Arizona republican., 1904-06-29
Is China Harmless?

Speaking of what is now known as
 "the yellow peril" a writer in the
 Nineteenth Century and After comes
 to the conclusion that, if there be such
 a peril. it will come, not from China,
 or Japan. but from the countries that
 are row under Russian rule. Those
 who talk Of a "yellcw peril" he says,
 have in mind the inundations of Eur
 cpc by Monsolian hordes under Geng-
 his Khan and Tamerlane, but these did
 not come from China, but from those
 territories north of Chna winch now are
 Russian. The Chinese and Japanese
 themselves have been exposed to that
 yellow peril. The Mongolians con
 quered China easily; but of the enor-
 nous host which landed in Japan only
 three returned alive.
 Fear has been expressed as to what
 Japan. if victorious. will dc in the way
 Of consolidating the Asiatic forces in e
 gigantic struggle aganst western az
 gresgion. But the writer quoted takes
 no stock in such predictions. His be
 lief is that China cannot be consolidat-
 cd. and he gives some interesting data
 relating to the present condition of that enormous country. There is. we are
 told. no Chinese nation, and no Chi neso state. China is politically huge agslomeration which Is held together by the teachings Of Confucius. It's basis is the family. IT. theory the em- pcfor exercises supreme paternal au- thoTity over the whole country, but in reality China consists of a number of | almos. completely independent states ! which are held together only by Con fucianism and by a common literature. Owing to the complete absence or ma l tional feeling. China docs not possess 1 "a national fierce for national defense, | but provincial armies and regional ! fleets. and each province iz apt 10 be- come perturbed if forces belonging to | another province draw near. even if it l bc for co-oreratl-n against foreign nEFTerE.on. for the inhabitants of diff | fe5cnt provinces are as foreigners to | one another. When. in 1891, anti-for- i tlrn slotF. threatening the peace Of the l empire. took plece on the YCngtse, the | CEl=cle government allowed foreign l warshlps to go up the river rather than | offend the jealous province by sending i a fleet of their own. During the Chi e-Japanege war of 1S34-sj only the northern zuuadron went into action against Japan.
 "China's weakness" he goes on to ray. "has always proved her strength. Tho teeming millions or her population have been like shifting quicksands 10 loo heavy foot Of the conqueror. China haF proved uncOnouerable because sle .1 uagovelI.- ble. having never bsen ae- lurtouled tO any form Of government properly s5 called. The very lack of l Eet!ge governmental organization 1as deprived conquoriug Eaticns Of a means of gaining a hold on the nation and of th- possibility of imposing their uM on the people. Besides the deeply rooted hatcreI of foreigners. the ab- Errlc or governmental r5atrict.O Ons and .he relf-ccntlrcd existence of the family have made a ho-tne k.ng tom lf every houFebold to The stranger who 'rles to lead or GO c1e-ce China uTol D lar path A conqueror may. and 'oFflb.y will, win over the mand rinF. 5at be vIu find lt impossible to con- 1ucr thc people. For this reason Japan would not be able to obtain a hold on -hiHa. aat even if she had a mind to 'o so. for Japan Higat possess but -hr could not rule the country"
 Thif Co a picture Of China totally dif- 'rr-lt from that which ls generally -rerert-d to public view. IL is prob ihiy correct. too. And in that caee it r aafe to gay that the Chinese. at 1rea-nt. must be considered harm -esz; lut Chirese Go become .psrlI'' nse1 i7t couaoIItate into rtate with one cen- rll srEernmrEt. commanding a v1s- .taEiins army and navy. Mong6i- an lor1cr. under FkilfIl military leaders.
 nliFfel Tor plunder. would be as much f 1 'ueuace"' as ir they were sol- .-era 0f "a regular. starding army. lf lrf much more s0.