The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-08-09

On Sunday, the eth July last, wit
messed q unique demonstration. the sig
nihcancs Of which 1t would be difficult
TO exaggerate or over-estirnate. and
whose import Is fraught with possibill~
ties impossible Of deter rmiuatlon.
Under broiling sun, the Thermometer
registering SO degrees IN the shade, IN
one Of the most humid atmospheres OF
any climate In tho world. the First Chi
neee Volunteer corps-some 400 strong
appeared for the first time In public nnd
marched through tho main streets OF the
International Settlement One Of tho
most jealousy guarded rights of this
singular extre-terrltorial cosmopolitan
community is that which precludes the
passage OF Chinese soldiers into or
through the Settlement without the con-
sent OF the Municipal Council, which is
solely composed Of Foreigners and
Also In the event OF such permission
being accorded. without an armed escort
Of that Councils military police. Al
though, In Difference TO this regulation.
the rank and fle taking part In this
memorable parade did not bear arms,
the force 10 as much a military one as
any corps Of volunteers is capable of
becoming. The officers wore their
swoTds-of Japanese make-and as this
technically constituted them an armed
trooper and four Sikh lancers Of the
Shanghai military police.
/ have become to some extent Injured
to the theatrical disposition OF the Chi
pese, and to that Characteristic OF theirs,
the meretriciou5 desire 10 make show
for the sake OF taking part in 1t. which
may be more aptIy enunciated In the
vernacular OF tho Ports-"Makee Look
See Pidgin." but I may confess that on
this occasion / experienced a sensation
OF extreme surprise. Their appearance
as O. body was decidedly creditable, they
were smartly dressed In a workmanllke
uniform OF khaki with the Japana-Ger-
man cap, and q sort of butcher boot,
whose suitability for actual work in ths
field is questionable; they marched and
drilled with a precision and smartness
worthy OF all commendation, and they
generally conducted themselves In n SOL
dlerly manner. Their enthusiasm In the
role they have espoused Is demonstrated
by the assiduity with which they drill
every morning and also in the evening,
by the sums of money they have con-
tributed towards the preliminary eS-
penses OF their organization and equip
ment. and the subscription by each man
OF sum equal 10 &2 los per annum
towards the cost OF the corps mainte-
nance. But although these Items Will
amply demonstrate the enthusiasm OF the
individual unit, there is-apart from any
local considerations vastly greater
significance underlying the constitution
OF the corps as whole. The regiment
Is recruited from class Of men OF COM
paratively high status and education
amongst the Chinese, the youths IN the
service OF numerous merchapts-both ma
tive and forelgn-whose 'hongs" are sit
uated within or In the vicinity of the
great emporium of China. sine qua
|
ployee must speak and write English,
which is OF itself sufficient criterion
OF a liberal education. The corps is
oficered by men of good Chinese family
and considerable wealth. whose intention
is to Immediately raise the strength of
the local volunteers TO come 5000 men.
At the first glance there may appear
to be nothing abnormal IN this state OF
affairs. and the reader who Is not versed
In Chinese methods and sentiments Will,
In all probability, think that as the
same or similar conditions Apply TO the
volunteer movement in England and
elsewhere there Is nothing remarka Bile
In their repetition or reproduction in
China, especially when I tell you that
the First Chinese Volunteers have taken
the local foreign" volunteers as their
model, and that all words of command
are given In English. But 1t is right
here that the extraordinary Significance
that l have before emphasized comes in.
From times beyond our ken, and up to
| short three years ago, the educated and
higher classes OF Chinese OF every grade
to say nothing of the vast bulk of the
helct population-regarded. or affected
to regard, the profession of the soldier
In a very similar manner to that in
which many invertebrate inhabitants OF
the United Kingdom at this present time
affect TO regard it-when their own cpl
dermis and interests are not in danger.
Eliminating for the present those nomi-
nally philosophical considerations with
which / hope TO deal hereafter, the
standpoint assumed by the Chinese was
that soldering was "Coolie work." TO be
performed by such of the lower orders
| who, by reason OF poverty or united
| ness for other occupation, were COM
PEELED TO become soldiers for those who
could pay them. and who could live at
home in a state OF luxury or comfort OF
varying degrees, Patriotism-of which
the lighting. and IL necessary dying for
ones country Will continue to be the
highest practical exemplar despite the
dreamy theories of benevolent Occidental
advocates OF the doctrine Of present-day
1lnality in yilization-conveyed no
| meaning TO the Chinese, In common
with others who arrogate TO themselves