The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-01-24
CHINA WOULD Be FREE
Empire Under Peace Guise Pre-
pairing For Great War.
PREDICTION OF CHARLES CANNON

superintendent Of the American BIZ
BILE Society Thinks a Gigantic Eff
fort to Crush the Foreigner IL
Likely to Be Made Within Ten
Years. Possibly Within Five.
Charles f. Cannon, superintendent
Of %colporteurs for the American Bible
society in northern China, writes thus
to the society concerning the present
situation in the Chinese empire:
Regarding the situation q great deal
could be written. with excellent argu-
ments on every point of view. Both the
extremes of optimistic and pessimistic
opinions are held by people of expert
ence. and even the signs of the times
are self contradictory and misleading.
SO that the truth is deeply hidden.
"While at Shanghai l was discour-
aged by what l learned. The Chinese,
in obedience to the powers. were. it is
true. issuing edicts of sorrow for the
past and promises for the future. but
nearly all We're subtle, and their in
depreciation by scholars could readily
be base reflections on the powers and
approval of the dark past. Unfortu-
nately the masses are unable to read
imperial edicts. each village being de-
pendent upon a scholar or two able to
interpret each edict as received.
"Then. too. l observed that the Chi
nese government was openly violating
the provisions Of the protocol. Thou
sands of boatloads of small arms and
ammunition were passing weekly up
the Y~angtsekiang. the arsenals were
being enlarged and worked day and
night. Cargoes of explosives We're be-
ing received. and the dowager had is
sued instructions to all officials to re-
cuperate the army and to inform her as
to the fighting strength Of each divi-
sion and the time required to concen-
trate the forces at a given point. There
were and are many other unpromising
features which weighed heavily upon
the minds of those interested.
0 the other hand, the dowager has
issued voluntarily several edicts of a
decidedly ~reformatory character. and
the attitude of both officials and people
is better than ever before known.
Much apprehension was felt as to the
period Of transition in Picking from
foreign military control to Chinese gov
eminent, yet the change was made in
perfect order, and Picking is now as
quiet and peaceful as any city could be.
The soldiers who under General Mich
were fighting US here last year now
guard the roads and are as jolly and
friendly as possible, while the people
generally welcome the foreigner and
encourage his work.
"Large bands of 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 fought with them before now
shoot them on sight. The officials meet
us with every show of f%riendliness
and are doing their utmost to aid us in
settling Chinese claims and extending
u work. There never was such per-
feet freedom between Chinese and for
eigners.
"My own views take a medium
course. l must believe that the end is
not yet and that within ten years and
possibly within five strife will again be
the order and a war. will ensue the like
of which the world has never known.
For centuries China has been making
repeated attempts to expel the foreign
er, each time protting by past expe-
rience. each time with more power and
success, each time better equipped and
better planned. She is now preparing
as never before, buying vast quantities
of superior weapons and reorganizing
her armies on a correct basis. There
fore the next attempt will be gigantic
in force and terrible in execution. It
will result in a universal upheaval and
the final ACKNOWLEDGMENT of this m
pire, ut a terrible cost.
"TO offset this are the enlightenment
that has come to many minds, the pow
Ell of the reform party and the Chris
tian influence that is now SO great.
These may gradually prevail and stay
the power Of superstition and igno-
rance. God grant it! The whole situa-
ton is so complex, the arguments on
boil sides so conclusive. that no man
can say what is or is to be-"