation, the present rulers will continue
to hold aloof from the allies. All the in
formation given the world by European
travellers and residents respecting China
and it's people seems OF little value Even
the population of the empire Is not known
within tens of millions. The estimates
within a few years nave ranged from
200, 900, 600, years ago. to 100000 900 in recent
times, while the latest estimate is go, 900, 900.
Even those who have studied the Chinese
at home cannot agree upon their possibili-
ties when western civilization shall be
forced upon them. One writer within a
DTleI DeTlOO gives d SlOWluS piOpiicOJ Va
the vastness of the markets which modern
civilization will open. while another alarms
us with predictions that the competi-
ton of the Chinese, when once the masters
of modern machinery, will bring ruin to
America.
The world has been led to believe that
the Chinese millions are apathetic and
docile, and will readily submit to new
conditions. This view has been generally
accepted since the war between japan and
China and the yielding of territory to
European nations without a struggle. In
deed, modern nations had come to the con-
clusion that China was inhabited by many
millions of people so passive that outsiders
could do with them as they might wish.
Consequently, land-greedy nations proposed
to break up the empire and take the pieces.
while private corporations have secured
from compliant rulers concessions for rail-
roads and other industries which are a
part of modern civilization. The energy
displayed by foreigners in the building Of
railroads and the undertaking Of enter
prises which the Chinese do not regard
with favor seems to lave inspired national
sentiment in a people which was believed
to be devoid of the sentiment of nationality
and patriotism, and aroused hostility to the
| civilization of the white DEVILS" 1t is
| not the religion of the missionary that the
| Chinese are in arms against, because the
missionary has been in China a long time.
Indeed, the Chinese have no religion be-
| yond a few vague superstitions. 1t Is the
more positive and aggressive civilization
| OF modern nations, with railroads, factories
/ and machinery. that has aroused and APP
p~arently united the Chinese against these
| innovations. China's hundreds of thousands
Of carriers see in the railroad their ruin,
and the hundreds of thousands or hand
workers in their homes see displacement
and starvation in the f~orerunriers of the
factory system with machinery, for which
they are untitled after generations Of skill
full land work have made them mere ma
chimes.
All classes of Chinese. the more intelli-
gent as web as the ignorant and supersti-
tious. see nothing but their effacement
in the aggressive civilization of Europe.
The Emperor, who looked with favor
upon the new civilization a few years age
and took steps to introduce it, was deposed
and killed. His successor, while pretend.
ing to be friendly to foreigners and desir.
Gus of protecting them, is at the head OF
the movement against the invasion OF
China by modern ideas. In short, the
movement is national. The Chinese desire
to be rid of foreigners and their civiliza,
ton. Instead Of asking them to withdraw
the Chinese made the mistake Of adopting
the policy of assassination. The result o.
that policy is that Picking is in the hand!
of the allies. The result of a request t.
be let alone would probably nave beer
war and the partition Of the empire
Would the governments now represented
by the allies in China have needed the re
quest of the Chinese that foreigners with
draw and that the country be closed L
the outside world? Nearly fifty years az,
the United States forced Japan to opel
its ports to the outside world. Would thi
country row r~epudiate the precedent es
tablished by the administrations of Pierc
and Buchanan, or would Difference b
given to the now much talked OF consen
of the governed? Will the allies say t
China, our civilization is much better 10
you than that you now have. and you hav
no right to close your ports to the com
merce of the world? If China resists, vic
lating treaties which have sometimes bee,
wrested from its rulers. will that violatio,
be regarded as cause for invasion and tn
setting up of a government with moder
tendencies or the partition of the countr
among European governments? The Unite
State would retire upon the safe delivery @
its citizens. the payment of indemnity 70
the losses of American citizens and III
cost of the present invasion 70 protec
American citizens; but suppose the CHI
nese authorities will not comply with thes
requirements, what will our governmer
do?
1t is easy to say that the allies can plac
some liberal prince on the throne of Chin
= - 80 Ag, H,% &1f- -~.rI -