Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-03-21
THE CHINESE SIDE

I q
Mr.. Chester Holoombe was for many
years Interpreter, Secretary of Legation,
even Acting Minister OF the United
States at pekin. He has therefore
accurate knowledge, as we'll as decIded
views. upon the Chinese question, and
those who wish TO Judge impnrtially
would do we'll to study his last book.
The Chinese are ignorant, super-
stitions, for centuries have been
stationary. They are perfectly I'M
administrative, but are not stupid.
| They are industrious, persistent, syH.
tematio, economical and have wonder
| full powers of organization and self
restraint
Considering themselves the centre Of
the universe, they have of late, and
this late reaches far back, repealed
outside intercourse. Receiving it at
! the point of the bayonet and 10 con.
junction with the fatal opium drug, 1t
has yet opened their eyes to their
deficiencies. At every point, they have
been out, aged and outwitted. Reoog-
ulzing the fact that bows and arrows,
spears, match locks and jingals were not
the best equipment for modern army,
| they were made the recertaole at I'M
heard of prices of all the military
rubbish Of Europe. Sending for foreign
officers to drill and instruct their army,
they were treated to further lot of
| the same rummage-sale variety. The
1 German officers sent out, iEcompetents
at best, lived in chronic drunkenness
at Marking, seldom in condition for
duty and at length, breaking open
private residences, they assaulted
Chinese wives and mothers. When this
proved too much for long suffering,
self-restral aed populace, "ferocious
assault upon German oflicersn was
heralded throughout the world. And
| the conduct Of these Germans was much
OF piece with tnat of other foreigners
resident in China. The French have
been particularly brutal In 1897 they
| demanded an addition to their CON.
oession in Shanghai burial ground
and temple, designing to build there a
| slaughterhouse. When this was extorted
from the helpless Chinese government,
riot arose. As indemnity, though
Chinese not French seam to have been
killed, the Consul claimed all the river
frontage of the Chinese port of Shang-
hal, besides all the original demand.
For &C years, prior to the Opium War
Of 1880, an Illicit trade had been carried
on for the benefit, first Of the British
East India Co., that defunct, of the
British government itself, which held
the monopoly In India. In 1888 the
Emperor Tao Kwaug sent Commissioner
Lin to Canton to break up this deadly
traffic. Upon his departure, the EN- :
peror is reported to have burst into
tears and said: How can I die and
go to meet the spirits of my imperial
ancestors until these direful evils are
removed. " Commissioners Lin destroyed
10 Canton SO, 200, 900 worth of opium
The British, whose merchants had first
subscribed to hiibe this intrepid CON-
missioner demanded reparation aud war
ensued. BY the Treaty which concluded
1t, China was muloted $4,000. 600 and
lost Hongkong, but still refused to
legalize openly the opium trade. That
was forced from her by the Treaty of
'rientsin in 1860, though, meanwhile,
the trade had spread in every direction,
spite, too, of memorial from Engli sh
merchants and manufacturers to Sir
Robert Peel stating that it paralyzed
every other kind Of business. 1t, how
ever, pays tho English government
about $40 600, 600 year. In 1868,
after q great deal of consultation with
bhe hiRnHnt peisUuabbS OIL Dih eUplroj
the young emperor sent personal
appeal to Queen Victoria, wherein any
possible concession was offered il sho
would only unite in common measures
for the suppression of this one curse
upon China. After very many months
of waiting and repeated Inquiries, the
Chinese government were informed that
the letter had reached Her Majesty,
but that no reply need be expected.
The Treaty concluded between United
States and China at Pekin in 1880,
stringently forbids any participation
in the opium trade by Americans.
Two days after this was singed, Mr..
Holcomhe had an informal, interview
with LII Hung Chang. II have Y said
| the veteran statesman, watched and
have had to do with the foreign re-
lations of Chira for many years. /
have read the Bible, in which you
foreigners believe, and have seen in it
the same golden rule which Confuoius
teaches. And this action OF the United
States in forbidding its people to deal
with opium in China is the first ana
only application Of that golden rule to
be found IN oil the conduct Of foreign
i - ri