The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1915-07-16
China slifQbIIllatI


but feebly protest. a protest to which japan paid
almost as little attention paid to the protests
of China itsefsst
This is the announced opinion of George Bron-
son Rea, an American publisher who has spent
the last fifteen years in China and who points to
Chna's impotence in the face OF large demands
as lesson to the United States not to trust to the
fact of non-aggression for protection. Even Emma
has now awakened to the fact that a country must
be prepared to defend itself however pacific It
may desire to, be and however little 1t may wish
to interfere With Others.
Remarkably frank confessions of China's weak
ness and humiliation in agreeing to the Japanese
demands, appear not only in the Chinese press, but
in high official documents which are attracting
general notice Throughout the Orient among both
the Chinese and foreigners For instance, presi-
dental proclamation which was issued immediate.
y after the signing OF the new treaties with.
Japan, says 1--WE are ashamed OF the humiliation
and Herewith the President goes so far as to add
and | feel that am man of little virtue and
+ ability" .t,s"5.~
Quoting more fully the proclamation reads as
follows:
Every nation in the world desires to protect
its own rights and privileges against the aggres-
sion of Aliens but only those which have good
internal administrator resist aggression with
|
foreign powers, bu. owing to lack of knowledge
of our real strength met on both occasions
with grave disasters, losing great privileges and
paving hundreds of millions of dollars in indem-
mites Dr..
The heart of the people then aroused and
had we commenced reform with one accord we
/ would have been strong and powerful But as
soon as the trouble was over, INDUCED again
in all kinds Of pleasures forgetting all the former
humiliations /, being aware of the critical situa-
ton of this country, have adopted peaceful policy
with the hope that the foundation of our nation
may still be consolidated
unfortunately the European war broke out and
the Chino Japanese question arose. For months
the ministry of foreign affairs negotiated with the
japanese minister in Picking, and now the treaty
has been signed. With regard to the details of
the negotiation the ministry of foreign affairs has
already published,a report. Although there is hope
for the restoration of kiao-Chow bay, our rights
and privileges IN Southern Manchuria have suffer
ed enormously. We are ashamed OF the humiia-
ton; but why SHOULD we blame others while we
ourselves are at fault? Our own weakness has in
vited the INSULT and Feel that of little
virtue and ability, However, we have no right to
stake the existence of;the nation; therefore we
have to work out"her salvation with care
IF we can remember our past mistakes and be
warned ana resolve 10 edNe the peGnClOuS tut
Of languishng then we can still hope for a strong
China The people should absolutely refrain from
letting loose their passions and acting like mad
men. Remember the mistakes of 1894 and 1900"
Another example of this sort of frankness
is found in an appeal for certain reforms made to
President Yuan Shih-kai by the national CensOrs
This document entitled "'The Salvation of the Ma
ton seems to voice the opinion of all the leading
people of China, and is being widely printed and
circulated throughout the Provinces 1t says, in
part:
1.-The citizens of this country have come to
derstand that imminent danger threatens the eXis
tence of this nation After the at Tsingtau,
the japanese deman Is came. For months the gov
eminent carried on negotiations with great care,
and finally W have accepted the demands. As
the cause can be traced to the accumulated weak
ness Of the late regime, do not intend to blame
our diplomats for their failure. The demands are
50 cruel and far reaching that hereafter our coun-
| try will be faced with extreme difficulties and
dangers all around her
| This country is passing through most dit
6cut and critical period and we should not fold
our hands and wait for destruction to come. We
should work together with one accord and for the
salvation of the nation We offer the following
suggestions:
THE military expenditure should be reduced
and reforms introduced in the Army The stand
ing army of this country is 100000 men, with an
expenditure of $l50OO0OO0 (Mexican) which fig
ures one third of the total revenue OF the gov
eminent. 1t is most unsatisfactory to note that
when trouble came we dared not put this army
in the field against our enemy. The standing army
Of Japan is 100000 with an expenditure OF $40,
100000 (Mexican). A comparison of the above
will readily show that there is something wrong
in our expenditure which can be reduced.
4 t,a