Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-05-08

The situation in the far east dis
closes condition full of meaning and
of import to the world. On the one
hand we have China, a country OF
great aera and natural values, with q
population of four hundred millions OF
people, yet unorganized, feeble in gov
ernment-a land and people subject to
alien influences and spOilatlon On
the other stands japan, an island EN-
pire of limited area and fifty millions
of people, today world power Both
nations have emerged from secluslon
within century, yet how diverse their
development and attainment.
The Chinese are Industrious, thrifty
and practical in employments and
trade. Education is general, promot'
ed by a notable system of competitive
examinations. Confusianism lies al
the base of the social and political or.
ganizations, and ancestral worship and
filial piety are of general observance.
To such a people Of domestic traits,
peaceable and submissive, 1t was In
evitable that a government OF force
and tyranny should bring elements OF
insincerity, duplicity and secretlve-
ness.
In 1874, Caleb Cushing negotiated
the first treaty between the United
States and China. Since then foreign
competition in trade has developed
China's exports and internal improve
ments, railways, telegraphs, steam
ships, banks, and commercial tac1l-
tiles. In this period of world relation
China had nominal national army
and the nucleus of navy, of little
force or value as compared with other
military organizations. The nation,
great in population and resources, was
helpless before foreign aggression. Inc
condition illustrates the enunciation OF
the late Professor Cramb that 1t IS
law. universal and inevitable In Its ap-
plication, that amongst free and lnde-
nendent nations weakness means war I;
and the empire which is not prepared
to defend itself by forces proportionate
to the magnitude of that empire, must
fall.
Under foreign demands, the Chinese
government, conscious of weakness,
gradually submitted to spheres OF In
flnence' and granted concessions
which compromise the nations integ-
rity and control. The competition and
conflict of foreign interests only pre-
served China from partition by an
advance of the mpulsory principle OF
the "Open Door," Following the loss
and humiliation of the Boxer uprising
against the foreign devils" there
arose in 1905, demand for reforms IN
government, which eliminated IN rev
olution. the abdication of the Manchu
DYNASTY, and the establishment IN
February, 1912. by national assembly
OF the Chinese republic under the pres
idency of Yuan-Shih-Kai.
The rise of Japan to the first rank
of world powers has no parallel IN
history. The Japanese are distinguish
ed by industry, temperance, perse.
yerance. courage and loyalty to the
the emperor. Their intercourse is
marked by politeness and courteous
hospitality. They possess acute per
ception and powers of imitation ano
adoption. The establishment OF con
stitution and parliament, In 1889
brought into action the native genius
of the people. They acquired quickly
western methods of manufacture, con
struction and applications of science
But japan has acquired also some
of the vices of foreign relations and
in particular, that desire for CONNER
cial expansion which finds IT ultlmate
agent in the acquisition OF TERRITORY
and political domination, adopting the
foreign doctrine of external power
through colonies, foreign CONCESSIONS
and spheres of influence" as promo
tive of the interests Of her own people
| At thes close Of the war agalns