The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-16
CHINESE GORDON'S PROPHECY.
A Remarkable Forecast Twenty Years
Ago of Current Events in China.
New York Sun.

There was probably no European more
qualified to express an opinion of the
Chinese than Colonel Gordon, more COM
monty called Chinese Gordon, whose
strange career closed at Khartum in Janu-
airy, 1885, His military association with
them during the two years, from 1853 TO
1865, when he commanded the Ever Nicto-
rlous Army, as Ii was styled, gave MN a
unique experience of the Chinese and an
insight into their somewhat complex char
acter.
With the crudest material and in spite
of the strongest opposition, an opposition
that would have been fatal but for the
loyal support he received throughout his
short term of service under the Emperor
of China from Ii Hung Chang. he organ
lied a force that under European officers
of nearly every nationality, including some
Americans. suppressed the Tapping rebel
lion then threatening the existence of China
and the dynasty. The opinions he ex-
pressed, therefore have at the present mo-
ment exceptional value.
One which he gave confdentially to
friend in 1880 when he was just on the
point of leaving for India, where he had
accepted the post of secretary to the vice
roy, Lord Ripon, is just now Of particular
interest. Speaking of the Tapping rebellion,
and of the courage of the Chinese troops,
he denied that they were towards in one
sense. He held that they did not fear
death, though he had seen them stand up
bravely sometimes and then flee like sheep
afterward. But what Europeans would
have to consider was, he said, the awful
consequences OF general movement, Wnen
least expected, in the vast inert mass of
hundreds of millions of men to overwhelm
the foreign devils whom they hate like
poison.
The danger Of such an outburst, Gordon
said. became greater every year on account
of the way the Chinese were being con-
tinually harassed by the European states
with demands for compensations, in some
cases just in others quite frivolous. When
they saw that their only means of meeting
the aggressions was TO organize an army
with improved weapons, then they would
buy guns and rifles and ships, and with
the aid of Europeans. who would always
be found ready to drill and organize them,
they would create formidable army.
OF one thing Gordon felt quite sure The
days when Europeans could march up TO
Chinese troops in position, or in defense
of a position. and sweep them away like
flies, would soon be over. There would
be no more military promenades by a few
hundred British and French troops through
the country, driving thousands OF Chinese
before them.
Speaking of the authorities Gordon said
a mandarin was never to be trusted, and
he was only too glad when he left their
service. The English, in his opinion, made
the mistake of thinking they were well
come wherever they went but in fifteen or
twenty years they would find proof TO the
contrary. With all their superstitions.
their vices and their ignorance, the Chi
nese were, in Gordon's estimation, far too
good to be ruled by the class that gov
erned them. The governments OF France,
Russia and England. he emDhatically de-
clared, had for the forty years before the
time he spoke treated the Chinese most
scandalously.
Current events are proving how accur-
ately Chinese Gordon judged the situation.
and the regret is that certain defects of
character and temperament should have
caused him to abandon a position in which
he could have rendered great service to
China and civilization. In the light OF
what is passing in China to-day, Gordon
words of twenty years ago have a prophet
| ic ring.