Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-03-15
EX.MINISTER CONGER r.
ON CHINESE PERILS

UN GHlNLOL rEhlLO
Ex-Minister Conger in Leslie's
Weekly-"The present trouble" said
Mr.. Conger, lis not comparable in any
sense with the Boxer uprising of five
years ago. It's origin, it's animus, and
its support are entirely different
That movement had the sympathy of
the imperial governmest. This has
not. Neither Is the present uprising
caused so much by hostile feeling
against any class Of foreigners as
against the reigning Manchu dynasty.
The Manchurians are insignificant in
number in proportion to the mass of
the people, and the movement now on
foot is primarily for the purpose of
establ ishing 4 new dynasty and not
against foreigners. 1t is a trouble
which has been brewing for many
years, and has now apparently
reached climax. The popular awak-
ening which China has experienced
in recent years has developed and
strengthened the revolutionary spirit,
and given it form and direction such
as it has never had before. We are
seeing only the beginning of what is
certain to be, sooner Or later, a great
struggle within the empire, popular
upheaVal comparable in some respects
to that which Russia is experiencing
a popular majority against a dynastic
minority.
1.-THE scene of disturbance is in the
southern provinces, but the trouble,
if not suppressed, is likely to spread
to the whole of China Many in
telligent Americans are under the inn
preston that the Chinese people are
not coherent enough, have not that
spirit of loyalty and patriotism, that
national solidarity, which will enable
them to move together for the attain.
ment of any purpose. But this is a
great mistake. The Chinese have a
great love for and pride in their coun
try, and as against any foreign foe
will stand and fight together as one
man.
"The imperial government may be
relied upon to do all in its ,,ower tc
check any anti-foreign demon strations
Or outbreaks, but it will have a large
, I and complicated problem to deal with
1t has a much better disciplined arm,
, than 1T had five years ago; but it ha:
, no navy worth mentioning, and it il
utterly unable to make a formidabl,
= showing against any foreign power
: But should tile present disturbanc,
+ continue, the peril for all foreigner
= resident in China will be very great
no matter what the Chinese govern
ment may do, or try to do, in the wa
: of repression and protection. But tn
J. Chinese government should be give
:. to understand at the outset that tn
United States will tolerate TO wea
, and half-hearted measures to proven
. a repetition of the terrible riots of
= few years ago.
l. eft should be said in all justice tina
l. the Chinese have a righteous caus
5, for resentment toward us in the wa
!. our exclusion law has been admins
tered. They are polite, courteous
kindly-disposed people, and have fe]
S the wrongs and indignities we hav
y heaped upon their citizens coming t
our shores most keenly. This feeIin
of resentment has beef growing, pal
ticularly during the past Years, o
y Esince the preparations of the 81
:. Louis exposition began, which prompt
J. ed many of the higher class of tn
Chinese to come here. Our presen
J. exclusion law is utterly indefensible
} and we cannot blame the Chinese
+. 6hey resort to the boycott and othe
l. methods of reprisa1. We canno
lower the bars to admit OF indis
:: criminate coolie immigration, for the
would soon overwhelm US; but it i
= possible to amend our general in
migration law so as to exclude tn
# eoolie class and at the same time nc
]. discriminate against China