The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-04-23
Editor of the North China
Daily News Discusses
Oriental Situation.
THE DRAGON IS NOW AWAKE
Favoring Western Civilization for Sake
Of Acquiring Western Arts and Using
Them Against the F0reigneI-SECh IS
the DowageI Empress Position.


the D0wageT Empress Position.
VICTORIA. B. C.. April 23.-Am0ng the
passengers who arrived from China By
the Empress OF China was R W Little,
editor and proprietor Of the North China
Daily News who is perhaps one Of the
best posted men en- Chinese affairs In an
interview he said:
"China IS land where things invariably
go by oppOsites. II you make up your
mind that such a thing viii happen, the
opposite VIII usually occur Just prior
TO the Boxer troubles Of 1900 there was
no one in Peking who believed that the
troubles would follow 50 soon, although
many warnings were given.
ct is the same now. No one can fCTesee
what viii happen. for China is a land of
surprises. Ny idea CT the situation now
is that the Chinese have really never got
over their defeat by Japan, and they have
since then been casting about TO ind the
reason for their defeat They have now
come to the conclusion that it was be
cause Japan had Western ways. Western
education, militarism, and drill
China IS now endeavoring to follow
the footsteps Of Japan, believing that
when the education Is complete the Chs
Rese viii be strcng enough TO drive the
foreigners from the country
Deceit by Empress.
There is no doubt that the Empress
BoYager has never changed her attitude
toward foreigners Her present friendlj-
ness is really . blind, and the reason why
the Empress Dowager is issuing edicts
promoting education IS simply because the
Chinese government has now come to be
Iieve that with education, discipline.
foreign armament, the Chinese would be
able to accomplish the object the Boxers
failed to do-to drive out the foreigners
1t would Of course be suicidal on the
part Of the foreigners 10 aid il this educa-
ton and Strengthening Chinese by educ2-
ton and reform, were it not for the fact
that il is generally believed By the for
eign element ID China that with edUCa-
ton completed the Chinese will see the
folly OF attempting 10 drive out the for
eigners and the Poliey to that end viii be
abandoned.
The Present Rebellion.
Regarding the rebellion in South China
/ can tell you that it is a most serious
movement When the rebellion broke out
my Chinese informants told ne there was
no importance to be attached to it. Then
they began 10 get letters telling Of its
seriousness, and when I left they stated
that the insurrectica vas a most serious
one. \ large number OF soldiers Of Gen
eTaI Ma and Marshal 81, armed with
NauseT rifles CT GOst modern style and
well provided with ammunition has gone
ont 10 the rebels.
The Chinese imperial leaders had only
5000 men they could trust al all 10 he
placed II the fed dSailsJ the rebels, and
many Of these were liable 10 desert 81
the first opportunity.
1T Is very difficult TO set news regard
ing the Instruction fer the Chinese in
vaTiably magnify the reports The report
cabled that Z-6oa Imperial troops have
been cut to pieces may simmer down 70
twenty killed when the facts are all
known
The Chinese generals aIways magnify
their losses. and fer this reason they
usually draw pay and arms for 100 zlan
when they have q bout 20 and when they
are engaged with any force, # Eve are
killed Thav rEElrr that -ln we're lest
Reports OF battles always increase in
as far as The number CT dead are con
cerned with every village the couriers
pass through
Is Several Movements.
ct is not fully known who are at the
back Of the rebels They seem to be a
unity Of several movements. The Triad
Society is probably behind the movement.
which is rot generally an anti-dynasty.
but an anti-forcign rebellion It is not
thought that the Chinese Reform Society
is behind the Instruction, unless II be
that part OF the society led by DR.. Sun
Yatzen, who was last heard OF IN Yoko-
hama, and who Is discredited by the larger
body Of the refOTHers- The leader is stat
ed to be one kwok, who seems to have
considerable local reputation
Naming, which is stated by cables
since my departure 20 have been be-
sIeged BY the rebels. was one OF the re-
Gently made treaty ports. although it was
never opened IL stands on the West
River, and IS a town Of much Importance
Small, shallow-draft gunboats could be
sent up the river almost 10 hat point al
though the river IS tull o. rocks above
WU-chow, which is the limit o. navigation
for the larger gunbCaL The British have
several small gunbOats, twin screw, shall
ioW-draft vessels On the West River
which is full Of pirates. and as these gun
boats are armed with Naxims and small
quiCk-fring guns, they are quite fOTmid-
able.
Taxes Probably Responsible.
The indemnity may be partly rcsDon-
sibIe for the outbreak OF rebellion, for the
south had 10 part in the movement. but
it IS more likely the use the Chinese Off
Gals are making Ct The collection Of taxes
for the indemnity causes the rfsings
Of the people. for when Chinese officials
collect a tax CT FIVE taels. he usually col
1ects twcnty-three, and pockets twenty. /
In Honan The collection OF taxes. or
more likely the squeezing OF the people
by the boodIng officials. has caused an
outbreak OF rebellion, and there was
number killed. The japanese are stIu
celebrating their alliance with Great
Britain. bat an order has gone forth
quietly calling upon japanese Tot to make
too much Of the celebrations, for the Jap
aaese government would rather have IL
seem that Japan IS not so surprised to
be admitted into an allienCe with Great
Britain, and nos so delighted. IL fact
the japanese would rather have II appear
, a more m2tter-Of-faCt thing than it IS
Japanese Russian War.
"War between Japan and Russia is re
garded as inevitable IA the Far East, both
by the japanese and Russians and others
living on the Siberian and North China
coast When the Russians, French. and
Germans foolz from Tauan The fe--ifo7.y,