The Florida star., 1900-07-27

Ieauy 10 take nanu IN the SettlemenL
OF her destiny whenever the powers
shall set the ball rolling. Before the
war with Japan in 1894 IL was the fash
Ion TO take an omlnous view OF the situ-
alton in the far east with respect to
China. 1t was predicted by some that
should the Celestlals will it they might
rule the world. Lord Wolseley was
very emphatic in his opinion that China
was n country TO be feared. But when
Peking suecumbed to the little king
dom beyond the Yellow sea it seemed
as though the pretensiOn OF her great
ness was only Il sham.
But the war with Japan was not
national crisis. China Is unlike any
western country. Her central. or i'm
perial, government administers the af-
fairs OF the realm, but does not con-
troll the realm. The war with Japan
was the work of the throne. Analogies
might be found in the American war
of 1872 and the Mexican war. Then
the administration stood alone. The
people and their representatives were
hostile or indifferent. When the Chi
nese saw that they were being whip
ped and humillated by Il pygmy race,
the national spirit was aroused. The
country stood ready TO take up arms,
but the throne made a hasty peace
with Japan and put the Onus upon
scapegoat. Had China arisen then and
settled with Japan and all the other
foreigners ii would have been the end
of the MantchOo dynasty. No one who is
we'll informed upon Chinese character
and resource considers the affair with
Japan Il criterion by which TO judge
the nation. The imperial court is not
the nation; Peking is not China. After
making due allowance for exaggera-
tions on the part OF those who have
held that China might one day rule the
world it is frankly admitted that she
could dominate il if she would.
Recently q British diplomat who had
long resided I'm the east gave express
sion 10 his views upon the wisdom of
European encrOaChments in China. His
voice is against them OH purely diScre-
tlOnary grounds. Leaving out the
probability OF China's putting vast ar
be done. and that the troops will give
a good account of themselves, the Chi
nese can and will make their country
too hot To hold the foreigners. Says
this gentleman:
IF there be one Chinese characters
tic more fixed and certain than anOth-
cr. IL is emphatically their tOughness
and stubbOruncsS. Herein the China
man Is far more like the badger than
Is cny other specimen OF the genus ho-
mo. This inherent race quality natu-
rally arises out of and might well have
been predicted from Chinese history
and environment. The Chinaman OF
today is pre-emincntly specimen OF
the survival OF the littcst. His ances-
tors for untold generations have been
accustomed 10 work longer hours 10
DrolOng existence under more trying
and insanitary conditions. TO eat hum
bier food and rest in 4 more uncertain
and casual sleep than probably any
other race on earth. His physical con-
dition has responded To this ordeal
II we were To select 80 good. average.
healthy spCcimens OF 80 OF the most
varied races of men, white and col
ored. and set them all 10 work together
under similar but specially arduous
and trying conditions Of hard toll,
scanty and repellent fare. bad water,
little sleep, etc, till 40 OF them were
knocked up and done for. we should
very probably find that the solitary