New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-22
CHINA'S AWAKENING.
Menace of a Commercial and In
duStrial YeIlo1o Terror.
LFRos1 THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

IFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU
Washington, Aug. 21.-Augustine Heard. for
merly United States Minister 10 Corea and Cor
many years identified with Characterization
commerce. whose familiarity with the great
Eastern question was shown in his articles on
the Military Yellow Terror" published in The
Tribune of September Z. 1908. and of May Ia
1904. has been induced TO give his views
garding the commercial and industrial yellow
terror which might follow the awakening OF
China and her adoption Of Western reforms
a not unlikely consequence Of the present war.
The probability Of developments in this direc-
ton has been a favorite study with him, and
his opinions are found TO have much weight
in the consideration Of this subject. which Is al
ready beginning to command the close attention
OF the leading maritime nations, particularly
the United States.
While dwelling on the subject" Mr.. Heard
writes. my thoughts have been tnvincibly at
tracted by the recent discussion in The London
Spectator The Idealism Of War The vio-
lent denunciation war by Count ToIstoy IN
The Times is met by the assertion that war
is not all bad, and that so long as the love
of home. patriotism, religion. Justice and mercy
exist IN man vital beliefs so long must there
be war, and war for these is good. Without IN
dertaking to argue on these elevated grounds,
which admittedly IDEAL 7 may say for my
present purpose mat war may De a pioneer
of civilization. and is so far good. I am inclined
to think that this present war between Russia
and Japan will powerfully contribute to ths
civilization OF China, will be later. and
although regard the commercial and industrial
yellow terror non-existent. have enphat-
ically stated my belief that there Is reality IN
the military yellow terror which consists IN the
alliance OF China and Japan. and which cannot
lightly be put aside.
Without then, in any way relinQuishing my
views Of the future. expressed IN the above
publications. let US examine what is this COM
mercial and Industrial yellow terror, which
seems so terrible. And first. is It probable that
China VIII be so changed after the WARP There
is much 10 be said IN favor Of this view. Europe
has. so far. found It uphill task 70 exert any
revivifying influence over China She has had
to contend not only against deep rooted pretu-
dice and hostility to any change but also
against the fear lest By some means the for
eigner should profit by any yielding TO sub1ugats
and gain power over he- but Japan would find
il easy to convince her OF the advantage OF tax
ing the same steps that she has done. and would
without difficulty calm her imaginary eppre-
tensions by showing how completely she has
thrown him OF when once he had taught her
what she had wanted TO know,
I think we may assume that Japan's example
STA would be very potent and that China would
throw herself with ardor into the study and
practice Of Western methods. not improbably
outdoing her model; for though her tempera-
ment is calm. the cold. impassive man, ones
swept from his moorings by gust OF passion.
often goes further than the man who is warm
and impetuous and who. mistrusting himself
somewhat. stops and thinks.
"China's resources are unlimited; she has the
most extensive mines Of iron and coal IN close
proximity one TO the other IN the world. She
has millions of the best workers in the world
The slumbering factors Of an immense industrial
production all exist in China, says Richthofen.
Among the various races OF mankind the China
man is the only one who in all climates. the
hottest and the coolest. IS capable OF great and
lasting activity. He fulfls in the highest de-
gree the ideal OF an intelligent human machins
All writer's on China reiterate. perhaps In slight
" different form, the same opinion; and this
wonderful workman. who is never tired. never
troublesome but always cheerful, be had IN
Iimitless numbers for half third o. tn
wages OF the European.
In China wages do not vary substantially
from those in japan. and We have these Of
fetal statistics Of them: \ carpenter earned in
1896 O. $50 yen a day, which gradually advanced
till in 1902 he received O5s3 yen a day. For
other trades the daily wages in yen for those
years were as follows: