CHINA'S population to-day is placed at 440,000,000, and if the present birth rate continues, and if there are no other than natural causes of death, it is estimated that by 1950 there will be 500,000,000, or an increase of 3,000,000 a year.
Throughout her long history China has suffered much from wars, pestilence, floods, and famines. From time to time large numbers have died as the result of these various calamities. The famine of 1877-78 caused the death of 8,000,000 in North China. In 1929, famine in Northwest China carried off 2,000,000. During the Tai Ping Rebellion of 1850-64, between 10,000,000 and 20,000,000 persons lost their lives. It is estimated that 4,000,000, or over one per cent of the people, die annually from starvation and preventable causes.
HUMAN LIFE CHEAP
These frequent afflictions that cause such untold suffering and hardship, and which bring about the premature death of so many of the people, is one reason why human life here is held so cheaply, and why there is so much cruelty practiced toward man and beast.
While many humane persons are horrified by these things and would bring about better conditions, the number who assume an attitude of indifference toward human suffering is astounding. When disasters and disorders are referred to, frequently we hear the remark, “Oh, we Chinese are too many. These things, so to speak, are safety valves against overpopulation and extreme competition for mere existence.”
The present civil war between the North and the South is the most appalling in all China’s experience. Nearly a million men are engaged in the terrific military struggle. These armies are equipped with the latest inventions known to military science,—airplanes, tanks, armored trains, machine guns, automatic pistols, improved rifles, field guns, and bombs. And in addition to these are the great beheading knives of ancient times. Furthermore, the soldiers are trained by foreign military officers in the wicked business of wholesale human destruction. The losses thus far are reported at 200,000; two thirds of these were killed in battle, and the others wounded.
Without attempting to discuss the causes of the present civil strife or to explain the political party policies and principles involved, we raise the question, What is China getting out of her civil wars? A few days ago a comparatively enlightened man, a graduate from a Chinese school of medicine, and the owner and superintendent of a hospital, who at the present time is caring for hundreds of wounded soldiers, asked me if the Republican party in America had first to conquer the Democratic party on the field of battle in civil warfare before they could elect their President.
MUCH HARM RECEIVED
Political parties in China may get out of their civil wars the ability and power to elect their special group of officials to run the government, but China is getting more than that out of it. She is getting much harm, financially, industrially, economically, and morally. There is also one grim and sinister gain accruing to her, and that is an experience of warfare in modern conditions, with modern equipment, and under expert modern instructors.
China is receiving a practical experience in scientific warfare, and is being trained to take a prominent part in the military activities leading up to, and culminating in, the world’s last war, Armageddon. The flag of the rising sun, symbol of those kings that come from the sunrising (Revelation 16:12, A. R. V.), is being accustomed to bloody battlefields.
Throughout China and the Far East emphasis is being placed more and more upon the emblem of the rising sun and what it stands for. Besides representing enlightenment and progress, it is the symbol of the political order and national ambitions of great Eastern peoples.
THE RISING SUN
In the Japanese language, Japan’s name is Rih-ben. Rih means day, and ben, origin. Japan’s name, therefore, is Day Origin. It is interesting to note that the day, theoretically and by international agreement, beginning at the day line on the 180th meridian, practically starts with Japan. Traveling westward the day crosses Asia, then passes on through Europe, and finally reaches America.
Japan’s national emblem is a red sun on a white background. China’s is a white sun in a blue field. At important centers in China beautiful monuments of the rising sun, emblem of the kings of the East, are being erected.
Far Eastern nations are drawing together in order to oppose Western powers. At China’s national capital patriots from India fly their new national flag, and they hope to secure the influence of Chinese officials with whose help they desire to gain political independence for India. Leading Chinese and Japanese realize that in spite of apparent outward animosities and contentions they possess much in common, and should form an alliance for the protection and advancement of their mutual interests.
One of the beautiful monuments of the rising sun that are being erected in China. This one is located at Pukow, just across the Yangtze River from Nanking, the new capital of China.
The powerful Nationalist political party of Shanghai stresses the importance and necessity of a union of yellow races. Their utterance, as it appeared in a recent issue of the Sin Wan Pao, an influential Chinese newspaper, was a circular letter addressed to “the oppressed races of the Orient.” It stated that “unless these races unite in one body and launch a counter attack against ‘the international imperialists’ who have been continually oppressing them, they will be annihilated separately.”
Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s famous book, which militantly sets forth his conception of government and demands a universal political order, “The Three People’s Principles,” is translated into Japanese. It will be translated into other Asiatic languages.
DISSATISFIED AND RESTLESS
The great nations of Asia are dissatisfied and restless. Constant agitation and propaganda are bringing them quickly to a state of revolt against existing governments. They are ripe for the changes demanded by Dr. Sun’s book, whose political ideal appeals to Oriental imagination and requirements.
Some of these nations have not as yet formulated any definite, adequate, or comprehensive political economy for themselves. China has just what they want, already made for them. Unable to conceive anything the equal of Dr. Sun’s work, they will readily accept his principles of universal government.
Dr. Sun’s political principles, in all probability, will form the basis of an alliance of Asiatic nations. Steadily and inevitably thisFiveunion is developing for aggressive action against Western countries, and it will not be many years before the kings that come from the sunrising will be on the westward march.
Notwithstanding the many proposals for disarmament and the earnest efforts of benevolent men and women to bring about universal and permanent peace, developments in the world to-day indicate that the nations are really expecting war, are on the verge of it, and are preparing for it.
The book of Revelation gives a picture of four angels holding the four winds of earth. Another angel is seen having the seal of God, and he cries to the four angels not to loosen the winds of strife until the servants of God are sealed. (Revelation 7:1-3.)
The gospel message with its accompanying sealing work is progressing rapidly throughout the world. (Matthew 24:14; Revelation 14:1, 6-12.) Soon all peoples will have had the opportunity of hearing, reading, and receiving this message; and when this is accomplished, whether men will have accepted the gospel to their eternal salvation or rejected it to their eternal loss, the four angels will release those winds of warfare.
Then will come those military operations that plunge all nations into Armageddon. Then will be seen China and her allies eagerly gathering to the fray. Then will be witnessed the end of the world and the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 24:3; Revelation 16:12-21.)
