The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-07
CHINA'S AWAKENING IS A
BIG PERIL TO THE WORLD
Japan Wins China May Conquer
World-Russia Wins China VIII
Manufacture for the World.
WARS GLOOMY OUTLOOK

Chicago Journal.
One result of the war between Japan and
Russia, and the one far more important TO
the rest of the civilized world than the mere
question of which side wins. will be the
awakening of China, making a reality the
specter of 1.-The yellow peril which has been
so much discussed for half century that 1t
has lost most of its terrors
For no matter which way the struggle
ends, il is bound to have the greatest ef-
feet on China. This huge empire. teening
with natural wealth. and a population capa-
bic of developing il 10 the fullest. has long
beeu restless under it's shackles of con-
servatism. 1t has received many shocks,
and seems, at last. without the stimulus OF
a great war. TO be about ready TO take it's
place among the nations.
But for the restraining influence of the
dowager Empress. who has steadfastly OPP
posed all progress, il seems likely that
China long ago would have followed the
footsteps Of Japan In adopting western CIV
| ilization and western commercialism. For
| years a leader has been lacking, but the
people, not only I'm the coast cities. but in the
| interior, have been becoming familiar with
| modern appliances. so that when the time
| is ripe the rapidity with which they will be
| adopted will aStOund the world.
The question just now is, in which way
| will the yellow peril manifest itself?
If Japan wins and succeeds in driving
| back the advancing hosts of Russia we
| may see united Asia, strong as a military
power, backed by inexhaustible wealth and
| defying the nations OF Europe and America.
For with Japan as leader; already having
| the prestige of defeating the most power
| full armed nation of Europe, there Is no
| telling what China may do when her ire
mendous resources are organized and prop
| erly directed.
IN COMMERCIAL FORM.
If. on the other hand. Russia should prove
the victor, the yellow peril will show
| itself in commercial form. Japan. from a
| military standpoint, will cease to be fac
| tor in world politics, or at least see its
| powers enormously curtailed. Russia will
be free to continue its policy OF aggran-
| dizement in northern China as far as active
resistance in that quarter is concerned, but
the other powers of Europe will not stand
| idly by and see the bear gobble up the
whole Of the empire.
| England. France and Germany all have
what is called their spheres of influence"
| in China. If Russia is enabled 10 grab what
IL wants in the north there will be an i'm
| mediate scramble on the part of the other
| nations to turn their spheres of influence"
! into enormous areas OF actual possession.
China will Immediately be divided up into
1
| the sovereignty of a European power. In
| it's present condition China is helpless to
resist 1t could be dismembered most east
| w. The only danger TO the Europeon ma
| tons would be quarrels over the division
| of the spoils.
But though the great empire. old enough
| TO make the most venerable nations OF Eu-
| rope seem like children, would cease to ex-
| ist its resources and its thrifty. intelligent
| population would remain, and here lies tho
Each power. when it has gobbled a dis
| trict, will seek at once 10 MAKE IL worth
| having. Western methods of business Will
| be introduced in scores or places at once.
| Railroads will be built and manufa curing.
agricultural and mining resources will be
developed with a rapidity heretofore un-
| dreamed Of.
| The Cinnamon in a few years Will become
! familiarized with labor-saving machinery.
He is mentally capable of becoming an
| expert machinist. he is industrious as well
| as intelligent and frugal TO q degree un-
known even to the peasants of Europe.
For ages he has been accustomed TO live
| upon little and to work for a ptffance. HIS
habits In this regard viii not be changed
in day or a century, for here he will have
no one To point the way.
GRASPING MANUFACTURES.
The grasping manufacturer when he goes
into China, as he surely will If the Euro
! pean nations gain control. will not voluo-
tarly raise the standard of wages. He viii.
of course. get his work done as chesply az
| possible He will teach the Chinaman to
use machinery. but will not teach him to
form labor unions and demand a share Of
the profits. Il Will take ages for the China
man TO learn this.
Meanwhile the production OF China will
enormously outstrip the consumption.
| There will be great quantities OF manu-
| featured products for other markets.
| China can furnish cheap fuel and cheap la
Dor as no other country In the world can.
H.
turers of China will be able to underseIl
/ the rest of the world.
The effect Of the competition. IL nothing
/ is done to check IL. will be ruincus Euro
! pean and American manufacturers VIII
! ind themselves unable TO compete without
lowering wages and so cheapening pro-
! ducts
Ii is appalling TO think what the erect
/ on the commercial world viii be- Imagine
"A population of 4O00o0.oOO people suddenly
/ taking 10 labor-saving machinery and
working according 10 Western standards.
/ and still demanding only nominal wage,
| and consuming little nothing OF what
they make. Imagine the manufacturers OF
the rest of the world attempting 10 meet
this kind Of competition.
The only possible result will be the rails
ing OF tariff walls against Chinese products,
and so will find China transformed from
the hermit nation, intrenched behind .
mighty wall OF stone, 10 the invader, bait
tering at the legal wall which we shall
We'll may the world stand aghast al the
prospect OF the war I'm the far East Aghast
! not because of the fearful loss OF life which
will necessarily result, but because of the
| far-reaching consequences OF the struggle.
The Western world will not feel greatly
interested, one way or another. IL a few
hundred thousands OF Russians or Japa-
nese are killed That is a mere detail-an
incident of war.
Ii is the direct result OF Chinese compe-
tition which the western world has 20 fear.
and which menaces its very existence.
And so the struggle assumes immense
! PROPORTIONS which dwarf into insignificance
any OF the wars that have been waged since
the time when Attila the Hun the Turks
| threatened TO wipe Europe OF the map. And
all this is In sight. even without the added
prospect OF a whrlwind of strife which may
| see all the nations OF Europe I'm a death
grapple for the spoils 20 be had before the
| ..velloM nerll" which Is surely AT fha