PROBLEMS IN CHINA 303 



for hundreds of miles." Had the powers given the movement their 

 support, it is not impossible that the pure and high aims and motives 

 with wliich it began might have been maintained. In that case there 

 ■can be little doubt that the Tai|)ings would have taken Pekin, and 

 that a new era of peace and prosperity might have opened for China. 



This conviction of the wickedness of their present rulers, whether 

 judged by Confucian or Christian standards, has not decreased in 

 strength during the last half-century. Many causes, on the contrary, 

 hesides those political ones alread}^ mentioned, have contributed to 

 make it stronger today in multitudes of Chinamen than ever before- 

 It is by no means impossible that the Boxer rising, with its watch- 

 word of ''China for the Chinese," was originality a nationalist move- 

 ment for the overthrow of the Tatar dynasty, as well as for the 

 driving out of foreigners and the extirpation of Christianity. But the 

 influences which led primarily to the Taii)ing rebellion have increased 

 tenfold in force since 1850. Education of the western type has been 

 extended to tens of tliousands in all parts of the empire. A liter- 

 ature, both religious and secular, setting forth the ])rinci[)les on which 

 western C'hristian civilization is founded and familiarizing the Chinese 

 readers with Christian ideals of life and character, has been created. 

 The intercourse with travelers, merchants, officials, and missionaries, 

 together with the not inconsiderable numl)er of Chinese who bave 

 visited our countries and returned to tell of what they had seen to 

 their countrymen, has spread broadcast a more or less definite know- 

 ledge of the outside world. 



Tbe natural outcome of all these influences has been the birth of a 

 ■reform part}^ which increased in strength with such rapidity that, 

 having gained the ear and confidence of tlie Emperor, it seemed but 

 just now to be on the point of revolutionizing the ancient methods of 

 government and education. Its principal aims are shown in the 

 famous seven Reform Edicts issued by the Emperor in the spring of 

 1898. Tbese provided for the building of railway's; the abolition of 

 the old essay system of the civil service examination and the substi- 

 tution of western learning; the turning of unused temples into schools 

 for instruction in this learning; the establishment of a great univer- 

 .sity in Pekin; tbe organization of a bureau for the translation of 

 western literature into Chinese; the foundation of a patent odiee, and 

 the })rote(;tion of Ibreigners and especially missionaries. Altliough 

 tbis streimous, though possil)l3' ill-timed and too sweei)ing, effort for 

 reform disastrously failed, the leaders being executed or Hying from 



