Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-19

the interests OF the European states In
China. They certainly do not consist In
having lands for colonization. because there
Is not an inch of ground there which Is not
already cultivated. even to excess. Neither
can an immediate increase in the exporta-
ton of goods be hoped for. The wants of
the Chinese are of the most restricted de-
scription. and in the second place. the
women are almost slaves, and as that siav-
cry forms the corner stone of Chinese
society. II cannot be altered
The Chinese have clothing. houses,
amusements, which are not subject to fash
ion. During the whole OF the year 1Sis
merchandise to the amount of 4l1,Oo,Ob
francs only could be imported into the
country, the greater part consisting of cot
ton. opium. rice and petroleum tand opium
is not European produco. with barely
twenty-one millions worth of textile fabrics
and eleven millions worth of machinery.
And what need Is there for augmenting
the ports in order to sell these goods? Ger
many Increased her imports from two mill
ion to twenty-eight in ten years. without
augmenting her ports. and England. with
an augmentation OF ports, is at discount
and worse still for export.
Opens No Great Market.
If the whole of China belonged to Euro
peans the Chinese would not sell their mer-
chandise more cheaply. But it Is said that
with conquest and railroads new needs
would arise; but IL the Chinese. who have
been long years In America, have under
gone no change, how would they change
at home? Moreover in order to acquire new
products, one must have the wherewithal
to pay for them, and where are these new
resources to be found? 1t is asserted that
importations have increased to notewor-
thy extent during the last Few years, but
the depreciation In the value of the tael IL
lost sight of, and when we make the CAL
culation we see that from 1878 to 1873 they
increased only to the value of S2l ,0Oo0
The most easy and dangerous probability
Is that with railways and the low price of
labor and the masses OF COAL China will
become an exporter instead of importer
The "Kolnische Zeitung," like many other
German publications, continues to talk of
the great advantages which Germany will
acquire with occupation, and demands a
further increase of the navy; but with
what object, If all the other states, while
taking possession of ports, say with the
exception of Russia) that access will re-
main free to all countries? Why this de
sire to go hunting in the affairs of Gilman
The present revolt shows that this coun-
try, which was treated like another re-
public of San Marine, is waking up and
does not wish to remain under the yoke of
Europe. BY attempting to exaggerate their
oppression the Europeans will eXasperate
this people, will spur them on to more
dangerous. because better prepared, upris-
ings.
sim Greater Peril.
And still greater peril lies In this, that,
seeing themselves incompletely rescued
from the Manchu government, they will
throw themselves into the arms of Japan,
and then 1t will not only become necessary
to treat with immense, well-organized
power. but with one which will wish to seize
in It's turn all the foreign markets which
are dependent upon Europe Only a few
years separate the Prussia of Jena from
that of 1911, and. by a greater irony.
China will be indebted for her transforma-
ton to her most implacable enemies. The
military reorganization which comes from
Europe is beginning to make it's way into
China China has imported 100000 rifles of
the most perfect European type. If China
be occupied, not less than one hundred mil
lion francs will be required for every fort
that is constructed there and ten millions
year for its maintenance IL the climatic
conditions permit of its being done at all:
and this year we have seen the tremendous
difficulty which has been experienced in 4
still greater degree during the cold season
with an army much smaller than the one
assumed. and a much greater fixed sum for
provisioning it.
In any case, the definite conquest by
means of an army of occupation maintained
constantly in China in the midst of a nos
tile population, an inmical climate, would
involve perils infinitely great in COMPARE
son with the interests of the few thousands
of Europeans whom it is a question of pro-
tecting. not to reckon in the fact that IL
China really does become Europeanizcd, as
Is the most ardent expansionists' desire, we
shall completely arm against an enemy
who. up to the present time. Is civilized
after his own fashion and far less to be
feared
Hence, North America is acting wisely IN
not allowing herself to be aged into
Europe's stupid current OF conquest for
Europe will end by bitterly repenting of
her, apparently, too easy victories.