The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1906-02-16
This is the Opinion of Mr.. j. L.
Stuart, Just Arrived.
He Has Spent Thirty Years Among
Them-They Want to Expand
and Progress.
BEGAN WITH BOXER TROUBLES.


wife, who has been a guest of their
son here, DR.. d. T. Stuart, for the
past several months. Mr. Stuart is
an intelligent gentleman of pleas
ing address, who with his wife has
spent thirty years in China, in charge
of missionary work for the Presby-
terans. Mrs. Stuart came back to
America last fall, and has since been
visiting in Virginia and Padueah.
They will remain in the United
States all this year, and If the pres
ent threatened trouble in China be-
comes more serious, may remain even
longer.
Mr.. Stuart talks intelligently of
China and its people. He does not
believe. that the present agitation is
solely against foreigners. 1t is
merely the out-cropping of the Chi
nese spirit, which has been depressed
and restrained so long.
"Of course" said Mr.. Stuart this
morning, 81 left China before any of
the present trouble began. I know
nothing of it, but naturally have an
idea of the causes.
at seems to me that the Chinese
people are in state of growing I'M
rest. They have been so since the
Boxer troubles five years ago. They
are beginning to read the papers
more and to take more interest in
the outside world They want pro-
gress. The merchants want to
branch out as they know they could,
but for conditions The government
the Chinese officials,-do not APP
prove. The literary class is also
against It,, but the people seem to
want something. Perhaps they
don't know exactly what it is, but
they want something and they are
beginning to stir uneasily like
monster which has grown to such
proportions during a long sleep that
when he begins to awake,-as they
are doing,-he hardly knows what
to do with himself. Politically and
commercially, China is awakening.
The people want railroads, they want
to develop the wonderful resources
of their country both above and be-
low the ground, and they want to oc-
cupy their proper place among the
nations.
''There is even talk of a republic,
but of course the idea is not yet
clearly defined. although it seeming
ly has taken root. They want to
grow great as other nations but the
officials will not permit them.
1.-THE Chinese, speaking of them as
a whole. feel keenly the effects of
the uncertainty of the future. They
might grow rich, but they are afraid
to. They would invest money in
railroads, and thus develop the eoun-
try, but they never know when the
government might deprive them of
the privilege of enjoying the bene-
fit of their investment. They have
some railroads now, of course, but
very few.
"The Chinese ARE quick to learn.
They have the money to build rail-
roads and brains to run them, but
they are afraid. From Hang Chow
to Shanghai. distance of $50 miles.
there are four boat lines. The rivers
have their steamers, and the canals
their tug boats. The launches or
tugs leave Hang Chow regularly. ev-
cry day for Shanghai, with a string
of households, six in number, the
tug being to the boats what an en-
CINE is to a string of cars. The $50
miles is made in "a hours. and there
are four different lines.
'"The Chinese are quiet, peaceful
nation. Usually when there is a ri
OF, massacre or other disturbance,
there is cause for, IT, II may not
be a good cause, but there is never
| believe wanton uprising. In
Hang Chow. a place of 10000 inhab-
itants, | do not believe that there is
as much crime and violence as there
is here in Paducah. / should not be
afraid to go out alone on the streets
at any time In the night. | have
never heard of murder there. OF
course lots may happen that you
never hear of. but consider the Chi
nese a tranquil people.
ITO revert 10 the original subject
however. they are now moving.
There is unrest, uneasiness. How it
will end | do not know. | do not be-