Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-01
SITUATION IN CHINA
Calls for Watchfulness, But Not
for Alarm.
JAPAN Is THE REAL KEY
Two Agencies at Work Stirring Up
the People.
ANTI-F0REIGN; ANTI-MANCHU
Secret Societies Busy Agitating the
Villagers-Many Uprisings
Purely Local.
ANTI-F0REIGN; ANTI-MANCHU
Special CabIegrsm 70 The Star.

| PEKING, July 1.-Amercans will b
| interested in learning that the situation in
| China today is one that calls for watchfu-
ness but not for acute alarm.
The key to the situation in the orient
commercially and from a military point of
view Is Japan and not China. If Japan
should once conclude to teach the Chinese
all the tricks of modern civilization. and
then inaugurate a war Of the yellow races
against the white the most serious strug-
gle in hundreds of years-perhaps, in the
history of the world, might be preclpi-
tated. The ferment caused by the reform
movement here in China, the revolutionary
ideas carefully fostered by the great army
o! Ia, 600 youths studying last year in Japan,
and the changing economic conditions
brought about by the direct introduction
of the methods of western civilization are
all making themselves felt. few more
victories by the rebels such as they
have already gained in several places
against the imperial troops will enormous
ly increase their numbers. The revolution
airy party, their natural ally. has arms.
money and organization. If the anti
dynastic revolutionists and the peasant
| rebels work together the situation VIII un-
doubtedly take on a more sinister aspect
The rebellion in the southern provinces
which has been attached so much atten-
ton is really only one of several symptoms
appearance during the past half-year. The
revolutionary party, which aims at over
throwing the present Manchu ruling family
and putting a purely Chinese emperor on
the throne, has recently shown renewed
life Its leader, Sun Vat Sen, is familiar 10
Americans and Europeans as the man VINO
was sensationally arrested some years ago
by the Chinese legation officlals IN PORTLAND
place London. Sun has recently made
Japan his center Of operations, and hass
introduced large quantities of arms from
Japan into China.
Secret Societies Busy.
There has been a recrudescence OF the
activities of the secret societies recently.
The Golden Pill Society of Shantung-di-
rectly connected with the old Boxer move
ment-has been very busy since last au-
tumn To the south of Kwangsi, where
much OF the present trouble now Is, the
Big Leg Society (Ta-Tai-huD began open
demonstrations last November, Its leaders
going in banIs from village to village with
white flags, calling upon the people TO rise.
From Manchuria, in the north, to kwAng-
81, in the south, there has been series OF
demonstrations, often accompanied Dy
bloodshed, against increased taxation and
the ever-rsing cost of living.
ing in Kwantung and Kwangsi is purely
economic. AS all the world knows, central
China Is now suffering from severe famine
a famine whose grim and tragic horrors Will
scarcely bear description. Many scores OF
thousands of people have died and are dying
from absolute starvation. This famine has
naturally affected the price. OF food IN the
south.
In addition, heavy floods last year swept
away a considerable portion of the southern
rice crops and there has been a drough.
recently which made the transit OF 1000
supplies along the waterways slow and
costly.
Peasantry in Hunger.
,lia NJ oil
cumstances, therefore. the peasantry OF
the two Kwangs have felt the pinch OK
hunger. They are a turbulent and some
what passionate people. men from whom
the river pirates of the south are recruited
and from whose country rebellion after
rebellion has started In the past They
are not of the kind that calmly endures
want. The Chinese government Is paternal,
and IL the people lack food the authorities
are expected to provide IT for them.
Early this year, in order to remind the
imperial authorities Of their duty, the peo-
pie in several districts rose in revolt. Ihese
uprisings were not purely local disturb
ances 1t was noted that before the men
of one town took up arms others from many
parts around came to them. AL IungchoW
several thousand people marched through
the streets burst open the stores looted
all food supplies and swept the soldiers on
one side In the country district to the
back of Swallow numbers OF officials were
assassinated and their yamenn burned.
The mob had few weapons, but they were
badly opposed by the iil-armed and poorly
disciplined soldiery OF the old type. Had
there been a few regiments of modern
trained Chinese soldiers such as are to be
found in Chih-li, the uprising might
have been npped in the bud at the COM
mencement. AS 1t was, the imperial soldiers
were defeated several times and the rebels
gained courage. 1t gradually became APP
parent that the men in various districts
were working together.
Pirates and Brigands.
To add to the trouble large numbers or
pirates and brigands made their appearance
The creeks and riverways of the south are
VIGOROUSLY unsafe, but during the past
three or four months they have simply been
haunted by innumerable marauders. Brig
ands organized after the manner of the
Hightuzes of the north have spread their
activities throughout the provinces.
Merchants who could have imported stores
of rice have been prevented from doing SO
because ii has been unsafe for them to bring
in any supplies even under military escort.
In some parts the brigands have demanded
a regular toll on every pound of rice Inn
ported. Rich men have been kidnapped and
held for ransom, killed or badly mutlated.
The common people have been WORKED
upon by all kinds of rumors. AT other times
such rumors have been directed against the
foreigners Here there has been little in the
way of suggestions of anti-foreign agita-
ton Even in those parts where excitement
has been the highest the foreigner has been
left alone.
officials Accused of Robbery.
But the officials have been accused OF
robbing the poor of their rice, and the grand
merchants of the towns have been openly
charged with forming rings to keep up
the price of food and with holding back
their supplies In their stores.
For the moment the greater part OF the
rebels are undrilled, badly armed and I'M
disciplined peasants. How long will they
remain SO? 1t is well known that for some
months past large quantities of weapons
have been smuggled into Canton. There
have been seizures by the imperial maritime
customs Of considerable quantities OF rifles :
bayonets and ammunition. For one consign-
ment seized ten have gotten through. What
has become Of these? II the discarded jap
anese weapons bought by the revolutionists
and landed in south China are reaching the
hands of the rebels the situation will be-
come more serious. The leader of the peas
ant rising is Japanese trained student 2
While the marked absence of anti-foreiRn
movements and anti-foreign feelings has
been a notable factor so far. those who best
know the policy Of indirection which works
out in the oriental mind say that IL Is never
safe assume that thin1a will NOT ohio poa