The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-01-28
WHY CHINA is POOR
1T is BECAUSE THE CHINESE HAVE AN ARRESTED
CIVILIZATION RAISING THEM ABOVE COUN-
TER-BALANCING FACTORS OF BARBARISM, BUT
NOT GIVING THE SAVING SALT OF PROGRESS.

One of the greatest disabilities which China as
nation is simple is sad An immense proportion of its
population very rarely get meal sufficient either in quantity or
IN nuve Hundreds of benevolent foreigners both of
the mercantile and missionary ORDERS constantly seeking in
scattered spots throughout the realm mitigate the chronic
distress OF the poorest sections Especially has philanthropy been
effective in relieving the abnormal pressure consequent rou
and floods Obviously however external help do
nothing normal condition of insufficient ament extend
extensive land and involving popu
lation.
of causes of chronic and massive indulgence in China
throughout of the interior the stagnaon for ages Of
civilization The development of this mighty long since
arrested and though the nation decaden conditions
sereoyped and CHINA is state OF permanent childhood Ev
cry gust well understands that this accounts for that colossal
pathological curiosity Chinese language 1t has got be-
yond the monoylaDlc stage and language
babies. his condition arrested development
root OF the appalling poverty OF the country which
nature designed intellectually wealthy China not like
central S ad OF saVageS hoWng wastes 1t is one OF the
most fertile and howery parts of ears surface almost
throughout the entire And moreover its people
most industrious agrcutur world and have
many centuries vegetables abundant
and exist in much greater variety than favored with
country.
Notwithstanding these magnificent natural endowments what
Is the state OF things the hOWery kingdom From
anything like scientific cultivation the quan of nearly fruits
is exceedingly and only splendid at
condlonS compensate Tor the lack OF skill Apples,
pears apcos peaches necarine pums cherries grapes
perslmmons almost everywhere grown abund-
Ce Dut no native ever studies improvement their culture
Wheat mlet maize sorghum potatoes peanuts indigo
ana great variety pea and bean produced with ea
Whe rice u.s. OF course, almost universally found in cultivation
but IN nearly every province the output notwithstanding the
detatgabe toll of the people, short what might be at
tanned under better management while the quality
stufs is deficient in nutrlve power.
Vast tracts of soil have been Impoverished through centuries
OF uninterrupted production without adequate compensation
Enr1chng material poor quality Grazing unknown and
IN most OF the the land lies aow the natives
never having learned the of the crops
land is still forced to produce three without
ntermlSSiOn
The Chinese poverty problem complicated Its secondary
causes manifold but after all they only exaggeratons
and aggraVaton OF the the agraan stagnaon
OF my friends residing for time the interior asked official
how many beggars he feeding He replied $1,000 These
he explained are all tenant farmers from the north people
who entirely their land mseraby poor" Thus at
point the agricultural question In province of
Wuhu last large relief work initiated by foreigners
Here also the starving sufferers chiefly that same large
class in China the farmers Many of them were from the
immense of the late Ii Hung Chang Where man gives
half he raises to landlord he good year. little
or nothing, and poor year means failure
Whether the great hin system of interior taxation speed
lily be eNtrpaed to expect will be-
doubtful One of the chief producing of distressing
y lies just here crossing the Nankn is taxed
cents pig about cent chicken p per This is
the Climax for all along the road before nearing the great
they have been taxed various points, and they will be taxed
again when entering the city gate When boatman
Tor rowing people he per
Imagine what English workman would think and say if
PEELED to of his wages Some of tie
customs stations the great roads of travel and trade
ceedngy lucrative but the mischief of the lies in the
that of the receipts go into the official treasury for
rule the collector has buy his position He has to let the off
Gals and their go through free The profit for
hmself-Pall Mall Gazette.