The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-11-17
War in China Feared
By Wells IF Nations
Continue Exploitation
(Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
you will, China is the background and
scene of the present Pacific drama.
We have had 80 much in the papers
lately about these two countries, we
have been treated to such feast OF
particulars about them. that most OF
us have long since forgotten very
thoroughly the broad facts of the case
and II will be refreshing to recall
them here and now.
Let us remind ourselves that China
is country with population
amounting at the lowest estimate to
between twice and three times the
population of the United States, or
of France and England put together.
This population has the longest un-
broken tradition Of peaceful industry
in the world. II Is essentially civil
lied; 1t respects learning and civility
profoundly. A common literature
and ancient traditions keep its people
one.
In the past. China has been divided
again and again--always to reunite.
But il has become "old-fashioned,"
dangerously old-fashioned, perhaps by
reason of it's very stability; II has
Jagged behind most Of the world In
the development of it's transport and
economic possibilities. In mineral de-
posfts and other natural resources
and in the industrial capability Of its
sturdy and intelligent population, IT
has more undeveloped wealth than
any other single people in the world.
1t is only in the last century or SO
that China has Jagged behind.
Only few centuries ago China was
as civilized as Europe and politically
more stable. In a century or so she
may be again the most civilized and
Intelligent power in the world. flour
ishing in fellowship and perfect un-
america and Europe.
She may be-if she is not torn to
pieces and kept in state Of enfeeble-
ment and disorder by the hostile ac-
ton of external powers.
But at present, China Is in q
state of political impotence. Her
Manchu Imperialism has proved It.
self to be hopelessly inefficient and
China is now struggling to recon-
struct upon modern republican lines.
obviously suggested by the American
example,
A few decades ago. Japan aston
ished the world by Europeanizing
herself upon Prussian lines. China
now, under far less favorable con-
ditions and with a vaster country
and less disciplined people, is
struggling to Americanize herself.
But it is no easy task to make
over a people at one stride from a
medieval autocracy to modern
democracy. 1t is far easier to Prus-
sianize than to Americanize, for In
the one case you have only to train
an official class and in the other
you must educate a whole people.
Torn BY Dissentions.
China is torn by dissentions; the
south Jars with the north: she has
two or more governments, each
claiming to be THE Chinese govern
ment and whole provinces have
fallen under the sway OF military
ga
1t is a distressing spectacle. but
1t was probably an inevitable phase
in the development of New China.
Before we fall prey to anti-Chinese
it is well to recall how
long it has always taken to build up
the necessary understandings and
habits of association upon which
new political system rests.
France, for example. was land
Of revolutions and political instabil-
ity for nearly a century after the
Great Revolution. America wrangled
feebly and dangerously for several
years after the War of Independence,
before she established her Federal
government; she only cemented her
Union after a clossal struggle; she
was not really and securely one
until a century had elapsed.
During these long decades Of OrO-
baton, foreign observers preached
endlessly about the fickleness of the
political inefficiency of the Ameri-
cans and foretold the certainty of a
breakup Of the United States, Just
as today they sneer at Young China
and foretell the political disintegra.
ton Of the Chinese.
And we have to bear in mind that