Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-09

our office holders learned in the old lore
and caring nothing for the new, who do
not want change Of any kind. We who toll
and raise the taxes and tribute rice and
carry on the business of the empire know
that We want some bus.ne changes-that,
those of us who have been In the outside
world know 1t.
We realize that China Is the greatest
unexpected market In the world. You of
the outer world have much that we need.
We have much to give you IN return. We
nave been much surprised that the Ameri-
cans, until very lately, took no interest IN
securing part Of this great market.
Just a little while ago, as we chinese
reckon time, the Americans suddenly be-
came awake. Then your men came over
mere, looking in earnest for the concessions
Tor railways and mines. We want the rail-
ROADS, Tor we cannot move all great
commerce down to the without your
engines and cars We want your machi-
merry, Tor then our mines will become worth
ten, twenty times as much to us and we
shall have more money to spend for the
goods that other nations send to
We wanted the Americans to Supply
these railroads We wanted you to sell us
the machinery for our mines, and teach us
now to use the machines. We thought you
were gong to do it. You surely made us
the best bids
How greatly We were surprised when we
saw Americans fail to get the concessions!
We asked those of your men who were
among us why it happened So They grew
angry and said that their government at
home had gone to sleep: that the govern
ments of Europe were much more awake
Ihen we began to see it IN another light.
we realized that The United States was not
as great nation as we had believed
America was AFRAID OF Europe-too afraid
to demand the things that belonged to your
people. We We're sorry, yet We could not
help laughing behind your backs. You
Americans had claimed to be so great-you
We're nothing! We began to understand
that America, whom We had trusted, was
a h..l
We had never trusted"
But what did that have to do with
starting the Boxer outrages?' l persisted.
Our Notes to Europc
Said Yang:
Il am coming TO that. When we saw how
weak your country was our hearts began
to fail us. We knew that Europe wanted
to steal our country and we saw nothing
10 serve us a shield Then your coun-
try began to get very nervous Your gov
eminent at Washington sent out anxious
notes to all the countries of Europe ask
ing them to pledge themselves that China
should be permitted to keep her own gov
eminent and that the trading privileges of
all nations should be alike.
THAT set us TO thinking. You foreign
devils have always helped each other
against us. You know better what each -
doing than we could hope TO know. But
are shrewd and We know how to sus-
pect. When we heard that your govern
ment had sent that note to the govern
ments of the other countries We understood
that your government knew better than We
how Europe was preparing to divide this
empire We knew then that we must fight
for life.
Until then the Boxers had amounted to
little. Their ranks began to swell. Before
long the Boxers numbered millions of men
who were pledged to die to save China. Our
officials began to join the Boxers. Our
bankers and other rich men supplied them
with money.
You contributed, of course?" / innocent
ly asked
Yang's eyes closed. but without showing
any other signs of irritation he went on:
LAS l have said, 1t was that note from
your government to the other governments
that opened our eyes. That is why | say
that your American government is at fault
for the starting of the Boxer troubles. L
know what l am saying. for | have often
talked It over with my friends from Shangsi
and they are men who, like myself have
Travelled even as far as Hong Kong.
But hasn't this fighting showed you how
hopeless it is for China to fight the rest Of
the world?' | suggested.
Started the War Too Soon.
mo. We have only learned that we start
ed the war too soon. We must wait and
be patient now, even if we suffer. We
must have railroads built all over the
empire We must get our mines in better
of coolies and artisans who will understand
TO make foreign devil rifles well as You
make them yourselves. We must wait I'M
til we have everything. Then we can begin
to fight again. The next time we shall
win. Your foreign devil troops would never
have reached Pekn if we had plenty of
railroads.
Even from the United States you are
able to send troops here in less time than
ii now takes us to move an army from my
native Shansi, which is but five hundred
miles away Give railroads, give
rifles, and al any time we can in three days
surround Pekin with SO many millions of
soldiers that not all the foreign devil fight
ing men in the world could ever take Pc
kin.
You have helped us. We have lost this
time. but our punishment will not be
we're. We shall be better ready to fight
next time, If we are patient. Had not your
government started the Boxers by sending
that note to the governments of Europe,
perhaps We should have found out too late
how weak we when it comes TO fight
ing. But we know now. We shall not be
weak many years more. We Chinese would
be ungrateful if did not thank you in
our hearts for starting the present war"
The little porcelain pot packed in its red
waddinged basket was empty of water now.
locked as if he wanted to settle for nap.
back to my quarters doing a heap of think
ing all the way.
Is 1t true, after all, that the American
note TO the powers started the trouble?
b. r. SELWYN.
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