The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-24

stalled all other nations. especially Japan
which has irretrievably lost its opportu-
nifty to become the ruling power OF the
Far East Had Japan struck the neceSs-
sary blow at Russia last year. an" mao
she won. she would have been IN a posi-
ton to dictate to all the world so far as
China is concerned.
The Chinese Character.
'aThe Chinese are essentially a COM
mercial and agricultural race. The gen.
eral conception that there are all akin 10
che laundryman. so common In our count
try il absurd China has a high civiliza-
ton, with a fine literature, ana WINE
Chinese methods may seem antiquated
and ridiculous from our viewpoint get,
there is much to he said in favor OF the
Confucian civilization. For instance, there
is not one line in all the Chinese sacred
books, upon which Chinese civilization
rests and which prescribes etiquette ana
morals, which could not be read aloud
before children. This IS more than can
be said of the sacred books OF some other
nationalities and races. But to return TO
the individual Chinese. He is not dense
on the contrary he is an Intellectual
marvel in many respects. The greater
occidental diplomats are helpless when
face to face with the diplomats OF emma.
A Chinese diplomat Will sit opposite to you
and will lie most palpably and openly ana
yet knowing that every word he has ut
tered is a lie, you can do nothing. That
is why diplomacy moves SO slowly IN
Pekin.
Time and again the foreign represen-
tatives in Pekn have thought they had
the Chinese government cornered, vita
out loOphole for escape Nevertheless,
when the crucial moment has arrived,
Chinese diplomacy has enabled the gov
eminent to turn a mental somersault and
to wriggle out of any and all promises
made"
Then Chinese morality is not very
high. judged by our standards
ION the contrary, China is the most
moral nation in the world, taken as a
nation OF course, there are individ-
| uas in every nation that disgrace them
selves and their race. 1t is so with China,
but. on the whole, the Chinese are eNcep-
tionally moral Sexual laxity is held in
far greater adherence in China than IN
any occidental land, and reverence for
parents Is far more general there than
here or in Europe, as all the world
knows"
Two International Blunders.
But it China is so civilized. why are
the Chinese so opposed to foreigners"
There has been a somewhat natural
reaction After the war of 1860 the ma
tons made a great mistake in admitting
China into the comfy of nations as a
civilized power They should have taken
charge of the empire ms cad. and per-
iod of at least hundred years should
have been devoted 20 its reform. That
precaution was neglected and the nations
are now reaping the consequence. China
as "a nation is wondrously and terribly
COnCeited This must always be borne
in mind when Chinese matters are con
sidered. Most serious international COM
pleXities there have been due 10 this
Chinese trait. Every time foreign Wig
lance is relaxed China arrives at the con-
clusion that she has grown powerful
enough to dispense with foreigners and
unpleasant incidents of all sorts ensue
1.-THE mistake of 1860 might have been
remedied in 1895, Just after the japanese
war. Then Japan should have assumed
the responsibility of undermining China
but Russia interfered, and as a result
China, having recovered from her hum
iliation, is again endeavoring to throw
off all foreign influence"
Gould not the progressive Ii Hung
Chang have interviewed at this time?"
Iii is progressive only when it suits
his personal purposes. He has proved
a great disappointment 10 many of his
friends. though he has many admirers
still. While enlightened in many ways he
is yet Chinese But all ractionary in
fiuences combined can not prevent the
gradual elimination of Chinese mediae
valism, for the leaven is there and is
working. The younger generation OF
Chinese will prove the ultimate saivatior
of their country, no matter what meas