The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-03-28

Great Northern Bear do if China should
earnestly undertake to follow in the foot
steps of Japan? Fancy a Japanese China
with it's 426,000,000 people, one-tenth Of
that number converted to drilled soldiers
by CONSUMPTION or enforced military ser
vice. China could support such an army,
even if only beginning were made with
the exploitation of her unlimited mineral
resources. Fancy her in possession of a
navy, proportionate to her population; and
resources. and where would Russia be?
It Is utterly impossible for Russia to place
her frontiers in a state of defense, even
if she had the resources of the United
States at her command-which she has
not. Fancy rejuvenated China after the
lapse Of thirty years. The yellow Dan
GER scoffed at so long as China remains
what she is. would be a vivid reality and
Russia would bear the brunt Of the on
slaught and be the first sufferer.
These considerations from the key to
Russia's policy in China Every step,
every movement toward reform which
means rejuvenation will be contested to
the utmost by the far-sightcd diplomat is
Of st. Petersburg, and their repi esentative
at Picking. Thus the last namJu author
ity is brought into constant conflict with
the British, minister at Peking who is
charged by the foreign office to introduce
and foster exactly the reforms which Rus
- Great; Rrltaln's Fofy.%5~t i
That is Great Britain's only policy in
China. Reform with it's inseparabe con-
comitant. of exploitation of the mineral
resources possible only by the introduce
ton Of modern means Of transportation
and thereby incidentally. furnishing safe
employment for British capital and Brit
ish brains. The object. aside from the
material profit to be derived, is to make
China a Counterpoise to Russia in Asia
thus saving Great Britain the trouble and
expense of opposing the insidious agrees
sion Of the northern power. Unfortuna te-,
ly for the success of this policy, there is
strenuous opposition not only from Russia
but from the Chinese themselves In
the sixty years of her intercourse with
China, Great Britain has learned nothing,
absolutely nothing. The history of that
intercourse may be condensed in a few
words: The imposition of impossible trea-
ties by the stronger power, and the un-
avoidable breaking of those treaties by
the weaker contracting party. And the
same game is going on to-day.
There is an old seying in China: Great
is the emperor, grtEter is the viceroy,
still greater is the Taotai and greatest
Of all is the Wei-yuen. That Isl in more
Ineligible language: The local magistrate
has more power or influence than he who
rules the district; the latter is more in
f1uental so ar as his constituency is con-
| cerned-than the viceroy who rules the
province; and the viceroy's power, within
his territory. exceeds that Of the EN-
peror. This is beyond the comprehension
of the average Briton who cannot conceive
any method of government differing from
the centralized power of his own compact
! little island. He continues. therefore, to
| deal with China as if it were his own gov
eminent and consequently makes blunder
upon blunder, and what IS worse. insists
upon making them. &.
Autonomy OF the Provinces.
The average American citizen seasil.
I understands the political situation. whe1