New-York tribune., 1901-12-30
FEARFUL OF ANOTHER WAR
BIBLE sOCIETY'S REPRESENTATIVE II
CHINA SEES SIGNS OF FU-
TURE STRIFE

Charles F Cannon, superintendent Of cois
porteurs for the American Bible Society IL
Northern China. writes thus TO the society con-
cerning the present situation in the Chiness
Empire:
Resardng. the situation a great deal could ..
OF view. Both the extremes of optimistic and pes
smistie opinions are held BY people OF experisnee.
dictory and misleading. that the truth is deeply
Mhat lesrned me c5nese in o6eienc 10 the
powers were is true issuing ediets OF sorrow fef
were subtle. and their Interpretation by scholars
Couid readlly ne oaSe renectons on me powers so &
approval OF the dark past unfortunately; tne
masses are unable to read imperial edcts. each VII
TO interpret each edict as received Then too. l
ooseryed tnat the Ghiness Giovernmeat Vas openIs
OF boatloads OF small arms and ammunition were
passing weekly up the Yang -tse-Kiang the arsenals
Cargoes OF explosives being received, and the
Tecuperate the army. and to inform her as. 70 the
q1red 10 coneentgs1s - tbe - forceS AZ given potrt
There were and are many other unpronisins feat.
t5es Tnicn Weighed heavily upon the hoS OF
On the other hand. the. Dowager has issued vol
PIE is better than ever before Sno%n Much appre-
hcnsion was felt as to the period OF transition in
Peking from foreign military control TO Chinese
order, and Pekins is now as quiet and peaceful az
any city could be- The soldiers who. under Gen
ersl Nieh. were fighting here last year now
guard the roads and are as Jolly and friendly as
possible. while the people generally Weiconle me
foreigner and encourage his work Large BANDS or
Boxers still exist and meet. but they are now
known as rebels robbers. etc, and, in fact they
prey upon all alike. while the soldiers who foughr
with them before now shoot them on sight: The
officials meet u5 with every show OF frtendHness
and are doing their utmost 20 aid Us IN seLIlins
Chinese claims and extending work TseTs
never was such perfect freedom between Chinese
and foreigners.
Ny views take a medium course must
ten years. ard possibly within i've. strife VIII
again be the order and a war ensue the IKE OF
wUch the world has never known For centuries
China has been making repeated attempts 70 expei
the foreigner. each time prOhting by past expert
each time better equipped and better planned She
is now preparing never before buying vast
quantities Of superior weapons and reOrgartZinS
her armies a correct basis. Therefore. the next
attempt will be gigantic in force and terrible in
execution. II will result in universal uPheavai
and the final diSmemherment Of this en1pire-at 4
terrible cost To offset this is the enlightenment
that has many minds. the power OF the
reform party and the Christian influence that -
row so great These may gradually prevail and
stay the power of superstition and ignorance God
grant il. The whole situation is so complex. the
arguments both sides conclusive, that no
say what Is is 10 be.
Aside from the rebel bands all give welcome TO
and our COporteurs. and our Bibles and portions
purchased almost greedily- People most in
different before anxious 70 learn all they
OF the religion so much feared by officials. ard
for the truth of which thousands have forfeited
their lives.