The Washington times., 1903-11-11

far stronger government. 1t will do
much toward preventing famine and the
dire calamities and disturbances which
famine brings. 1t will illustrate to the
Chinaman better than did the opening
of the treaty ports that trade means
mutual exchange for mutual benefit,
and that it is not foisted upon China for
the sole reason that it may be taxed.
The cost of transporting goods from
the far interior has, in a great measure
limited the usefulness of the treaty
ports. The opening Of the great water
highways into the continent achieved
now by British influence and most hap
PLY for all concerned. is an instance
of the effect of growing preponderauce
OF foreign influence and the great bene-
fit both to China and the world which
it promises.
The Railway Influence
The railway concessions suggest an
other influence perhaps of more far
reaching effect than that OF the open
Ing of the inland waters.
A fact not generally understood was
well put In a sentence recently printed
in one of the great English dailies in
China: When the Manchus spoke the
word. the whole empire of China braid
ed its hair into queue because II was
more convenient to do so than to OPP
pose the VIII Of their captors. China's
prejudices viii always give way before
what she believes TO be her best in
terests. The moment the Chinaman be-
comes convinced that railways will
make life more endurable and comfort
able. 1905. coo graves of his ancestors
will be leveled to make room for them"
We Of this land misjudge the real John
Chinaman as we are likely to misjudge
any foreigner whose representatives IN
this land seem far down in the scale
Of civilization. To one who lives in
the East. who has his suit and shoes
made by Cinnamon, who contracts with
Cinnamon for the building OF houses,
has very different notion of the China
mans possibilities though his present
work may be poor and unsatisfactory.
Remove all Cinnamon from Korea. fer
instance. and the foreigner living in
that land would feel an immediate and
serious loss. And It may be well be-
lieved that If the arts and implements
of civilization are once introduced into
China and the race as a race be per-
mitted to realize personally the vast
benefit TO be reaped By exploitation of
the riches Of the land. 1t viii abandon
its old prejudices as if at the com
mand Of another Genghis Khan.
The fact that these charges will come
very slowly is often looked upon as an
additional sign of the Chinaman's ne
science. II should. on the other hand.
be viewed as a sign Of ultimate promise.
II the changes now heralded in China
come slowly and naturally there will
I af cfa
and strength. There is in the Far East
remarkable example of a nation born
in a day; a nation which has put On the
signs Of civilization. and which now
claims all the ptrquisities. attributes.
and rights Of a civilized land Despite
The many worthy men and worthy mo-
tivcs which have dominated Japan, in
these thirty remarkable, even miracu-
lous, years. that nation today finds it
self prey 70 the very successes 1t has
achieved. and may well look upon it's
unnatural advancement with anxiety.
There has been no moral advance to
counterbalance the great commercial ad-
vance. The government is moving with
an unparalleled rapidity, the social body
very slowly. A vast commerce is spring.
ing M with no comraerciaI conscience
behind il. Great educatio=al advan-
foundation Most of the teachers are
atheists. AS q result there is seen d
terrible and threatening incoHlpatibility.
A Fight Against Prejudice.
China viii exhibit no such growth.
Every step in advance VIII be a fight
against an Unborn racial prejudice Tie
very stability OF this prejudice is an
earnest Of the traits which go 10 make
up the Chinaman's character. and when
at last the same traits are brought into
action in commercial and social revolu-
tons the result viii be promising. For
il is not commercial activity that has
developed a lack of commercial con-
science in Japan. That activity has but
portrayed a weakness of national char
acter IL is not education that has mace
Japan an athelstic land: education has
only brought out AM atheistic tempera-
ment.
IN China the same will not be true,
because there is not. so far as we know,
these characteristics In the national
character. All nations have their natu-
raj vices. and China is. OF course. no
exception. But it will not follow the
leadership OF the Island Empire. II will
not adopt civilization in day II prom
ises to take 1t on as growth, NATURAL
slowly And this augurs only good.
The Japan-Ch war struck perha1
the first blow on the head OF the ne
now piercing China, at least a We.
great and visible blow According
the Hindu proverb. the Wall said TO I Is
Nail What have 1 done that throui
me thy sharp tooth dost rum" "Po
fool" replied the Nail what do
know; ask him who beats my head wi
many a blow
And the nail which now seems abe
TO pierce the great China is driven
the hand Of God-to whom a taousa
years are as a single day.