The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-03
Japanese Statesman Advises
People Of Republic to Awaken
From 5000 Year Old Dream.
BY COUNT OkUMA.

Chinese civilization, three thousand
years old with all It's evils and cor
rnptions. has at last degenerated to its
present morbid condition. Now Il In OF
urgent necessity to China to Improve
her wretched conditions by replacing
her old traditions with the best products
OF Western civilization, or otherwise
her sufYerlngs will go on increasing,
causing unceasing trouble In the Far
East. The ultimate aim OF our China
policy has been no other han 90 awaken
her from this morbid torpor In order
to Insure her future prosperity and
avoid conflicts with the Western ma
uons. Unfortunately China refused to
acknowledge this well meant intention
Of ours. forcing us In the end to 20
a step further beyond our warning.
china ought to learn from Japan In
the assimilation Of Occidental civiliza-
ton. There are very valuabie lessons
for her In studying how Japan success
fully fought the difficulties confronting
her on awakening from her slumber OF
300 years. AZ a rule China wakes up
after heavy shocks. but goes to sleep
again as soon as the trouble IL over.
Indeed. the inertia OF long traditions
caunot be easily eradicated.
II. Modern History md It's Lessons
The opium war Of 1910. the Anglo
French attack on China combined with
a series Of internal disturbances OF
which the civil war Of Hung-Hsiu-
Chuan was the most conspicuous. had
once brought he Ching dynasty to the
services Of Tseng-Kuo-Fan and other
heroes could only avert the fnal COL
lapse. Tseng-kuo-Fan. a man Of emf
nent talent both in politics and military
tactics. recognizing the absolute neces-
sity Of introducing radical Innovations.
had contributed greatly toward the inn
provement Of the army and the ma
tional defences. That horrible ex-
animation In prose and poetry to which
candidates for public office had to sub
init. the stumbling block to the pro-
motion Of talented youth, vas then ex-
pected to be abolished.
At this period China became EN-
broiled In Mahometan roubl with
Russia. The Mahometan chie1 in
northern China headed a civff war
against the Pekin Government with the
q hBIoI Va tIS IhhNNtt "
ment. which had obtained the good will
OF the Mahometans by her lenient treat
ment OF followers OF 1slam living in her
territory. The religious tolerance OF the
Russian Government must be one OF
the chief causes Of her territorial ex-
pansion. And II was quite natural for
those Mahometan chiefs to rebel
against the authority of the Pekin
Government, relying on the assistance
Of religiously sympathetic Russia. Over
this difficulty China n Russia were
OF the point of fighting. But the fear
entertained by Russia Of the real pow
er of the Zion asleep then gradually
awakening from her long slumper.
prevented her from taking any bold
measures against china
III. Chinese Insult IA apan.
From about this time dates Chinese
activities in Corea. In 1SS2 there arose
a political commotion in Corea. when
our legation was attacked by insurrec-
ttonary mobs. Japan and China each
despatched a troop Of soldiers to pro-
vide against further emergencies. Two
years later Japanese and Chinese garri-
sons came into collision. an occurrence
known as the Revolt of Chin-Yu-
Chun.' The latter fed to Japan. fol-
lowing the flight OF the Japanese Min
lister. Takesoe.
This period marks the eliminating
point OF Chinese influence in the Corean
Peninsula, compelling the Japanese I,
withdraw. In 1885 Prince Ito was des-
patched to Tienstin to conclude a treaty
with China by which each Government
promised to evacuate the peninsula and
in future to give notification to the
other party before sending troops when
emergency required. The violation of
this treaty by china on the occasion OF
the Tung- Hsueh-Tang disturbance led
to the outbreak OF the C~hino-Japanese
war.
President Yuan Shih-k'ai. then a
young officer about 26 or 81 years of
age. was in Seoul as the Chinese Min
lister. At the time OF Chin-fu-Chun's
revolt in 1884 L-Hung-Chang singled
him out for this important post, rec
ognizing his distinguished talents as a
diplomatist. For ten years since his ap-
pointment he welded great influence.
His military and political talents were
acknowledged by Japanese az well as b,
Coreans. Corea then became a virtua'
dependency of China, whose contempt
OF Japan increased in consequence,
China had accomplished a great deal
toward the improvement Of her arma'
ments. English officers were engaged
in her Her army was under the
training OF German military oricers
She had two battleships. each of $500
tons, while Japan had only cruisers, the
largest of which was not more than
1000 tons. Admiral Ting-You-Chanf
visited Yokohama harbor with his fleet
which china thought invincible. and be
fore which our Ministers and diploma
lists had not felt very safe. Japan
endured while China clustered. From
the time of the disturbance OF Tung
Hsueh- Tang the situation was fast as
Stunning a serious aspect. until II led tt
wal in 1894. China presumed too faI
on our patience.
". II Was "a Dead Lion"
Up to this time China was looked upo
by the Powers as a strong nation. Eng
lame relied on China to check the south
ern aggression of Russia. England WI
Ignorant Of Japan's potentiality. Eng
land nut boundless hope In the futur'
OF China-the 'lion asleep" which, ol
a awakening, would be the terror Of tn
world. She seemed 10 have been prcju
diced a little in favor Of China at tn
time of the Chi~no-Japanese war, OF whicI
she d%isapproved as detrimental to tn
maintenance OF general peace OF the Fla
East, America warmly sympathize'
with Japan without knowing Japanes
strength any better than England. Japal
herself was also not quite confident o
ultimate victory. She was driven I
arms by Chinese insults. British an
American offers of mediation came to
late. The result of the war Is we
? known. The mystery OF China was dis
closed to the world, The lion was no
sleeping. 1t was an old lion. dead lon