The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-08-02

self and other countries. 1t has been ac-
customed to describe itself as beneath
the sky or the world, "aI within the
four seas, and 'the middle kingdom"
Such designations are due to ignorance,
and the ignorance Is due to isolation.
The people have thought that their own
was the only land worth speaking of.
Given these conditions, it is not so
surprising that they have had their log
ical onsequences-ogical to the Chi
nese. The ignorance has been persistent,
the conceit has issued in arrogance, the
arrogance has closed the doors of China
| to the outside world until they were
forced open, and has eliminated in hos
tilities, and the hostilities have been In
tensiied until they have attacked, In
purpose, all lands and peoples, civilized
and unciyilized. About decade since the
Chinese Minister to France was asked
whether he regarded the Chinese civiliz-
alton superior to the French. He ex-
pressed surprise that the question should
be asked land left no doubt as to his
opinion of Chinese superiority.
Is it TO be wondered at however that
China has considered herself self suffi-
cient? 1t Is not the middle kingdom of
the world, but 1t is of Asia 1t lies in
the middle and On the southeastern slope
of Asia. 1t incloses an area of 5000, 600
or over one-half the circumference of the
globe. 1t comprises one-third of Asia and
one-tenth of the whole earth. 1t is in
habited almost exclusively by Chinese
The foreigners are not yet numerous.
They are so few that the hostility to
them reminds us of the Biblical proph-
ecy that zone shall chase a thousand
and two put ten thousand to flight" It's
original eighteen provinces are various
ly estimated at from 1,34s,S70 to 1000, 900
square miles, or nearly the equivalent of
the States lying east Of the Mississippi
River, plus Texas. Arkansas, Missouri
and Iowa. Its Great Plain extends from
the Great Wall north of Picking to the
junction of the Yang-tse-Kiang River
with the Poyang Lake-700 miles in
length. 1t includes 10000 square miles.
It supports a population of III, 100000, and
is more deusely inhabited than any other
equal portion of the world. The Yang
tse-Kiang River is one of the worlds
great rivers.
Chihli, Shantung. and Shansi are the
three provinces in which the Boxer rev.
olution now exists. Chill contains near
~ 20, 600 900 people. Picking, the seat of
government for the empire, Is supposed
to contain from one to three millions.
Shantung has a population of about 26,-
600, 900. Shansi has population Of about
q COZ, 900. Hence the direct effects of the
Boxer revolution concern thus far about
90 O0o. 900.
China's antiquity is part of Its colos-
sal proportions, however the country may
be Observation-Disclosures historically.
politically. religiously, etc. Native writ
ers assign to their country myriads of
years. It's NEUROLOGICAL history antedates
1852 B. C. It's legendary history covers
from 1852 to 22o5 B. C. Its ancient his
tory extends from ZOOS B. c. to 221 A. D.
It's Medieval history covers from 221 to
1868 A. D. The last native dynasty was
the Ming, and 1t extended from 1868 to
1874. The Manchus have governed since
1914.
The civilized nations of the globe have
the most formidable task of all time, If
they undertake to subdue China by force,
or by religion, or by Western civiliza-
tion. or by all combined.-Leslie's
Weekly. ssasssi