The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-03-31
millionaire anc man Of great impor-


risen in the world, like him, owing to
the Russian advent, and many thou
sands have grown richer in their de-
grees. The coOly's wages, for exam
pie, have gone up with a bound, and
the prices of market produce have
greatly increased. No wonder most Of
the Cinnamon in Manchuria are loyal
subjects Of the czar.
A Chinaman known as "Ivan"-the
Russians "John'-is head of the Har.
bin Telegraph company, a quasi govern
ment institution. He holds authority
over many Russian clerks and opera
tors, as we'll as over large number Of
Chinese. Ivan speaks excellent Eng
lish and is well educated, widely
Travelled, able man, thoroughly we'll
fitted for his important position, which
gives him control over the telegraph
lines all the way to Port Arthur, Dali
ny and Vladivostok.
It seems to be commonly supposed
that the Chinese dislike the Russians,
with whom they have no racial affin-
ity, and like the Japanese, but travel
in Manchuria convinces one to the con-
trary. The japanese is just as much
q foreigner to the Chinaman as the
Russian is, and the Japanese is too
prone, In the Chinaman's eyes, to as
sumo an intolerable air of superiority.
The Russian, on the other hand, is
quite willing to take the Chinaman as
he finds him and to make friends with
him as speedily as he can. There is
no other white race in the world with
SO light baggage of race prejudices.
The Russian soldier, and especially the
Cossack, makes himself at home wher-
ever the car sends him. AS soon as
he has finished killing the natives he
grins good naturally at those who are
left and settles down quietly to learn
their ways and marry their daughters.
The thousands of settlers transplant
ed from European Russia, the Cauca-
sus and Transcaspia to Manchuria
have done little to develop that coun-
try or improve their own condition.
Many of them have hired Chinese COO
lies to do the work on their allotments,
although by SO doing they eat into
their profits and destroy all chance Of
making a success in their new life. In
q short while the cody becomes more
prosperous than his master.
The policy adopted by the Russian
government is that only the Russian
and the Chinaman shall be allowed to
make money in Manchuria. There is
no chance for the American trader
there under Russian rule, or for the
Englishman, or for the German, or for
the Japanese. Not only is foreign COM
merce barred out by q cast iron tariff,
but in many of the towns no foreign
ers are allowed to own stores or run
businesses, those privileges being strict
" reserved for Russian subjects and
Chinese. In Hardin, for example, all
the stores are owned by Russians and
Chinese, and the latter have consider
ably the larger share Of the trade.
J The government of the great mass of
these peaceful, busy, money making
Celestials gives little trouble to the
Russian authority, but the Mantchoo
mobiles, who still remain in the country,
and their large bands Of disorderly re-
tainers are a constant source Of lanX-
iety and annoyance. The bandits re-
ferred to by Viceroy AleXeieff in his
proclamation come from this class. The
large towns Of Manchuria are some
what scattered, and practically all the
intervening country is more or less in
tested with these bandits. They have
always been an evil feature of life in
Manchuria, but their numbers were
greatly increased by the Boxer out
break, for the majority of the Boxers
became outlaws after the crushing Of
able to return to their old places in the
peaceful communities they had left or,
indeed, cared to do SO.
While the Chinese are favored and
protected, the authorities look with no
friendly eye upon the Mantchoos, even
though they may be living peaceful and
law abiding lives. The attitude Of the
Russian toward the Mantchoo is well
Illustrated by story which the Rus
sian newspapers delight in telling over
and over again.
A drunken Mantcho nobleman who
was travelling on the East Chinese rail-
way startled the passengers by his
Quarrelsome talk and murderous
threats. He got out at one Of the sta
tons to take stroll on the platform,
first announcing that he would cut off
the head Of anybody who dared to take
his seat while he was away
A smart young. Russian woman en-
tered the carriage and promptly sat
down in the noblemac's place, despite
the warnings Of the other passengers.
When the Mantchoo returned, drun.ze:r:
than ever, he was furious. He drew
his sword and might have carried out
his threat, but the young woman COW
cred him with a pretty little pocket re-
volver.
"Do you take us for pack Of cow
ardly mandarins? 2" she asked. "What
do we care for youe buster? There is
your place, my hero" And she point
ed to the floor at her feet
Quite sober now, the Mantchoo hest
tated moment, looked into her eyes
oyoH coxv tI,of che r< I>11oipoco on6