New-York tribune., 1901-08-03


read it," These claims not very well sup
ported by the contents of the book, though 1t
gives in brief compass good deal of useful
and as far as we have been able 10 test it, ac-
curate information.
Very different from these Western studies OF
China's downfall is "China's Only Hope" free
translation OF a remarkable book written by the
Viceroy Chang Chin -Tung. and published some
time ago under the authority Of Emperor Kwang
Su 1t is estimated that its circulation among
the Chinese has amounted to over million
COPIES The purpose Of the author-who is an
eminent supporter of the reform movement in
China-is to arouse his countrymen TO the oes-
perate condition of the empire. and to convince
them that II can be saved from total destruction
by the European powers only by the appropr-
alton of Western knowledge 1t Is TO Japan
that the Viceroy looks for the most efficient IN
struction-largely no doubt because of the i'm
preston produced upon him by the Chinese-
japanese War Her proximity to China the
similarity Of her language, literature ana Gus
toms and the labor she has performed IN select-
ing and translating European books ana appFo-
priating European methods. make her' ne tiliilhs'
bv far the most available of teachers. Besides.
il is IN Japan that he expects to hnd' II Chiha
bestirs herself, his country's firmest ally.
myriads OF troops on land; with daily additions
to both ships and troops with the daily
strengthening of our ports and equlppihg theu
with the best engines OF modern warfare anu
with the railways intersecting the land, what
country would dare begin hostilities against
China or In any way infringe upon her treaty
rights? We would be in a position to redress
our wrongs without the fear Of stalking all upon
minor issues Under these conditions Japan VIII
side with China Europe will retire, ana the FAR
East will be at rest.
Utterances such as these are Of extraordinary
significance even though they may now express
the sentiments OF a small minority. II is not
impossible that they may rapidly become the
sentiments Of a majority OF those who have the
destiny Of China in their keeping. though 1t may
be now too late for them TO be effective in saw
ing the empire Had China following Japan.
adopted those ideas twenty years ago. the his
tory Of the world would have been changed. 1t
is especially notable that not a word in this
little book implies the desire on the part OF the
Viceroy to Europeanize China. He is thoroughly
satisfied with his country's fundamental insti-
tutions, political and religious. He simply de-
mands for her that practical modern knowledge
the possession OF which he thinks means ma
tonal power. His object is TO save China
10 preserve her as she is. Incidentally. the book
is interesting as a revelation of the often COM
icany perverted view Of European civilization
that is held by the best educated Chinese.
In The Real Chinese Question" Mr.. Chester
Holcombe also endeavors TO see the situation
from the Chinese point OF view Books enough
and TO spare. he says have been written about
China from the European standpoint. telling
with great detail and much ingenuity what China
wants what China desires. and what is best for
China, with the sole object Of promoting the in
terests of British commerce and thwarting the
s1,a-
power. But regarding what China needs. for
Chinas sake. the world OF literature is mark
edly silent" One reason for this certainly is
the extreme difficulty of prescribing accurately
for the Improvement Of social and political con-
ditions which II is almost impossible for a West
erner thoroughly TO understand One has only
to compare Viceroy Chang Chih-Tung's discus
sion Of the problem with Mr.. Holcombe's 10 com
prehend this difficulty. However. Mr.. Hol-
combes attempt is seriously made. and his book
is instructive and suggestive. His opportunities,
during many years of official work at Peking
for studying Chinese character and needs have
been exceptional.
Much the same point OF view is occupied by
Mr.. Alexander Niche in China and Christian
ity," though he deals with a more restricted
problem. He has for many years been the cor
respondent Of The London Times in Peking
and has shown himself 10 be an accurate OBJ
server and careful writer. His book merits a.
more extended notice than our space permits us
TO give TO il here. We can only say that he en-
deavors TO explain the hostility Of the Chinese
toward Christian missions from the point of
view Of an intelligent Chinese rather than from
that OF the missionary-with results that are
often exceedingly enlightening. He is an apollo
gist neither OF China of the missions but
IN he
rather. the religio-political situation The book
can heartily be commended TO all who desire
to understand this. the most important point
in the Chinese problem.
The rest OF the books upon our lists are
records OF travel. rather than studies in poll
tics and war. General ]. II. wilson's China"
is the third edition of a we'll known and esteemed
work It has been revised and enlarged the
most notable addition being brief account of
the operations Of the allies in the relief OF
Peking. General Wilson reached the scene of
action after the campaign over, and was
appointed by General Chaffee commander of the
United States forces in the capital. He records
his conviction that five thousand good troops
with battery Of light artillery could have
easily hustled the Chinese forces out of the way
and captured Peking at any time after the be-
ginning Of the Boxer outbreak"
China and the Present Crisis" by Joseph
Walton. NJ. T., is for the most part a record OF
personal experiences during a comparatively
brief visit to China and Japan. Lastly, THE
Attache at Peking'' by Mr. A B. Freeman
Milford, is series of letters written in 1850 80
by Mr.. Milford from Peklng. where he was a
member Of the British Embassy. The letters are
interesting, and throw a great deal of light upon
the condition OF affairs in the Chinese capital
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