The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-07-25
DANGER N IRE EAST
Japan and China Combined
Might 0verrun Europe.
RUSSIA Is THE BUFFER
Why Japan Should be Kept
Out of China Now.
RUSSIA is THE BUFFER

the unauthorized initiative of some Euro.
pean nation in China-not this is the most
awful catastrophe that may follow upon
a careless handling Of the present situa-
ton Far more awful is the still more
imminent contingency which may follow
IN allowing Japan to fight the battles of
Europe against China, viz: a Monaghan
invasion Of Europe.
The yellow periP' must not be treated
homoeopathically. Yellow must not be
left to deal with yellow. All the facts of
history and Of sociology point 10 The Ger
tainty that if Japan conquered China the
early result would be an ANA ganlation of
the yellow races against the white
We must not forget the natural attrac-
tons Of like for like, the natural antag-
onIsm Of unlike for unlike. Japan may
war with China to gain her own ends
But Japanese and Chinese love each
other better than they love any European
nation.
| We must not forget the assimilative
powers of China Foreign invaders have
successfully conquered her, only to be-
come portion Of the conquered. Her
| last conquerors-the Manchus, who new
rule her-are more Chinese than the Chi
nese.
/ We must not forget the vast numbers
| or the Chinese, the potentiallties OF their
| environment. One-third of the worlds
population is here crowded into eighteen
provinces, many of which in their natural
resources far surpass such countries as
France and Germany.
It may be urged that thase millions are
sluggish, unpatriotic, cowarily, .nci':c.e Mt.
All this is true and not true. The de-
acription applies in a measure to such of
tn Chinese as came into evidence during
the Japanese war. But what the Chinese
might become under japanese tutelage we
can only guess. The soldiers who took
part in the recent war were a mere Chi
nese raleble, gathered from the slums by
thiezish military mandarins, who, to in
crease their own gains, sought only the
cheapest flesh and blood. Lord Wolselev
has asserted that the Chinese of the bet
ter classes are magnificent material for
soldiers. This assertion has been proved
whenever the material. properly selected.
was placed under efficient leadership.
The average Chinese, indeed, is the
hardest Of men. He lives on the most
meagre diet, he works uncomplainingly
twelve and fourteen hours a day, he car
endure pain with an equanimity impossi
bic to the European and he attaches so
little value to life that he is willing to
throw it away at a moments notice in
order to annoy an enemy. Surely, here
is the ideal soldier.
1t is computed that China could put an |
army of forty millions in the field Forty |
millions of men of the type already de- |
scribed. Differed and led by the japanese.
might well be able to put all Europe to |
the sword,
The barbarians of northern Europe over
whelmed the civilization of southern Eu-
rope. Now that civilization has every
where been re-established in Europe, is 1t
rot time to ask whether the barbarians
of the east may not overwhelm the civili-
cation of the west? Is there not reason
to fear that we may be driven back again
into another period of darkness, when in
diligence will slumber and brute force
viii be in the ascendant?
1t is quite possible that in their ga ger
ness to dispose satisfactorily of the Chi
nese crisis the diplomats may have es-
capped but narrowly from creating a peril
tenfold more threatening to the western
nations than even the most anarchistic
in the internal affairs of China.
The close students of international poll
ties are just beginning to realize this
fact and to understand that in anxiety ,
for their present interests the nations
might easily give inception to a power
which in the end might overwheIm them ,
ALL Upon the results Of events less mo- {
mentous than those of the last few days I
the fate not only Of nations but Of en- {
lra races sometimes has depended.
To understand how an apparently sim II
pie and satisfactory solution OF the press
ng Chinese question might have proved 2
IN the end piece of the greatest unwis- $
loln, It IS necessary to refer briefly to the 8
recent course OF diplomatic affairs. {
Newspaper readers are aware that I'd 10 2
week ago one Of the plans most fire. !
lnently preached for the setting straight :
he tangled course Of affairs in the Celes- q
Ia Empire was that Of turning the en- :
Ire task over to Japan. BY this plan 4
Japan was TO supply the troops and TO | +
AIRY cut the operations necessary for
ne restoration Of order. She was 10 re 7
eve the support. both moral and mate n
nal. OF the other powers, and when her =
ask was completed. Of course was TO be
ewarded colnmensurately with her exer-
ions.
On the surface the suggestion had nuob
o recommend it. GeographicaIIy japan is
coated more advantageouslv than an
'ther power. not excepting Russia, for =
military operations against China. .iaosn
vas prepared and could throw AZ on,e
arg, vlsrgaha- Of r~,>r- 81, 1s-.-- | 6
d territory as no other nation could do a
Moreover It was generally understood s
hat Japan was willing to accept the COM (
Mission Il oennite assurances were given 2
Ter that she would be permitted 10 enjoy 4
ne fuA fruits Of victory which she be-
.eved had been denied her on the occa- k
Ion Of her war with China six years aga. a
No remarkable foresight IS required 10 {
Understand that the practical result of the il
oopJion Of this plan would be 10 make I
apan the most influential power in China. .
lot only for the time being. but also af- z
or the QuelGng OF the present uprising. Q
aQan would prove herself entirely with
ut the ambitions common 20 al nations :
she consented to yield a position SO ad {
ambiguous and 10 surrender the leader n
hip in Chinese affairs once II had been ?
aimed. To give Japan a free hand al :
MS time would mean that Il would be :
ecessa-y 20 iatrust her with the task OF
constructing Chinese civilization. which =
lrst he undertaken sooner OF. later. :
While Japan has made record never :.
quale3 by any other nation in recon- :
tructins the entire fabric OF her cIvf,,za- ;.
len within a few decades. she IS stsu :
'!de'y different IN her methods and ideals | ..
rom the Caucasian nations. Il is ~ -,ao- ! =