Present Conditions in China 



711 



day of the Emperor, it is reported, was 

 more generally observed and with greater 

 heartiness than ever before. T have al- 

 ready spoken of the enthusiasm with 

 which the announcement of a constitu- 

 tional government has been received. 

 The anti-American boycott, although 

 ephemeral, was a surprising demonstra- 

 tion of popular spirit. The Shanghai 

 riot, which startled the world, showed 

 that the Chinese will no longer permit 

 their rights to be invaded with impunity. 

 The Boxer indemnity is furnishing 

 another evidence of popular feeling. This 

 outrageous imposition, more than double 

 the Japanese war indemnity, is a stand- 

 ing disgrace to the Christian nations — 

 an exaction which Secretary Hay labored 

 to avert and which it is understood he 

 and President Roosevelt thought should 

 no longer be enforced by our govern- 

 ment at least. The indemnity was be- 

 yond the financial resources of the nation, 

 but thus far the semi-annual installments 

 have been promptly met. To do this, 

 however, an appeal to the people was 

 found necessary. This appeal was re- 

 sponded to by the imperial princes and 

 high officials of Peking and by the offi- 

 cials of the whole country down to the 

 eighth grade, who have agreed to con- 

 tribute one-fifth of their salaries till the 

 whole indemnity has been paid. Their 

 example has been followed by the gentry 

 and merchants, guilds, societies, Chris- 

 tian churches, primary schools, and all 

 classes contributing liberally according to 

 their means. The press recently re- 

 ported the action of the barbers' guild of 

 Peking resolving to contribute annually 

 $600 and calling on like guilds through- 

 out the Empire, which if responded to 

 would yield alone a half a million of 

 dollars. The barbers belong to one of 

 the lowest classes in Chinese society, no 

 son or descendant of which to the third 

 generation can aspire to a literary de- 

 gree or a public office ; and yet they have 

 come forward to show their patriotism 



and love of country in its hour of need. 

 An American resident of Peking, de- 

 scribing this popular manifestation in 

 the Century magazine, characterizes it as 

 "one of the most remarkable movements 

 the world has ever seen."* 



In the light of these illustrations of 

 Chinese patriotism, we may confidently 

 express the hope that the day is not far 

 distant when the reforms upon which this 

 great people have entered may be in large 

 measure realized;* when education shall 

 be generally diffused throughout the 

 country; when the judicial system and 

 the laws shall be made to conform more 

 fully to those of the western nations ; 

 when the army shall be raised in num- 

 bers commensurate with the population 

 and brought to the European standard 

 of efficiency; when railroads shall bring 

 the various provinces into direct com- 

 munication with the capital and with 

 each other and commerce shall have free 

 development; when a constitution and 

 representative government shall be es- 

 tablished ; when it shall be freed from the 

 bondage of exterritoriality and exercise 

 unrestrained control of its tariff; when 

 the evil effects of opium shall be re- 

 stricted, if not entirely removed; when 

 the people shall have accepted the best 

 features of modern civilization — then will 

 the Chinese Empire be accorded and take 

 its proper place in the family of nations. 



That day I believe is not far away. 

 When that day arrives there will be a 

 new alignment among the great powers 

 of the earth and new features introduced 

 into politics and society, not for the hurt, 

 I trust, but for the betterment of hu- 

 manity. On that day we shall compre- 

 hend more fully the great truth pro- 

 claimed on Mars' Hill two thousand 

 years ago, that "God hath made of one 

 blood all nations of men to dwell on the 

 face of the earth," and that all races are 

 entitled to equal treatment in law and 

 government. 

 *Dr. Griggs, in Century Magazine, July, 1906. 



