The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-01

tl
and Newspapers Founded The De
velopment Of the Country May Be
Slower than That of Japan, Because
Of Racial Temperament and the Vast
Number of the Population.
John w. Foster, author Of GA
Century of American Diplomacy and
American Diplomacy in the Orient, =
recently lectured on China before
the National Geographic society. In the
course of his talk, which has been pub
lished in the National Geographic Mag
azine, Mr.. Foster says:
One evidence of the spirit Of enlight-
eminent now prevailing in China is the
establishment and multiplication of
newspapers. The empire boasts the
oldest newspaper in the world-the Pc
king Gazette, the official organ OF the
but it is merely the publication of the
official edicts and orders. Until recent
years no other newspaper was published
in the vernacular. Since the new
regime at Picking newspapers and peri
odicals in China have greatly increased,
until now scarcely any important town
is without one or more OF them.
| Other evidence of the new spirit is
found in the proclamations Of some of
the viceroys against the female practice
of footbinding and against the national
vice Of gambling and other demoraliz-
ing practices, Antif oreigns and especial
ly antimissionary riots have almost en-
tirely ceased; when they occur they are
due to local and exceptional causes and
The material Improvement in the
country is especially noted in the rapid
development Of railroad construction.
At the conclusion Of the Japanese war
there were less than 200 miles Of rail
road in operation. Now there are about
1900 miles completed and 1900 in pro
cess of construction. OF the completed
the Russians in Manchuria and on the
Liao-tung peninsula. It may reason
ably be. expected that within few
years trunk lines and branches will ira
verse the thickly settled portions of the
; provinces, which should have the effect
to consolidate the power of the central
government, tend to exterminate the
antiforeign spirit, and greatly develop
the resources of the empire. ,.sI.
!, 1t is not the province of the lecturer
!, before geographic society to enter the
] field of prophecy, and it is even unsafe
for q student of international politics;
but 1 may venture some suppositions at
least respecting the future Of China
; We cannot anticipate the same rapid
: development in western methods which
has attended the history Of Japan dur.
| ing the last half century. If for nc
other cause, the different temperament
of the race will prevent it. But it is
| quite certain that China has entered
) upon the task of internal reform and
| transformation, and that the movement
2 tho, it may be retarded, will not t, &c
! in the ascendancy in China, and the re
, form movement will 90 forward rapidly
+ Already they are exercising a greater
l. influence on the people than any othel
l nationality. It is said that 70 per cent
2 of the foreign teachers are Japanese
l and they are largely represented in thu
1 Chinese army. Their commerce with TIT
that of any other nation. =,
Should they become the predominant
> ing influence in. political and govern
mental circles as well, students in thu
= questions Of the far east have seen {
. threatening danger for the nations q
christendom. The "yellow peril, - il
j their view, looms large above the hori
y interest in this connection to state tina
: this subject was more than once dis
s cussed during the peace negotiations be
+ tween China and Japan by their tw'
e greatest statesmen, Lii Hung Chang AM
8 Marquis Ito. Imake the following ex
l. tract from the report Of the verbal con
O ferences:
"Hviceroy Lion the Asiatic con
d tinent China and Japan are close neigh
s DopS af IS tn we ba .@ sggonS i've
i enmity9 y \ We should follow tn
h example Of Europe-increase our arma
n ments, and confederate. If your es
S, cellency and myself thoroly appreciat
8 this, we cannot but conclude that tn
policy which should rule the Asiati
@ continent is that we should establish a
a a en5dluring peace in order to prevent tn tn
f. white race in Europe.
=; - Marquis Ito endorse your exec
Is lency's views with all my heart. Will
=, - I was in Tientsin ten years ago, [ dir
y, 40 cussed with your excellency upon tn
70 reforms in China, but regret to Sc
IS that nothing whatever has been don on
It. shame to say, ten years has wrough
a. while Japan has organized an efficien
# army after western models, and is col
~ stantly perfecting her government.
Ito-Heaven is impartial and speed
20 the right. If China will but make a
IF effort help will come from on higl
- Leu Cnefe De Cno WILL, ana heaVen WI
a. cares alike for us all, will not forsak
n you; a thus nation i \ may control i
W. ", "Li-Suppose China was to invit
nj you to be her prime minister9
10 "Ito-I would accept with my en-
nj peror's permission. - -
H. Sir Robert Hart, who for half Gel
,e hurry has made study of Chinese cha
to acter and capacity, writing just aft,
u passing thru the siege of the Legation
- in 1900, expressed the belief that II
10 Chinese hatred Of foreigners was re-
ID menace to the world. He suggeste
n two remedies for this impending da
Ia ger: The first was partition Of the va
empire among the great powers, whit
m. he regarded as full of difficulties; Il
m second, a miraculous spread of Chri
oh tianity, "a not impossible, but scarce
ar to be hoped for, religious triumph, \ y
ed which would convert China into Il
is friendliest Of friendly powers. - &c
no tainly such possibility in the estirna
he Of so high an authority should slim
iii late the friends Of Christian mission
20. to redouble their efforts among tn
no great people. ..s
ng have never regarded the "yello
he peril - with serious concern. Japan
it's too greatly leavened with the spirit
ais modern ideas to make race hatred
FER controlling motive Of it's foreign polio
all If the present movement in China CO
be tinues, the antiforeign feeling the
lot must be greatly modified. The wondt
ID full development of Japan's militia
lly power certainly adds a new factor