The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1904-01-29
BEGINNING
TO move FORW ARD
No Longer Doubt That the
People Are Awakening
to a New Life.
FEELING II
'eople Begin to Take a New View OF
Education, Commerce and West
ern Thinas-Reaiizing Their
Own Weaknesses.

ern Things-Realizing Their
Own Weaknesses.
Shanghai Mecury: Students of nature
tell US that as time changes new forces
make their appearances, though never at
once. The old schools that devoted them
selves to studies with eyes smut must
of necessity, give place to the ne" schoois
that search for the truth with the Nsht
of reason. Practical men must come 10
the fore. The theory-makers must Wofh
out their theories for practical use ana
not merely be contented with the discoV-
ery of a new idea. China, with all the
recent changes forced upon her, is at last
awakened, and quite a different kind Oh
feeling toward other nations prevails
among the majority OF her people. The
changes have been mainly political ana
educational, and another change is pc
ing made in the direction or her COM
merce, for a new board of
has just been organized. OF the real Cd
iect of his board we know but very lit
tie as vet. Whether it will ever stand as
a distinct board by itself or Will come
ullQcr lic COllIOl u lC Sei VI iS4>'S'
affairs remains to he seen. We take it,
however, as indicative of the strong de-
sire of the Chinese government to I'M
broye the commercial interests of her peo-
pie.
These changes, as every one will admit,
are sufficiently important to any country
the stepping stones to progress In
China. not many years ago, when a
change took place, it affected only a COM
paratively small number OF people; the
rest paid very little attention to 1t as
long as it did not directly concern their
interests. This spirit of minding thelf
own business, and of observing the laws
: as peaceful subjects, was clearly evil
denccd in the China-Japan war, during
which there was very little alarm, and
in many parts of the empire, trade was
carried on as usual. When news came OF
the defeat of the Chinese army, it was
REGARDED as a sort Of made-up news, anC
the general feeling was that spies en-
| ploYed by the Japanese We're creating
wild rumors. A we'll informed Chinese
who gave out information of the first de-
5 feat sustained by China to his friends
: was stigmatiHed as a traitor. Even wheI
: peace negotiations We're concluded many
: people expressed a feeling of DISCUS
' against the great Ii Hung-chang, for the.
: still maintained that China was on the
winning side.
The Hope of China.
But truth is mighty! 1t may be in
dark place, yet it will shine as a burning
h light. Notwithstanding the disastrou
d war which brought disgrace and debt
a Upon the nation, the warning that some
: hing worse might have happened was un
needed. Western learning was still hell
S back, and foreigners were looked upol
more or less as able and mighty only il
# warfare. From that time forward peopl
ceased to nave faith in the strength of tn
i.)ooJiru oiort JIp has hann hound bo nd
q and feet. The affairs Of the nation hav
become more complicated, threatene
T with internal ~convulsion.
The hope that China might be taught
:; useful lesson by her painful and humiliat
:. ing experience of the war found room i
. The hearts of many. The history of som
Z Z countries has been one of rise and fal
u With her enormous natural resource
~ would it be strange to see China becom
u strong again? Such has been the idea {
~ many. But no, China was too angry wit
u her experience of the war and its result
as evidenced by the Boxer outbreak
~ 1900, which was instigated by a few pc
!! pie and is yet within the memory Of eve1
"a one.
Ie Then came sweeping changes over tt
er country. Foreign arms and iniluent
II reigned supreme in the north. People tlt
CT from one end of the empire to the othe
II, The protection of lives was threatene
@ ldl Z i oul III Gnu ~
Re, niless. There was fear of information
e. partition. Things were at a crisis; not
ne moment could be lost. In the midst
II, Ill confusion and fears, men sought no
ed o save the empire. Those who were pa
is .akers in the Boxer movement on accou
m If sheer ignorance now turned their bac
S; against the instisators and cursed thel
lg They had been led to do that which tn
knew not, and We're well nigh destructio
Slow Recovery.
81 Thus the plan to drive the foreigne
- INTO the sea utterly failed. China's wea
aess was put before the world. VIII
the outbreak was almost like a deathblc
20 China, it must also be remember
that it has been productive of some GOO
q; It is true that it will take a long til
before China will have fully recover
~ from the shock, and for years she will
- paying the heavy indemnity. But VIII
could wash out those forces of evil we
~ t not for the outbreak? There is now
better understanding and closer relati
1a between China n foreign countrlt
e9n their is now more liberation and Libel
o. If religion among people. Everywhe
she is opened to foreign trade. Forei
~ prestige has not been lowered in the les
~ legree. In short, she is submitting to
hat could be expected, for fear of |
'ha :oward troubles. But she has to
lilo guided with a strong hand.
or OGlOIe 1lS IA 10 ""i
~ ,ne Chinese high official strongly ad'
Gated a Russo-China alliance, and
general feeling of the people was II
nv Russia could be relied on as China's b
TREND. At the close of the war Rus
Tad acted on behalf of China in the settlem
DOT II peace nesotiallonS o'neaeioo, az
Vel he table once more friendly RELATE
we're established between the conque
ill and conquered. Lioa-tung would hi
oeen coded 10 Japan were it not for
n Interference of Russia backed up
France ana germany. russia , -
,ne way or the other. Thenceforward
feeling toward Russia became stron
me N intensity and volume until the erupt
If the Manchurian affairs.
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