The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-02-03
CONDITIONS IN
CHINA NOW
James Ware, a Senior Mission
AIRY, Talks on Reform
Work in China.

~ fothS WI hUIUt Ill
Work in China.
EThere is grave danger OF an inter
nal revolution in China at the present
time, - said James Ware. who has been
doing missionary work in the FIowery
Kingdom for the past twenty-eight
years, last night. Mr.. Ware is on a
furlough at the present time, and came
up from Australia on his way to the
mainland on the Canadian Australian
steamer Moana.
Il had an audience with Prince
Chun, who is the present Regent. some
time ago and he expressed himself. and
| know that he is, in favor of the
grea reform movement which has been
developing in China to such extent for
the last FIVE years. 1t is a question.
however, whether or not he will pre-
vail in his object of aiding the ednca-
tional, opium, financial, and other re-
forms without coming to actual blows
with the mighty Manehu faction. The
Manehus, although not by and means
popular with the great masses of the
people, are powerful enough to hold
! back the present uplifting trend of af-
fairs, and they viii do all in their
power to force the government to re,
vert to the old idolarry and heather
manners. There are two factions in
China besides the Manchus, and until
these unite, or some compromise is eff
fected whereby they match their com
| blaed strength against the Manehus,
the latter will hold the upper hand.
Prince Chun is a friend to the missions
and the missionary schools, and I feel
that we can count on his support in
our war for the casting off of the
chains which have retarded the ad-
vance of civilization in China for so
many centuries, but it may be that,
| before definite government policy is
established, the stronger faction will
| rise in revolt and cause internal war.
| fare.
The Emperor's Edict.
"Until of late years Chinese stu
dents qualified for positions in the gov
eminent by passing examinations in the
ancient Chinese classics. and it was on
ly by familiarizing themselves with
| these classics that they were allowed
| to receive an official appointment The
/ Mission schools were not recognized.
| Ten years ago the Emperor issued his
famous reform edict, which, in fact,
/ led to his deposition. The chief items
of the edict were educational and Telig-
| ious reforms, and under it the old tenn
| Piles were to be used as schools. The
Emperor issued this ediet following up
on his study of Christian books, espe-
cially the Bible, but when he was de-
posed the reforms proposed by him were
put aside and the Boxer uprising re-
suited. The Emperor was friend of
all missionary work, and it was freely
rumored that he was a Christian a,
heart
Reforms Being Carried Out.
ellis reforms, however. laid in abey
ance for five years. The Boxer revolt
was protest against reform of al
kinds. and movement to return to the
old customs that had chained China fol
centuries to an unenlightened standard
At the present time, every one of the
reforms proposed by the Emperor. with
several additions, are being carried into
effect. Notably among these are the
arranging for the opening of China Z
mines, the building of railroads. the
freedom of the native press, and the
greatest reform of all along religion.
lines. A native editor said last June
"Our religion has been but a den 0,
demons in which has been imprisoned
the thought of the nation for ten thou
sands years. Under these circumstances
l hos 3
in civilization
The Opium Traffic.
Now. in regard to the decrease il
the opium business of China. Opium
was brought into the country in 179
A. d. by the Arabs, and was used b.
them for medicinal purposes only. Fo
a time, also. the Chinese used the dru
as medicine, but when tobacco wa
first imported from the Philippine Il
: lands, the Chinese began mixing tn
two and using the combination in thei
: pipes. In 1871 Great Britain bega
importing opium into China Grea
! | Britain has, however, aided in the wor
: of overcoming the Influence of opiul
| among the Chinese by refusing t
: send any more of the stuff into til
a country of late years. In 1880 til
! United Kingdom imported 5000 tor
:. from India, while the amount of HON,
!. grown opium was 6125 tons, whic
:. | shows that Great Britain at that tim
limited the importation to eertai
. extent
a SIN 1905 the missionaries prepare
q a memorial and presented it to IL
:. throne through Chow Flu, then IL
/. Vieeroy Of Marking. and q powerf
friend of reform, asking that Il
f throne take cognizance Of the gre;
i increase in the opium trade in Chin
d Three months later an Imperial edi
/ was issued. promising immediate ste
d along the right direction, and orderiI
o that the traffic be entirely abolisht
| ---o TIL nasn+ rr-ns "a