The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-30

A London cablegram says that Lord
Wolseley, commander of the British army,
Is quoted in an interview as saying THAI
China through love Of nature and art
must one day develop into a great nation"
He Is further said to hold the opinion that
the last great fight for the supremacy of
the world will be between China and the
United States. Lord Wolseley is a man of
great ability. keen Insight and large ex-
rerience, and his views on international
questions are interesting whether one
agrees with them or not. In this case, in
which he makes the United States a potent
factor in the question of ultimate suprem-
acy, he does not assign any position to
Great Britain. unless. as is likely. he
means to make her an ally of the United
States in the last great struggle for Anglo
Saxon supremacy.
The first part of Lord wolseley's predic-
ton Is not difficult tc believe. The western
world has become so accustomed to regard
III the Chinese people as inferior. ignorant,
STUPID. heather, etc., that it fails u ake
notice OF their redeeming qualities. Yet
they possess many such qualities, and the
fact that they nave thus far kept out of
the worlds march Of progress and are very
far behind does not prove that they may
rot some day attain 4 very different place.
With a more liberal government and once
imbued with the spirit of progress no one
can tell what they may become. 1t has
been but a little while since Japan was
rated in the same class with China, yet
now Japan holds an honorable place in
The family of nations and is making Won
derful progress in commerce, manufac-
lures and material development. There is
no reason why China should not do the
same under favorable conditions. Those
who have made a study of the subject say
the Chinese are superior to the Japanese
intellectually and capable of higher de-
velopment and progress. With her rich
soil and varied climate. her long coast line.
her agricultural and mineral resources. her
immense territory and her vast population,
ingenious, initiative and thrifty, China Is
undoubtedly destined to take the lead
among Oriental nations. When she once
starts on a course of progress and develop
ment she will soon outstrip, overshadow
and perhaps absorb Japan.
Lord Wolseley's idea that the end of all
things will be China fighting the United
States Cor the supremacy of the world is
one of those things that may be discussed
hut cannot be demonstrated. Some think
the final struggle for the worlds suprem-
acy will be between the Slav and the
Saxon. and very ingenious arguments are
advanced in favor of that view. 1t is quite
as likely to be between the Monaghan and
the Anglo-Saxon, for China has as great
possibilities of future aggression as Russia.
In either case the Anglo Saxon will be one
of the factors, and in the light OF history
there cannot lie much doubt as to the re-
suit. On one point, however. the world is
likely to be undeceived before another
century has passed. and that is as to the
latent power of China and the capacity of
her people for progress. In all the world
there is 10 greater mystery to-day than the
future Of China, and it is probable its sclu-
ton contains some startling surprises.