CHINA'S DISTRUST OF "CHRISTIAN NATIONS."
THE pagan nations are not seeking to emulate the so-called Christian nations because of their Christianity, excepting as they understand that Christianity is a help to a higher grade of national power. They want to compete in the matters of military, commercial, and territorial prestige, and are willing to encourage Christianity to the extent that it can be made a means to that end. Japan has sought to imitate the professed Christian nations, and to encourage Christian teachers in her army, but it was because of the idea that it would make her people better soldiers and more astute statesmen and diplomats. China has been somewhat inclined the same way; but, now that Japan has made such a good military and naval showing against their common "Christian" enemy, Russia, China is looking to Japan for the instruction that she longs for in military skill and statehood. If China can get the help she wants to develop her latent forces from a somewhat kindred people, imbued with a similar religion, she will not so highly regard the Christian religion. This tendency to look to Japan as an example, and for education, is manifest in a renewed hostility to the encroachments of the Western foreigners, even including Americans. The real reason for this reversal of confidence in Buddhistic Japan lies in the fact that the "Christian" nations with which China has had to deal have sought only their own selfish interests, and have taken advantage of every opportunity to exploit the country—even looking forward to a dismemberment of the empire altogether. There is little wonder that the Chinese are skeptical regarding the religion of the "Christian nations." G.