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The National Geographic Magazine 



taken by foreign nations in the reforms 

 and transformations in China which we 

 have been considering. The greatest 

 factor has been Japan, not so much 

 through its direct interposition as by its 

 example and achievements in its use of 

 western methods. Its proximity and its 

 ability to aid in the reforms, especially 

 in education and in military development, 

 are likely to make its people the most 

 active foreign participants in the regen- 

 eration of China, although in some parts 

 of the Empire there have been manifesta- 

 tions of hostility to Japanese activity in 

 its affairs. It is to be borne in mind that 

 whatever impress is given by Japan will 

 be in the methods of western civilization, 

 for it is through these she has grown 

 powerful. I do not think that Japan or 

 any other one foreign power is likely to 

 exercise a dominating influence in 

 Chinese affairs. The race has in the 

 past ages demonstrated its cohesive 

 power and its ability to maintain a dis- 

 tinctive nationality, and the reforms now 

 in progress will tend to give it greater 

 cohesion and independence. 



It is gratifying to note that the gov- 

 ernment of the United States has always 

 maintained toward China a disinterested 

 friendship. The outcry against Chinese 

 immigration has led Congress at times to 

 harsh legislation, but our diplomatic re- 

 lations with that country have ever been 

 harmonious, and at times in critical 

 periods our attitude has been most help- 

 ful to that Empire. This was notably 

 the case during the Boxer troubles and 

 at the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese 

 war. Our commercial relations, for a 

 few months only disturbed by the boy- 

 cott, are destined to increase with the 

 development of that country and the 

 large number of new places opened to 

 foreign trade. It is also pleasant to be 

 assured that, notwithstanding the late 

 rumors of hostility, the American mis- 

 sionaries are prosecuting their work with 

 less opposition than ever before, and that 

 they are being most useful in aiding in 

 the great educational movement. The 

 legation in Peking reports to the State 



Department that "the missionaries have 

 every reason to be proud of their past 

 record as educators in China, for al- 

 though their influence has been indirect, 

 the present movement owes very much 

 more to them than appears upon the sur- 

 face." 



CONCLUDING COMMENTS 



The work of reform upon which China 

 has entered is a herculean one. Many 

 well-informed foreign observers predict 

 that the movement will break down and 

 the reaction will bring the country back 

 to its ancient conservative ways. There 

 are no doubt many obstacles in the way 

 of success. The Chinese are attempting 

 to bring about in government and society 

 in a very few years what it required cen- 

 turies for the Anglo-Saxon and other 

 European races to achieve. I have re- 

 ferred to the deliberation with which 

 Japan emerged from her conservative 

 ways and placed herself abreast of mod- 

 ern civilization. 



But the very example of Japan makes 

 it possible for China to accomplish the 

 same task more speedily. It is said that 

 the action of Japan in calling to her aid 

 foreign experts in the different depart- 

 ments of reform should be followed by 

 China. I think it would be wise for her 

 to do so to a limited extent. But the 

 situation is different today from that of 

 Japan forty years ago. She had suf- 

 fered few outrages at the hands of for- 

 eigners and felt little or no resentment 

 toward them. Then none of her public 

 men had been educated abroad, whereas 

 China has thousands of subjects who 

 have been educated in America and 

 Europe in all departments and are well 

 able to lead in the reform movement. 



There is no doubt a spirit of unrest in 

 the Empire which the anti-dynastic secret 

 societies are fomenting, and the country 

 is exposed to the dangers of revolt, which 

 in the last century were so disastrous: 

 but as the nation outlived them then, it 

 is likely to do so again. Besides, there 

 has been of late a marked manifestation 

 of a spirit of patriotism. The last birth- 



