The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-08-09
THE NEW CHINA
Her First Volunteer Force.

a superior intelligence and code OF etnles
and morals to those OF the Celesllal'
thew had greater concern Tot the I'M
mediate condition Of their paunch and |
pocket. ,a |
column Of yellow, piG-tailed men Gown
the yellow dragon banner-dressea Maloo
az shanghai through densely packed |
and annlaudinr masses OF their country
men. the sophlstry founded on spurious
philosophy and wilfull shlrleing OF inoi-
yidual responsibility which ahordeo d
reason for national suPineness ana an
excuse for the apathy which has LED 70
the abasement OF the China Of the past,
tilI bar name became n byword amongst
the nations, was once and forever den-
nltely swept away.
Under red hot sun. with perspirston
exuding from every pore, the men OF the
six companies, In fours and headed by
their band, and by detachment OF
eighteen we'll -horsed NJ. I.-besides the
troopers before mentioned-halted In
front OF the residence Of Lord Ii, nephew
OF the grent Yiceroy Ii Hung Chang,
who greeted them with words that again
emphasize the Importance OF the move
ment.
After eulogizing the patriotic enort
which has led TO the formation OF the
CORPS and the initiation OF volunteer
scheme oG defense throughout the en-
pire. he impressed upon his hearers the
necessity OF maintaining high standard
OF discipline and efficiency. not only on
account OF the responsibility which rested
upon them, as the first Chinese yolun-
tcers, to maintain their good name
amongst people (foreigners) who were
so critically watching their every move
ment but because they represented the
initial endeavor on the part OF the chi
nese people generally 10 undertake and
emulate those deeds which, In the case
OF other nations. had made for great
ness.
The contrast between this placeman
of the ancient regime, in the flowing silk
mandarin garments and conical red
pIumcd hat, and the smartly uniformed
and alert representatives OF the New
Era, was striking in the extreme, and
as I watched this practical human evil
dence Of the renaissance Of China-the
surge aud sound of whose accompanying
| throes is all around me and daily grow
ing In intensity instlnctively con-
trasted the achievement OF which this
| ceremony formed a living, moving eS-
emplar with that OF the procedure some
times foreshadowed, often advocated-if
not Immediately contemplated-by cer-
tain impractical enthusiasts Of the West.
Many centuries ago, when Chinese civ
| ilization was the highest in the world
| and was virtually on the same plane as
| In most particulars it is today-a clvili-
zatlon per sc which. while different rad
lcally from that of the West both in
| theory and practice as regards non-es-
| sentlals, Is it's equal, If not superior, in
many essentlals-the Chinese people ar
| rived at the conclusion that all strife
and conflict was outside the pale in the
| great scheme OF the universe.
Relying on an altogether erroneous and
! inflated idea of her own status and pres
tige, and subsidiarily on philosophical
discussion and arbitration. for the set
tlement OF any dispute that might arise
! with the outer barbarans. China dis
| banded her organized forces-and, pre-
sumaby. reduced her expenditure-and
! is-China.
| The contemned white Barbarians"
grew In numbers and strength They
evolved a scheme of civilization of their
own. and with the incentive born of
ceaseless strife and competition they In
vented the weird engines OF construction
| aud destruction which, at this early
stage OF the worlds history, have given
to them the Temporal Power.
In place of the anticipated avoidance
OF the horrors Of war. China has expert
enced all its humiliations with the hor-
rors thrown in. In place of strenuous
national endeaVor and its spiritually re-
| viyifying effect, came national lethnrgy
| followed by national paralysis and a de-
| cadent desire for luxury and creature
comforts. In place OF communal progress
and individual effort in the broad ways
OF learning and Invention. came a passive
conteDtment to rest and be thankful with
an ancient philosophy and the products
OF an astounding death rate, In which
female lnfantlclde aud infant mortality
| are accountable for the monstrous figure
| Of over so per cent. Motel.
These facts burned into my mind as I
listened to the monotonous staccato ut
terances of the pale. sallow-faced states
man. Suddenly he ceased speaking. The
bugles rang out and tho yellow column
marched down the street.
Whether the limitations OF the Chinese
character VIII permit of China consum-
mating the destiny that this event fore
shadows remains to be seen l deal with
visible fact. China-wlth her five hun
dred millions Of yellow Barbarians"-
is following in the footsteps of the fifty
| millions of Japan. China is awake Her
! period OF illusion is at an end
WALTER KIRTON
Shanghai. 10th July, 1906.
| Note.-"Out of every 1000 Chinese chill
dren born in Hongkong only 72 live be-
yond IL months or so''-Thlngs Chinese
/ by j, Dyer Ball NJ. r. A. s.. etc.