The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-04-07
AS CHINA REALLY IS
Rev. R. 7. Bryan Speaks in
Hopeful Mood,
American Goods find Ready Market there
TREE Railroads Pierce the Walls
CT ?. KIN.

\ News and Observer reporter called
on Rev. +. T. Bryan yesterday after
noon and asked him to talk about China
Mr.. Bryan, who is a native Of DupI.n
county, is the ~well-known missionary
y no has spent the last fifteen years OF
his life among the Chinese. and IS now
il Raleigh on a visit.
Although a very busy man. Mr.. Bryan
very graciously consented TO be inter-
rapted and interviewed. and he talked
most entertainingly Oh the interesting
subject Of China in general.
Speaking Of China politically, Mr.. Bry-
an said:
In a general way the political out
look in nina on the whole IS hopeful, al
though We often have little troubles. in
cjpient rebeIlions, in different parts OF the
Empire.
There IS dissatisfaction with the pres
ent dynasty, and there are signs that
the present dynasty has about finished
its course, or rather served its term. 1t
las lasted as long as most Of the Chinese
Cynasttes last.
'.The Emperor is looked upon by those
who know him as a very weak man. The
Empress DoWager is a very strong Wo-
man; but, like the little girl that had a
little curl, when she's good she's very
good, and when she's bad, she's horrid.
However, during the recent oubles
she Gid not know the true situation of
things until the foreigners We're actually
within the walls OF Pekin.
"PoliticaIly the state OF the country is
somewhat unCGrtain."
As to China commercially, Mr.. Bryan
was very optimistic. Conditions along
that line, he said. We're hopeful to a
superiatiEe degree.
american goods" he continued, ARE
being pushed into China as never before.
American cotton goods and oil are being
sold to a great extent, and altogether
the outlook for trade between nina and
America is extremely good. China looks
very kindly to America at this time, be
cause when the settlement took place
not long ago America was kinder than
any of the other powers, taking no terri
tory except the ground on which the le-
cation stands, and keeping no troops in
the country except the legation guar'
She has treated China more like : sis
ter State than the other powers.
The question is asked: When is Rus
STA going to clear out of M~anchuria?'
but must say / have noticed soldiers
Of all the great powers. as We'll as Rus
STA, still hanging around. Almost every
power has seized some portion of China's
territory, except America.
TN Pacific Mail Line has just built
two new steamers, the Corea and the ST
IBERIA, each 572 feet long, CT 1000 tons
1,7rl0r o5l noroIlo e +,.x-.1,,- 10
knots an hour. AS we came in on the
Corea, the Siberia was going out, laden
below the water line. The largest steam
ers before this We're only 5000 tons. The
Northern Pacific Company, too, contem-
plates putting on three as large as the
Corea and Siberia.
a to railroads, there is in operation
now one main line about 300 miles from
Pekin to S~hanhaikWan, where the great
wall enters the sea. Along this line sew
eral coal mines are being developed, and
the road is paying very we'll indeed. An
other projected trunk line is from Pekin
to Canton in the South, running right
through the heart Of the country. Sew
eral hundred miles are already completed,
and the whole line is surveyed and deci-
ded upon. Concessions for still other lines
have been granted. too.
The Pekin City wall has been broken
through in three places by railroads, and
three lines converge at the Emperor's
gate, where he leaves the inner city to
go to worship, and the Emperor and
Empress no longer object to these things.
They like to have them there.
"China is today the richest country
in the world in coal, having an almost
~ ~ho1Ic+iJJ z,,ODJ- for 80, 49, CT
is also very rich in gold, copper, zinc,
and silver mines. the development Of
which has not wen begun.
What about mission work, you ask?
The country is wide open everywhere.
There is no point in China Where a
missionary cannot so and cannot w
to do missionary work. The people are
more willing to/listen and to be taught
than ever before.
The Boxer uprising raised the country
UP nearer to the gospel. The Boxer con
yulsions shook pen the last remaining
closed doors. The missionaries all over
the country seem to be filled with hope.
No one, Old Or young, speaks discourag-
ingly of the state of missionary work.
The troubles n China were not caused
by missionary work, but by the Selling
u IA . teIIIlOIy ny lle lCIeISu pow
ers. The Chinese tolerate all religions.
They don't prosecute religions as such.
except where those religions interfere
With governmental matters. Thus mis-
s;onarles suffered as foreigners rather
tnan as religious teachers.
"idolatry in China is decidedly on the
decrease. One Of the greatest temples
of the North is il complete ruins. Look
here" (and Mr.. Bryan pointed to two
idols on his mantel shelf, one With no
head and one With 10 hands, these are
two Buddhist idols, one With no head to
plan, the other with no hands to exc
cute. Look at this bowl; that was taken |
from the hands Of the great lido of that
temple by a priest, who sold it
to me for 20 cents. That temple is not
being repaired at all.
In an extended trip North, | failed
to find a single temple in good repair. The
people Will soon cease to believe in idols.
The advance Of intelligence Will create
general disbelief. IdoIatrous worship has
little hold on the affections Of the peO-
pc, but a strong hold on their super