New-York tribune., 1906-09-02
VIGILANCE in CHINA.
Foreign Po1cers on Guard-Bad
Outlook for Reforms.

rFrona an Correspondent Of The rr1bune1
FIankow. May 1.-The tea season IL just opening,
and by the tins 4, IS well over the rice harvest
will have begun. During these periods there Is less
likelihood of local troubles. for the people are oc-
cupied with their labors.
The foreign gunboats are very active keeping up
a regular and constant patrol the Japanese having
added considerable number Of small boats to
those of other nations. In all there is fair sized
feet and Il appears to be planned 10 have II dis
,r;bIr,ed so as TO be available In almost
sary direction Full lists OF the names and ad-
dresses OF all American citizens residing In China,
and the nearest and best way OF reaching them in
case of possible troubles. have been supplied by the
consufites 70 the gunboats. The lists have all
bee.. carefully revised since the f-ss Of Tho year
anu k.Vr posted 10 date
A Chinese official here. who Is OF ripe years
and experience and student OF conditions In
China saws that IN his opinion the Chinese gov
ernrlent excspt IN regard TO the assistance and
support given to II by the United states, Great
Britain and Japan. IS weaker to-day than 1t was
ten years or twenty years ago. He says that II Is
true ,hat the Chinese have organized somewhat Of
an army. but that the army IS filed with men who
have been taken into secret organizations or vari-
GUS kinds and forms. and that IN the event or
troubles they are not to be depended upon This
same official says that while for the present there
is a tendency TO refuse concessions 20 all foreign
ers the officials generally feel that dismember-
ulent OF the country must come sooner or later,
and tha. instead OF trying 90 help the imperial
rOy
,iIv irving to make alliances In directions which
viii serve them best In case OF general dis
ruptio2.
what Is the use' he added "ot trying TO bring
about reform, when the government Will not OF
,tserf bring about such reforms Immediately
,oesihlee'. Then Re spoke OF the ever present
problem with regard TO coinage OF money. and the
apparent lack of desire on the part or the ofhclas
al Picking to stop the continuance or system
which makes possible continuous game OF
soueeze This is a great evil and really could be
ren,aded Even To declare it law that there should
bo q uniform standard OF value unit throughout
the whole country. let it be either dollar or some
form of taeI and great reform would De acco.1i-
pIshed Let the coins OF unit vaIue 90 s'aiiip1u
the same all over the empire 10 be made UNIFORM
with perhaps small letters as Distinguishing max A'
20 show what mint stamped them ieI Ine b as
roent begin with some practical matesf. SucI - -
59.s and there re may n1sent mt 1vten OF government.
Ine Chinese government IS at pIesen. pyor, az
s Far faT for reform are the attempts 20 organizs
a army and possibly lato I on . i ~ recessitv az
cY,a,5Ine in and In China, that means some az
+iI 7orr, Of tax placed upon trade This tenas
chinese DO not understand the iaea 0 @I s.S ,nent
movaI Of restrictions 70 tIade' tne enc arcmt
% production OF wealth and tlaS eTT ,i,r
,ion OF property which can peaI rven,1a from,
rr1o1t On SOM. form OF dabased coinage tax @ en-
commerce 80 r ~ ~ bnsinesz and thus securing his
s1YeeSe Talk 10 chinese official about tne losa "a
IeriPinPaie profit aud he is mystiaed; but talk t6
Ej7n OF "cfanoe'' and "s4ueeze, and he rs wita
Won directly Iiis idea is that OF some lor, ~, 81
sraft some way ef trimming oil Wnat ,hs 55ss oN ~
man has produced. without the shghtest s ldsa o'
corneusa ring him IN any way for ~Eat ls tdhel.
me tfcal saws that these are fundarlehtaI ILL.,
rsrs existing at the bottom OF things. ana tls.L
,,iS=s ne g0yerIuea: shows some sign or cndisos
E'ith r.Card 10 tIcse matters he VII! Lot uclete
that there is 10 be real reform, bGt merely Sh ~
tempt To delay wnat viii inevitably result n the
,,artiticninc, OF the country among the powers
-te A-at ~ American battlesnips ami cruisers -
- rief. I,nsr ana later CIe-F'Co. which IS = SooG
mace In sumner for the health OF ;ne ulat. All
TIE eurboqts in china Will have an opportunity 20
hs rHIiaveJ AZ some time during tIe season Ltol
th.tr rerrlar stations. and have az least sio.II
Train will visit Tfen-Tsn. and while there 60 20
t.[frr IN ore OF the smaller CunhcatS anu w.
-. rE,rsss DoV-ager Az OF these visits viii help
IN removing the feeling which has existed II.
tTe chinese and foreigners, and VIII @ -.
assist in adding to American prestige IN 'h'S par
q world