Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-07-25
KWANG SU MAY COME
A KNOTTY PROBLEM NOW BE-
FORE THE NATIONS.
The Chinaman of Today, His Pecu-
liar Traits, Historic Growth
and Rapid Decline.

Hong Kong letter: Urged by LII
Hung Chang, Emperor Kwang Su has
determined to visit Europe and Amer
lea. understand that he has been in
yited to take such step through nego-
tiations between the various cabinets.
He will probably come by the Pacific
route. reaching San Francisco some
time in September. 1t is felt that by
his visit confidence can be restored be-
tween China and the civilized world
Undoubtedly this idea emanated
from Sir Robert Hart, the commission
er of customs in China. who under
stands the Chinese character more
closely than any other European and
has won the regard of the thinking
class of Cinnamon.
Sir Robert believes in the gradual
and peaceful development of the Chi
nese and considers that that would be
the best way Of handling them for the
general welfare of the world. He thinks
that Japan could exercise most bene-
ficent influence on their development
and considers that so long as there Is
so much jealousy between the powers 1t
would be better to leave matters as far
possible in their hands.
ANY attempt to force things In Chi
na," says Sir Robert, would be very
mistaken policy, adaptive as all Chi
nese are to all purposes they primarily
prefer agriculture and the devotion of
their lives to ideal pursuits. They
would rather produce what they need
for wear by hand in preference to using
machinery, as with their enormous
population they can see that they can
not live were it otherwise.
Propose to make a military man OF
the Chinaman and what would be the
resulta fighting machine that would
decimate the rest of the world and de-
stroy all those means of human pro-
gress which are being gradually devel-
oped through the genius of the newer
nations.
The Chinaman takes naturally to
ethics and believes in the most abso-
lutely straight transactions in the way
of business.
"They are an oldfashioned people
and used to their own way OF doing
things. They have never attempted to
break into the lines of other peoples
thought, action or feeling and they con-
slider it an intrusion for the Western
nations to have invaded them.
1T is not impossible that they may
be made the bulwark of peace of the
world If treated with absolute fairness.
III placed upon their honor they
might prove better protection for our
legations than any way that We could
devise for taking care Of them.
Anything demonstrative in the way
Of maintaining an army there would
only be provocative and leading away
in q wrong direction. ordinary guards
for the legations would be all that Is
necessary.
For instance. propose to fortify the
legations and does that cover all the
residences OF foreigners in China
With all their preiudices the Chinese
are not averse to learning from other
religions or modes OF thought, but they
do not want them pushed down their
threats with bayonets.
THE real failure OF the policy of
Western nations in dealing with China
is that they seldom attempted to treat
her people as rational beings. Their
national existence has been long one
which has consequently made them ex-
tremely conservative. Their methods
Of thinking and action are not the same
as ours, but they have their idiosyncra-
cies and certain train OF thought. To
follow the train OF thought and en-
deavor to thoroughly understand him
is the only means by which we may
learn to deal satisfactorily with the
Chinaman.
Il have advocated the visit Of Kwang
Su to America and Europe because |
believe that by coming in actual con-
tact with him all the ministers and
others who have to deal with the Chi
nese question will be better able to
understand and appreciate the highest
type OF character from here.
"A great mistake Is made by people
imagining that the Chinese are not a
sensitive people. | have found them
very keenly so and believe their ac-
quaintance can be courted with no
great loss to ourselves.
THE Russians are considered as
their keenest aggressors by the Chi
nese, who look'upon their occupation OF
Manchuria as an attempt to take what
is in no way desirable or necessary to
them and violation OF the frontier OF
the empire.
There is much to be done In the way
of building irrigation works, much to
be done to try to avert famine and
even a pestilence which may perhaps
occur, therefore a very judicious ad-
ministration OF the Chinese matter at
once is most desirable"
must add by way Of further clncida-
ton OF Sir Robert Harris timely warn
ing to the nations, that the Chinaman
has passed through nearly all Of the
strictly progressive stages OF govern
mental and social development
He was the world conqueror before
Persia In her incipient glory had come
within the range OF things possible.
The world has seen in the Sacred City
during the long siege evidences OF an
accumulated wealth, compared with
which our modern rnillionardom is a
moderate competence. There can be
no doubt that China passed through
epochs Of material prosperity, followed
by bloody revolutions. long before CIV
LaI tuJ In