THINGS CHINESE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 8053, 6 March 1912, Page 5

THINGS CHINESE

EFFECTS OFTHE REVOLUTION A SOJOURNER'S STORY. OBSERVATIONS AFTER FOUR YEARS' EXPERIENCE. To talk now of "China's awakening" is to talk platitudes. Throughout the twentieth century, and before, there have- been movements, and rumours ot movements, in tho Chinese Emprre—movements so numerous tliat tho man who reads the daily papers has begun to doubt whether China, will ever rouso from her lethargic state. Lately ffiero "has been internecine strife, which, if not an awakening, has been so violent a dream as to cause the dominant Mancliu to vacate tho throne. In view of these happenings the opinions oi a gentleman who has resided for years in China—leaving after tho present trouble started in Hankow—should prove of uiAmong tho passengers' arriving by the American mail boat on Saturday was Mr E. h. Davies, of New South Wales, who is just returning after four years sojourn in China. Mr Davies left China shortly after the outbreak of the revolution in October last and has some very interesting statements to make concerning tho country and its people. AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS. "Apart from tho stereotyped expressions ono hears from casual visitors, is China, in your opinion, a country possessing such marvellous possibilities?'' a renorter asked him. "Yes, undoubtedly. It lias been my lot to have travelled a good deal in the interior of the Middle Kingdom, and apart from its undeveloped coal and other mineral deposits, 1 saw agricultural country in millions of acres, of better quality perhaps thau wo have in New Zealand, Canada or Australia. .Between Pekin and ITanTTow. for instance, a-distance of 800 miles, there is a fertile plain, approximately GOO miles by 200. of rich "loamy soil, every acre of which would produce grain of first quality. It reminded me of the fine tracts of wheat areas in New South Wales round about Narrowmine and GrenieK. but with a more certain rainfall, and soil much richer. This plain probably is the centuries-old deposits left by the countless- overflows of the Great Yellow and Yang-tse-Kiang rivers. Yet not an acre in a thousand has been cultivated, the villagers being content to produce just sufficient for their own wants. MEANS OP TRANSPORT.

"There are splendid means of transport there. The raiload runs through to Hankow, which is a wonderfully fine seaport, though SCO miles up the Yang-tse. Tramp steamers, drawing 30 feet of water, load at Hankow, and when I passed through during the rebellion there were thirty-five warships of all nations anchored off the bund, including the British flagship Monmouth, drawing 32 feet. "The people have not modern agricultural implements in use. Their ploughs, harrows, etc., are made of wood, and in most cases are drawn by coolie women. These implements are so light that the farmer carries them home on his back. If these people were taught the proper methods of farming there would never be another pitiful tale to tell of famines in China, for the people are unmistakably the most industrious race perhaps in the civilisetT or uncivilised worlds. FdREIGN TRADE—SUB ROSA.

“Foreigners are not permitted to open up trade connections anywhere in China. Literally not outside the treaty ports, but there are cases, such, for instance, as the British American- Tobacco Company, who have established connections and placed their goods 2000 miles inland. This breach of trade treaties is, however, not viewed unfavourably by the Government, chiefly I think because cigarette smoking may minimise the desire for opium, especially with _ the coolie class, but no doubt the Chinese officials squeeze the company for the privilege.

"MISSIONS” AND MISSIONARIES'. "Did the Boxer trouble make any difference in missionary activity in China?” was the next question. “Well, no doubt it did, for a time, but to-day their numbers are far greater than before the 1900 outbreak. There are today scores of different sects preaching to the bewildered natives, their dogmas of Christianity, from the Episcopalians down (or up) to the ‘Seventh Day Adventists.’ Talking about missionaries, I hope I shall not offend our many wellmeaning suppox-ters of religious propagation when I say that there are to-day in China and elsewhere missions that are no more Christian than the schools of Confucianism which exist alongside of them —yet these missions are supported by foreign money subscribed by Christian folk with the idea that it is being spent in propagating the Gospel of CJxrist. The Chinese tolerate these missions simply because they can get education without paying for it. Yes, I am fully convinced that money subscribed for mission schools is simply wasted. If the Chinese want secular education (and that is actually what the majority of missionary effort amounts to), let them pay for it. There is plenty of make-believe Christianity amongst the Chinese, but not one thousand is a true convert. The Chinaman will astpnish you by the ready way he takes in Christian teaching, but later on_he proves that it has all been an outward show, for in most oases he desires, and his friends insist upon, his - being buried in the old heathen way. I have chatted with scores of educated Chinese who owe their education to missions, hut not one will acknowledge his Christian pledge or subordinate his belief in Confucius to that of Jesus Christ. Dr Cheong-li told me on one occasion that Chinese mission students wjxen amongst themselves are continuallyTaughing over the various doctrines of the Christian faith, one sect advocating immersion, another sprinkling, another advocating no baptism, yet another teaching that only those who keep their Sabbath on Saturday need ever expect to, reach the golden shore. The Chinese regard a 'Christian and a white man as identical, and hhev invariably call your attention to a drunk sailor or other white and ask how we can advocate a doctrine xvhich permits such habits. WANTED—FOREIGN CAPITAL, NOT LABOUR.

"Now that the revolution is practioally over do you consider that China will be a good field for foreigners?” "Well, for the big man with money to invest it must always offer splendid opportunities, but not for the billet-seeker. It never was nor ever will be a place for the artisan, unskilled labourer or even for a man with a profession such as an architect, surveyor, etc. Thanks to our English and American philanthropists, the Chinese student leaving school to-day is a proficient accountant, surveyor, reporter and everything else, and he works for quarter the white man’s wages.

A LAWLESS LAND. "Before, however, any Seirious new business proposition*! can be considered either by Chinese merchants or foreigners, the whole of China will require to be properly p6lic«l. This will take quite two or three Tears and will cost a lot of money. At present, bandits, robbers, pirates have nine-tenths the country in their grip, and even 'at treaty ports, where the settlements are more or less under European control, lawlessness is rife. To-day's news from Pekin shows this too dearly. The murder of "Or Schreyer, of Tientsin, is a most unfortunate happeninu for the Chinese. The doctor was one of the most influential men in North China, and meeting a. violent death at the hands of the Chinese mob recalls the somewhat similar, atrocity to another Gorman (Baron. Von Kettler).

(luring the Boxer trouble. The murder of the Baron, it will bo remembered, was tile final occurrence which, led the Powers t.o discontinue parleying and take active measures against the Chinese." The revolution. Mr Davies thought, would not lead to the return of many emigrant Chinese. Only political refugees would return. Others who had gone abroad were doing too well to go back to their native laud unless it were to lead a retired life. On the other hand the better class of Chinese would now bo disinclined to leave the Empire. A trouble that loomed large in the future would bo regarding tho location of the capital. Yuan Shih Kai, under pressure from the Powers who had spent large sums on the Legation quarters, would probably favour Pekin; while Dr .Sun Ya>t Sen would ho disinclined to ,'eavo Nanking for quarters in Manchurian territory. Pekin was the stronghold of tho. Manchus—it appeared as if tho present trouble were largely engineered by them —the victims were Chinese, not Manchus. Just before leaving tho Empire Mr Davies met General Li, generalissimo of tho Revolutionary troops, and asked him what would bo the outcome of the revolution—a monarchy or a republic? ‘'What does it matter?” said Li, "If we have a monarchy it will be like England, not Russia, and, if a republic, like America, not Portugal. It amounts to the same thing." Mr Davies came home by way of Japan, Canada and the States, so ho was asked: “Is Japan making all tho progress we are continually being told

“Yes, and here again we find how the white man has lost his position in the East by the short-sighted policy of our English and American friends providing the funds for teaching the Oriental the methods, etc., of the West. The Japanese are to-day building fheir own fine mail steamers, and at Kobe X saw the keel laid for a super-Ureadnought of 35,000 tons displacement, the designing and construction of which are being carried out entirely by Japanese.” Mr Davies thought the tourist attractions of Japan overrated. “It seems to bo the fashion to go to Japan in the spring, but, candidly, T Trave seen better and more charming scenery in New Zealand and New South Wales than in Japan."