The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-08
HOW CHINA LIVES TO-DAY
EDITOR LITTLE, OF SHANGHAI. SAYS
WAR HAS MADE NO CHANGE.
Great Bulk of Population Never Heard
of It-GOvernment Could Pay on
Indemnity I'm Two Yesrs.
New York Times.

new 1OIh LINES.
Robert Little, editor Of the North China
News. which is published at Shanghai. is in
the city. Mr.. Little, who is one of the best
posted men in the far East on Chinese
affairs, talked interestingly last evening
about present conditions in China.
Sine 1 left China" said Mr.. Little, "a
revolution has broken out in the outhern
provinces. While ii is stated that the cause
of the revolution is opposition to the pres
ent dynasty, l am inclined 10 opinion that
the real cause for it is a desire for loot.
AS the provinces in which the uprising has
taken place are along the seacoast, / do not
look for it to become very serious. notwith-
standing the fact that some of the imperial
soldiery seem to have joined with the revo-
lutionists. If the revolution was in one of
the interior provinces it might be serious,
but ~revolutionists can hardly accomplish
much in coast provinces for the reason that
the government can easily dominate the
situation by the use OF its gunboats."
Has the imperial government in China
been weakened by the war with the pow
ers?"
Not at all. AS a matter of fact, the great
bulk of the population of China hardly
knows that there was a war. Intelligence
is not disseminated in China as it is in
Europe or America. The principal Chinese
paper has a circulation of not more than
lG,o0. The people read very little and have
a marvellous indifference to all affairs of
government. The great majority of the
Chinese believe that the flight of the Dow
ager Empress from Picking was due TO a
desire on her part to inspect the western
provinces, and she has fostered that belief
by referring in her imperial proclamatiOns
to her flight as a journey. The only way in
which the Chinese in the provinces not oc-
cupied BY the foreign troops nave been
brought to realize that .here was some sort
OF trouble between China and the powers is
through the levy of an additional tax for
the purpose of paying off the indemnity.
This tax has been made somewhat burden
some to them from the fact that when a
Chinese official is called upon TO raise 81 for
governmental purpose he usually levies s..
AS a rule the taxes in China are very light,
and the population is SO great that the in
demnity demanded by the powers could be
raised without the people feeling any espe-
cial burden if the levy were made honestly.
The foreign troops. as you know, are still
occupying Tien-Tsin and administering the
affairs of that municipality. / was credibly
informed before | left China that from
their experience in raising revenue in Tien-
Tsin the officials of the powers have ex-
pressed opinion hat China could easily pay
on the indemnity OF the late war in two
years. The Tien-Tsin government has built
new roads and made many municipal i'm
provements and still has a good balance in
II6 treasury
"WiIl not what has been done by the for
eigners in Tien-Tsin I'm the way Of econom-
ical government have its influence on the
people,"
NO; / do not think il will have any in
f1uence. All the ordinary Chinaman is con-
cerned about is getting a living for himself
and his family. He regards government as
a matter which concerns the officials only.
Occasionally, when an official becomes too
2varicious and levies & tax which is too
burdensome the people refuse to pay il.
They go on a regular strike. Then the mat
ter is quickly adjusted by the official. VIII
always has a large margin 10 operate on.
While the officials burden the people TO the
limit which they will stand without serious
complaint, they seldom go over that limit,
for the reason that when an official has a
strike in his district il counts against him
with the high officials Of the central gov
ernment So. you see. there is at least a
glimmering Of democracy in China
Did the war with the powers open the
eyes OF China as TO the advantages of
Western civiliZation2'
mot as much so as did the war with
Japan. The Chinese are still wondering
how the despised japanese were able TO de-
feat them. They are no longer lnimical TO
the introduction or modern methods OF
army training. The present prime minister.
Yuan Shih Kai. is e~ndeavoring 10 place the
army OF China on a modern footing. and in
this he has the cordial cooperation OF the
dowager Empress. The dowager Empress
is as anti-fOreign as ever, and I believe
and navy of China will Justify another trial
of strength with Japan, but probably by the
time that has come about China will be so
much enlightened that the prejudices which
now exist will have disappeared"
rs there much trade progress being made
In China?'
Foreign impOrtations suffered a check
by reason OF the war. but are rapidly in