The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-03-31


KeIiy--How They Have Secured the
Confidence and Good Will of the
Chinese Mantchoo Mobiles and
Their Retainers a Source of Con-
slant Annoyance.
Viceroy Alexeieff's proclamation to
the Chinese ordering assistance to be
afforded to the cars troops, which is
now being distributed throughout Man
churia, may appear an absurd docu-
ment to the average newspaper reader
who has never travelled in that country,
but there is little doubt that it will be
well received by the people to whom
it is addressed, says Howard @. Kelly
In the New York Post.
To the outsider it must seem ridicu-
lous for the Russians to expect help
from the people whose land they have
appropriated. The occasion might be
expected to produce a formidable ris-
ing in Manchuria. In all probability
there will be nothing of the kind. The
Russian has gained the hearty good
will of the Chinaman in Manchuria.
So far as the latter's wishes are con-
ever. The genius of the Russian for
assimilating his Asiatic conquests has
never been more strikingly displayed
than in his newest province.
The first contact Of the Chinese in
Manchuria with the Russians was GER
tainly enough to disgust them with
Russian methods forever, according to
our way Of thinking. After the out
break Of the Boxers the cars generals
decided to strike terror into the hearts
Of the people. Massacre followed mas
sacre in rapid succession. Between
5000 and 5000 Cinnamon = nobody
knows how many-perished in the holo-
caust of Blagovestchensk, and the sol
diers Of General Rennenkampf, who
has returned to the far east to hold an
important command against the Jap
anese, burned the town Of Aigun and
drove men, women and children alike
into the flames at the point of the bay
onet.
Yet the Chinese were not discourag-
ed by these grim measures. They fed
from the Cossack's saber, but sneaked
home again as soon as the Cossack's
back was turned, and settled down
quietly to make money and raise their
families under Russian rule.
The Russian administrators have
done all in their power to make the
sChinese feel that Russian rule Isl better
for them than Chinese, and no man
can travel through Manchuria without
marveling at the remarkable success
which has attended that endeavor. In
every town and village the Chinese
swarm, living on the most friendly
terms with their conquerors, and in
many cases holding lucrative and re-
sponsible positions under the Russian
government. In many towns the Mant-
choo administrative officials have been
continued in Office and permitted to
retain all their special privileges and
emOlumentS.
The collection Of maritime revenues
ts carried on by Chinese officials-men
trained by Sir Robert Hart in the Chi
nese imperial customs, but now draw
ing Russian pay and wearing Russian
uniforms The collectors Of inland rev.
enue, too, are mostly Chinese, and
there are many native officials in every
department Of the government and in
all ranks Of service, excepting only the
highest. In pursuing his policy Of con-
Citation, Admiral Alexeieff has, in
many cases, actually placed Chinese In
authority over Russians. But all the
native officials who have been retained
have been carefully selected and thor
oughly well drilled.
Russian brains planned the rapid de
velopment Of Manchuria, which amaz-
ed the world, but Chinese hands car
ried out the work. Hundreds of thou
sands Of Chinese coolies cheerfully as
sisted in the classification Of their own
country. They built up Hardin, Dali
ny, Port Arthur, Blagovestchensk and
the other towns; they laid the Man
churian sections Of the Siberian rail-
way, and they have taken the largest
share in the cultivation Of crops, for
the Cinnamon can raise more on rood
Of ground than the imported Russian
peasant can on an acre.
This latter fact is SO well appreciated
by the Russian authorities that they
encouraged and assisted large numbers
Of Chinese peasants to settle on farms
In the fertile zones around Hardin and
Tsitsikar, in order that there might
be no trouble over the food supply Of
the important town Of Hardin. These
farmers have prospered exceedingly,
helped by Russian capital whenever
thev needed it. Their produce is
brought to Hardin by the Sungan and
NCnni rivers on a large fleet Of boats
operated especially for that purpose by
Russians.
Before the war one Of the most pow
erful men at Port Arthur was China
man known as Typhoon Tai. He was
one of the viceroy's most trusted bench
men, having control. as a contractor,
over many thousands of coolies. He
started as cody himself and never
made much Roadway in the world un-
der his own native government, but
when the Russians acquired Port Ar