davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1922-04-23

~ RUELTY Is something that
has puzzled and pained me
~ all my life. Where and
whence do the roots Of human
cruelty spring7 I have thought
much about It and / understood
and understand nothing.
Long ago I read book bearing
the ominous title, Progress as
the Cruelty OF Evolution"
The author, having skilfully Sc
lected his facts, tried to prove that
with the development OF progress
men are torturing one another both
physically and spiritually even
more sensually. read this book
with anger, did not believe It and
soon forgot its parsdoxes.
But now, after the terrifying
madness OF the European war and
the bloody events of the Revolu-
ton, these acid paradoxes recur TO
my memory. But must remark
that there is apparently no evolu-
tion in the Russian cruelty. It's
forms. II would seem. do not
change.
The chronicier Of the beginning
sf the seventeenth century records
that in his days they tortured On
The Washington times., 1922-04-23
American Policy, He Says, Was Characterized
as "Bluf"- United States Charged with AS
Stunning Attitude of Superiority and Failing
TO Shoulder ReSponSibility-Attack Made
Without Inquiry.

represented had insisted that the
Chinese appoint at least one OF
Its nationals as an adviser.
The American Government had
never urged China to make such
an appointment. But when Presi-
dent Eliot visited China in 1918,
Chinese officials expressed to him
tho wish that a prominent Ameri-
can should be retained as adviser
to the Chinese Government. Pres.
ident Eliot suggested that the Car
negie Endowment might propose
certain experts from whom the
Chinese Government could then
make q selection. This method
was actually followed, and as
result Prof. r. ]. Goodnow, of Co
Iumbia University, a recognized
authority on constitutional law,
had been retained by the Chinese
Government and was at this time
already in residence at Peking.
Tho ministry of communications
on its part had sought a man
familiar with railway accounting,
and had called upon the late Prof
Henry G. Adams. the noted econ
omist and railway expert, OF
Michigan University.
The important administrative
positions of inspector general OF
customs and of foreign inspector
Of the salt revenue were held by
two British officials. The salt ad.
ministration had come within the
purview of international supervi-
sion through the reorganization
loan agreement; and, as America
was not q party to the loan, the ap-
pointment of Americans to any
position in this service was
frowned upon by several Of the
partners. e,
The inspector. Sir Richard Dane,
an official of long experience in
India, however, adopted the policy
of not continuing the appointments
to subjects of the consortium pow
ers. He had retained several
Americans. In whom he seemd to
place great confidence. In the Gus
toms service, Americans did not
hold the number of positions TO
which they were relatively enti-
tied This was undoubtedly due
to the fact that very few people
in the United States knew that
such positions in China are open
to Americans: moreover. many OF
those Americans who were acually
appointed had become impatient
with the relatively slow advance
ment in this service and had been
attracted by other opportunities.
There were, however, a number OF
highly reputed and efficient Amer
lean officials in the customs service.
Copyright. 1884. By DR.. r. s. Rsinseh-
The Washington times., 1922-04-23

Captured officers were stripped
bare from head to foot, pieces OF
skin in the form OF epaulets were
cut from their shoulders, and nails
were driven in place Of the
starr" military insignia). They
were skinned at the parts cores
ponding to their sword belts and
trouser stripes. and this operation
was called putting on the uni,
form" II undoubtedly demanded
not little time and much skill.
Who are the more cruel, the
'' Reds" or the "Whites"& They
are probably alike, for both the
former and the latter are Rus
SLAMS. Otherwise, history fur
nishes a very definite answer to
the question as to the degrees Of
cruelty. The most active are the
most cruel.
I THINK that nowhere are women
beaten SO mercilessly and
frightfully as in the Russian viii
lage and probably not another
country can boast of such popular
counsels in the form of proverbs
as the following:
Beat you wife with the butt-eSd,
then bend overland listen. II she
breathes, then she Stimulates. She
needs another beating"
"A wife is dear twice, at her
marriage and at her funeral"
There is no law for women and
cattle"
THE more you beat your wife
the more savory the soup"
Hundreds OF such aphorisms,
containing the popular wisdom OF
centuries circulate in the village.
The children absorb them and are
reared on them.
Children are also zealously
beaten. In order to become ac-
auainted with the character of
crime among the population Of this
Moscow province. looked over the
reports of the Moscow Court OF Jus.
tice for the decade OF l9o1-1s1O.
and was crushed by the number
Of outragcs against children. as
well an other forms OF crime
against minors.
on the whole. beating is a fav.
The Washington times., 1922-04-23
BY DIR. PAUL S. REINCSH.

American policy, which was char
acterized as one of bluff" and
which charged the United States
with assuming a tone of superior
virtue In criticising others. and,
while loudly processing friendship
for the Chinese, failing TO shoul-
der any part of the responsibility
in, actual affairs. The Y. M. c.
A and the Standard OIL Company
were coupled together as twin in
struments of a nefarious and hyp-
ocritical policy.
The China Press, the American
newspaper Of Shanghai. pointed
out that the attack of the French
paper indicated what the Ameri-
can minister would have to face,
and observed that the success or
failure of his diplomatic mission
must depend upon tho readiness
of the American Government 20
take an active part in the rehabil-
itation of China. Should America
play the role of an altruistic but
impotent friend and of q captious
critic of the other powers IL could
gain neither sympathy nor re-
spect.
The American Government was
at this time severely criticised for
its failure to indorse the six
power consortium: It was urged
tkat the Administration had sacri-
feed the best opportunity for
bringing American good viii to
bear on Chinese public affairs by
exercising q moderating and
friendly influence In the council
OF the great powers. On the
other hand. IT ought to be consid-
cred that a new Administration,
when confronted with the sudden
proposal that IL give exclusive
support to one special group of
banks, might well hesitate, par
ticularly in view of the fact that
the group In this case consisted
OF only four New York houses.
An earlier Administration had an
swered such an inquiry in a sim
liar way.
ASSURED BY WILSON.
Considering the merits of the
question from the point of view
Of China, the action might pre-
sent itself in the light OF a re-
fusal to Join with others In plac-
ing upon the young republic the
fetters of foreign financial con-
troll. Moreover, the proceeds of
the reorganization were actually
not used for the benefit OF the
Chinese people, but. on the con-
trary, this financial support fas-
tened the personal authority of
Yuan Shih-kai on the country and
The Washington times., 1922-04-23

immutably believing and feeling
that he is firmly welded with his
flesh to this earth: that she, OF
his own blood, has been practical.
ly taken away from him. He
knew long before Lord Byron that
the sweat of the peasant is
worth the estate of the landlord
MOUJIK DEALIZED.
The moujik was idealized in the
literature of the Russian) popu.
list school because that literature
served as political propaganda.
But already toward the end of
the nineteenth century the atti.
tude of literature to the village
and the peasant began to change
decidedly, it became less com
miserating and more truthful.
Anton Tchechov laid the foun.
dation OF the new attitude to-
ward the peasant with his stories
I'm the Ravine" and THE
Moujiks."
There is YOUTH" a novel by
the gifted peasant of the Orel
province, Ivan Volny. There are
the stories OF the Moscow peas.
ant. Semion Podiatcnev. as well
as the stories of the Siberian
peasant Vsevolod Ivanov, a young
writer of exceptional brilliancy
and power.
One can hardly suspect these
men of a preconoeived and hostile
attitude toward the environment
TO which they are related by flesh
and blood, and with which they
have not yet severed their connec-
ton. They. more than any others.
know and understand the life OF
the peasant the sorrow and the
coarse joys OF the village. the
blindness OF its intellect and the
cruelty Of it's senses
The Washington times., 1922-04-23
ment given to American economi

ment given to American economic
enterprise.
Having long been familiar with
tho underlying facts of the Far
Eastern situation, had entirely
made up my mind on tho impor-
tance OF American participation In
the industrial and economic devel.
opment Of China No one could
have appreciated more highly than
I did the important work done by
American missionaries, teachers,
medical men In bringing 20 China
a conception OF Western learning
and life. But II China should have
TO rely entirely on other nations
for active support In the modern
Developments OF her industries and
resources, then our position in the
eyes of the Chinese nation could
never come up to the opportunities
which Nature had given us through
our geographis opposition and our
Industrial strength.
had long discarded any narrow
Interpretation of diplomacy, but
even II I had adhered to the prin-
ciple that the diplomat must busy
himself only with political matters,
I should have had TO admit that
In China political matters included
commerce, finance and industry.
I did not. OF course, intend that
the legation should enter into a
scramble for concessions, but II
was my purpose that It should
maintain sympathetic contact with
Americans active in the economic
life of China, and should see to II
that the desire OF the Chinese to
give them fair treatment should
not be defeated from any other
source. Z.
When I thought OF American en-
terprise In China had less In
mind the making OF Government
contracts, than the gaining OF the
The Washington times., 1922-04-23
Without Inquiry.

British houses. Several Ameri-
can firm names established In
China early in the nineteenth
century, like that of Frazar a
Company, had become British in
ownership. The only American
bank was the International Bank
Ing Corporation, which at this
time confined itself TO exchange
business and did not differ in its
policy or operations from the
common run of treaty port banks.
"If national standing In China
were 10 be determined by the
holding Of government conces-
sions. America was at this time,
indeed. poorly equipped. Tho
Bethlehem Steel Corporation had
In 1910 concluded q contract with
tho imperial government for the
construction of vessels TO the
value Of $4,000 600. When I
came TO China q vice president of
the corporation, Mr.. Archibald
Johnston. was in Picking ready to
arrange with the republican gov
ernment for q continuance of the
contract .,
PLAN FOR ADVISERS.
The American banking group
was q partner In the Hukuang
railways, In which IL shared with
the British. French and German
xroups- An American engineer
was employed at the time in
making q survey of a portion of
the proposed line along the
Yanstss river. The American
group also held the concession for
the Chinchow-Aigun railway in
Manchuria, the execution OF
which had been blocked by Rus
sia and Japan. The group fur
ther participated with the three
other groups above mentioned In
the Opton Tor q currency loan.
The only activity going on at this
time In connection with these
various contracts, on the part Of
America, was the survey of the
HukuanE railway line west of
Ichang.
For some time the practice had
grown up on the part of Euro
pean powers TO urge the Chinese
to employ. as advisers, men re-
puted TO have expert knowledge
In certain fields. The most noted
adviser at this time was DR..
George Morrison. who had gained
a reputation IN interpreting Far
Eastern affairs as Picking corre-
spondent for the London Times
during and after the critical
period OF 1900. A fresh group
of advisers had just been added
under the terms of the reorganiza-
ton loan. Each power therein
The Washington times., 1922-04-23

confidence of the Chinese people
In the various provincial centers of
enterprise by extensivs business
undertakings, resting on q sound
and broad foundation. In China
the people are vastly more Inn
portant than the government, 10
that Il In necessary TO make up
ones mind from the start not TO
regard Picking as the end-all and
be-all Of ones activity, but to in
terest ones self deeply in what
is going on in all Of these impor-
tant interior centers where the real
power OF government over the peo-
pie is exercised, and where the ac-
tive organizations OF the people are
located
TWO FACTORS IN WORK.
The universal knowledge that
America has no political aims In
China OF itself gives Americans
the confidence OF the Chinese and
predisposes the latter to favor In
innate cooperation. Our policy Is
known to be constructive and not
to imply insidious dangers to their
national life. II would be discour-
aging to the Chinese should Amer
leans fail to take q prominent part
in the development OF Chinese re-
sources. To Americans the idea
OF securing pre-eminence or pre-
dominance Is foreign, but from the
very nature OF their purely eco
nomio interest they have to re-
sist any attempt on the part Of
others to get exclusive rights or a
position OF predominancs. which
could be utilized TO restrict. or en-
tirely to extinguish, American op-
portunities.
I was therefore resolved TO give
every legitimate Encouragement to
constructive enterprise, whether Il
were in education, finance, COM
merce. or industry. Fully q year
The Washington times., 1922-04-23

Tm his previous chapter Of
SemSniscences, Dr.. Reinsch re-
veGled the President of the Chi
nsse Republic n<< as demo
erdtfc~ ruler, bur as an amazing
nfrture of Eastern political cum
ming and Oriental despotisns, a
veptIbticdn only IN name, and
stM governed by tho political
philosophy of the old empire.
HN the second morning Of my
stay in Picking entered the
breakfast room TO find DR..
Hornbaci in state Of annoyance
He handed me the morning copy
Of the Journal de Peiring. q sheet
published in French and known to
be subservient TO Russian and
French political interests from
which II got subventions. The ar
ticle In question was scurrtlous
attack on me personally. and on
American action In China gener-
ally.
A Chinese journal in Shanghai
had published laudatory article
I'm which had been cited extracts
from my published book One Of
these, taken from world Poh-
tics" had happened to speak of
French subserviency to Russian
policy in the Far East. The
French journal repeated these ex-
pressions as IL they had been
given out by me in China. AS
they were, in fact, taken from
books published more than ten
years before. which had run the
gauntlet OF French critical jour
nalists without ever having been
taken as hostile to France, did
not have any reason to worry,
and the fume and fury of the
local journal rather amused me
than otherwise.
ATTACKED u. s. POLICY.
could not help noting, how
ever, the temper Of these attacks,
their bitterness. and the utter
rsshness and lack Of inquiry with
which tho charges were made. II
gave me early warning. consid-
ering its gross lack of courtesy
TO a newcomer, who had entered
the field IN spirit friendly to
all. as to what might be expected
from some of our friendly rivals.
When several years later one OF
the ministers whose legation stood
sponsor for this sheet approached
me with a request to use my in
fluence to suppress a Chinese
paper which had attacked him,
regretted that It was not in my
power to be of assistance.
The significance of the article
hay, Of course, in its attack upon
The Washington times., 1922-04-23

beat him. and he smiles at you.
One piled them, they all had their
occupation. their ties to life. :
The man who said this was
humane In his way. He treats
his soldiers we'll and they ap-
parentiy respect and even love
him, and he loves his military
profession.
I tried 10 tell him something OF
Russia. Of her significance in the
world; he listened as IL thought
fully, smoking a cigarette, then
his eyes showed his WEAKNESS,
and he said. emitting a sigh:
"Yes, of course, she was an eI-
ceptional power. really and extra
ordinary power, and now. in my
opinion. she has completely gone
in for villsiny."
It seems to me that the war
has created many men like this
one, and that the leaders of the
countless and senseless bands
are men OF this psychology.
SPEAKING OF cruelty, is II diff
cult TO forget the character OF
the Jewish pogroms in Russia.
The fact that the pogroms against
the Jews were permitted by the
vicious idiots who held the su-
thority in their hands does not
Justify anything or anybody.
Allowing the killing and robbing
OF Jews, these idiots did not urge
the hundreds OF posromists to cut
off the breasts Of Jewish women,
to kill their children, 10 drive
nails into the skulls Of Jews. All
these bloody abominations must
be regarded as an expression of
the mrsses' own Initiative"
But where, then, IL that xood-
hearted, thoughtful Russian peas
ant, the tireless seeker OF truth
and justice. of whom the Russian
literature OF the nineteenth CEN
tury told the world 90 convincinwiy
and beautifully
The Washington times., 1922-04-23
By MAXIM GORKY.
Translated bp Isaac Don Levine.


N/HAT 1otH become of Russia? This universal
~ question has acquired acute interest through
the demands the Genoa conference In this series
Of articles Marin Gorky h prophetic clearess
from his intimate knowIedge of the fundamentals of
Russian national character In has first article he re-
UeaIed the causes 0hch led to the Russian revoluom
In this, the second article he reveals the peasant as
crGfty cruel type. ..'.
The Washington times., 1922-04-23

cuupicu uihh 70 CdITy oh utO-
cessful fight against Parliament.
That body never gave its sp-
provai to the loan.
From my conversations with
ex-President Wilson before leav.
ing for my post i had formed the
conclusion that the former Presi.
dent realized that. as America
had withdrawn from a co-opera-
tive effort to assist in the de-
velopment of China, IL was In
cumbent upon her to do her share
independently and TO give specific
moral and financial assistance; in
fact, received the former Presi-
dents assurance of active sup
port for constructive work in
China In his conversation he
dweit, however, more on the edu.
cational side and on political az
amples and moral encouragement
than on the matter Of finance and
commerce.
II cannot be doubted that in
China the withdrawal of the
United States from the con-
sortium was interpreted as an act
of friendship by all groups with
the exception of that which was
In control of the Government at
the time, which would have pre-
ferred to have the United States
at the council table of the con
sortium powers. Those opposed
to the Government were particu-
lariy strong In their commenda-
ton of our refusal to join In an
agreement which to them seemed
far from beneficial to China
But all parties without exception
drew the conclusion that the
friendl yaction of the United States.
which had now rejected the method
of international 90 operation.
would continue Independently Of
the others. In view of the power
and resources of the United States,
IL was hoped that there would be
q greater participation by the
United States In Chinese industrial
and commercial affairs. as well as
in administrative loans. than had
hitherto existed.
AMERICANS DISCOURAGED.
1t Is apparent from all this that
the American position in China was
not free from difficulties. The co
vert antagonism of the flve Con-
sortium Powers was continuous.
We were isolated. and would be
judged by what we could do by
ourselves. Should 1t turn out that
we had nothing to offer but sage
advice. the structures OF our rivals
might in time como TO carry a GER
tain amount of conviction.
SO far as the Americans them
selves werc concerned. they were
thoroughly discouraged. and every
where talked as II It were all up
with American enterprise in China.
When said, mo, 1t is only just
beginning" polite incredulity was
the best could expect. 1t Is very
probable that the Americans who
were 30 downcast saw In the ap-
pointment of q literary and uni.
versity man as minister to China
an additional indication that there
was to be no special encourage
The Washington times., 1922-04-23
REINSCH SHOWS HOW w. S, CRITICISED FOR NOT NDORSING
CONSORTTUM WAS BLOCKED i'm AIDING CHINA BY PIC

before going 70 China I had en-
pressed my view Of the nature OF
the American policy there. saying
that q united China, master of its
own land. developing It's resources.
open to all nations of tho world
equally for commercial and indus
trial activity, should be the chief
desideratum.
Among the specific American in
terests already existing in China,
that OF missionary and educational
work had at this time to be given
the first rank. There ere two fac
tors which may have made II pos
sible for this work TO achieve a
really notable influence. The one
Is that II is plainly the result OF
individual impulse on the part Of
a great many people animated by
friendly. motives, and not the re-
suit Of a concerted plan OF propa-
ganda-
SPIRIT OF HELPFULNEss.
The second factor is the spirit
Of helpfuiness and cooperation
which permeatss this work. There
is no trace Of q desire TO estab-
nsh q permanent tutelass. An In
stitution like the Y. M. O. A. acts
with tho sole thought of helping
the Chinese to q better orrani-
zation of their own social and ed
ucationsl life The sooner they
are able to manage for them
selves. ths better Il seems to
please the American teachers,
who may remain for . while as
friendly counseiors, but who
make no effort to set up q per-
manent hierarchy Of supervision.
The Chinese have an intense re-
spect for their educators. and IL
has been tho good fortune of
many Americans-msn like DR..
w. A. p. Martin and DR.. Charles
ID. Tenney-to win the devoted
loyalty Of innunerable Chinese
through their activity a. teachers.
Among commercial enterprises
the Standard OIL Company was
carrying petroleum to all parts of
China. 1t had introduced the use
OF the petroleum lamp. had ex-
tended the length Of the day to
the hundreds OF millions of Chi
nese, and even its emptied tin
cans had become ubiquitous In
town and country, because Of -
manifold uses to which these r.
ceptacles could be put For eff
cheney and close contact with the
people. the Chinese organization
OF this great company was In
deed admirable
ONE AMERICAN BANK.
A similar result had been OBJ
tained by the British-American
Tobacco Company. which, al
though organized in England un-
der British law. In American by
majority ownership. business
methods. aand personnel. The
cigarette had been made Of uni
versal use. and had been adapted
TO the taste and purchasinx abil-
ity Of the masses. Though there
were several American commits
sion firms Of good standing. none
had the extensive trade and fl
nancial importance of the Sreat