The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-06-14


ton. the world has ever known. For
1000 years they have existed scarce
ly touched by world events. The
Egyptians, Jews. Greeks. Romans,
Spaniards and French have risen to
world eminence and declined IN pow
or. Some. OF, the. nations have passed
out OF existence. China remains. Nay
more! In spite of floods. famines
and pestilepces her population has
Increased. Today there are 423.00e.-
900 Chinese. This is one-fourth of
the worlds population.
The great wall and the grand ca
nal OF China are the greatest nation
al undertakings ever accomplished by
any people.
For 5000 years the Chinese have
looked with contempt on all other
nations. In their Ignorance they
thought that they dominated the
Their awakening has come.
During the comparatively recent
past. foreign nations have seized
many of her seaports and large slices
OF her domains. she HAS bern forcef
20 pay huge indemnities. Her mer-
chants havo been insulted. Great
Britain forced the opium trade on
her. Her people are being taught the
white mans vice--the liquor habit
Nations are .refmaing to allow her citi-
Gems free entrance TO their portG
Tho control Of her great natural re-
sources has been acquired by the
hated foreigners.
Fifteen years ago the Japanese
ware despised heather nation. To-
day they are a world power. Japan
has only 60,000,0o0 people.
The Chinese have studied Japan's
example. Their leaders are on fire
with the desire to out-do Japan and
make China's world influence felt
During the past five years the Chi
nese have made greater reforms than
the Japanese accomplished in airy
ten-year period
Thirty-five wears ago there WAS not
q mile OF railway in China. Today
there are 5000 miles OF modern rail-
ways, Thousands of miles OF addi-
tional trackage Is projected.
In 1880 there was not "A telegraph
line in China. In 1910 there were
2S.124 miles OF aerial lines. 10000
miles Of aerial wires. | DOL miles Of
submarine cables and 1A2 miles Of un-
dereroand cables The most distant
confines of the country are now in
touch with one another.
China has possibly the worlds
greatest iron and coal deposits She
can construct cannon and navies for
the world, as well as equip her own
armies.
Civilized nations for centuries have
shown their inability to grapple sue
cessfnlly with the liquor traffic. Large
numbers of their people have been
dehaurhed in consequence.
Within the mast fan NRarx China
has almost completely exterminated
an even greater curse---ths opium
traffic. Within another decade she
VIII have affected her freedom This
Is a marvellous accomplishment.
Great forces are fighting 20 gain
control OF the nation.
One element is striving 10 turn
the Chinese people against the white
races This element Is translating
and circulating great quantities OF 1T
eratnre that is likely TO infiame the
minds Of the Chinese againss fcr~sgfs.
ers. Every riot against the Chinese
on our Pacific coast is announced
from the rooftcps In China
General Gordon once said, "Given
proper leadership. there are no better
soldiers In the world than the Chi
neee." Well he might They can
live on next to nothing for days and
weeks at time. They can endure
Incredible hardsh.ps. They can march
enormous distances.
In time China will be able to place
a modernly equipped army of T5,o00,-
600 men In the field. This .s greater
than the combined armies Of North
and South America.and all European
nations combined. Well may we pay
heed to tho warning. uttered over 400
years ago by Napoleon, not to stir the