China the Stoical All Astir — What Part Will She Play in the Approaching World's Climax?
WHAT is to become of China? She is in the throes of continuous upheavals and changes. China — conservative, stoical, unchanging China — is changing more rapidly than any other country on earth. For centuries ruled — or misruled — by despotic monarchs, the people lived on in their simple way, proud of the inheritance left them by their ancestry, in civilization, in literature, and in art. But suddenly the nation that had its face so long set to the past, and its back to Western thought and civilization, is turned about, awakened, and becomes at once dressed in the garb of modernism of the most pronounced type. A republic is proclaimed.
It may be true that the new suit is unbecoming, and cannot be retained; but that old China is passing, and a new order is evolving, is sure. It is difficult to tell what China will do tomorrow; but the great giant is awaking, and the world looks on with bated breath to see what will be the next step. A despotic government then, a republic a few days ago, and a monarchy yesterday! Yuan Shih Kai, the head of the government, telegraphed throughout his vast domain to-day that the monarchy is at an end, and the republic is to be restored. And now come rumors of a change in leadership.
But the rank and file of China's millions plod on, and are either ignorant or heedless of it all. China is the only country, as says another, "where a government changes from a monarchy to a republic" — and he might have added, "and back again" — without the people's knowing anything about it. When will China find her level? Will this great, cumbrous ship of state withstand these terrible shocks?
Will She Be Absorbed by Others?
ONE of the American consuls long resident in China told the writer, a few days ago, that China may accept, willingly or unwillingly, the tutorship of Japan. China is awakening, no doubt; but she is in the dark still, and is groping toward the door, and it may be that some more experienced hand must guide for a time. It is altogether unlikely, however, that China will be absorbed by any nation. China will always be China. Where are the Mongol hordes that swept over China and subjected it to foreign rule? — They were absorbed in China. Where is the great Manchu power that gained such mastery over China, ruling it from its northern to its southern boundary? China at last conquered by her wonderful power of assimilation. China's history has proved that, however many foreign elements come to her, she eventually rises above them all.
China is one of the most virile of races. "No other nation with which the world is acquainted," says a recent writer on China, "has been so constantly true to itself; no other nation has preserved its type so unaltered; no other nation has developed394a civilization so completely independent of any extraneous influences; no other nation has elaborated its own ideals in such absolute segregation from alien thought; no other nation has preserved the long stream of its literature so entirely free from foreign affluents; no other nation has ever reached a moral and national elevation comparatively so high above the heads of contemporary states."
During the centuries, slumbering, the great giant has dreamed fondly of peace. Taken as a race, the Chinese love peace, and have never manifested ambitions for conquest. Even now, the great agricultural millions desire to follow in the footsteps of their ancestors, earning their meager share of daily bread by unequaled toil and industry. But the leaders of Chinese thought can discern the insecurity of their nation without national defense and preparation for war.
Preparing for Armageddon
CHINA feels she cannot trust her neighbors. Nor does she feel that the great civilized nations, which have been so greatly blessed by Christianity, can be trusted. The Chinese thinkers are watching the war in Europe. China must, they think, defend herself. She has begun. Military students trained in Europe are now in charge of China's model army, two thousand in each of the eighteen provinces, modernly drilled and equipped. Conscription has been talked, and an army of forty million has been suggested. She is watching the great nations, and is preparing for the conflict of the future. One of her leaders recently said that the Chinese invented gunpowder simply to frighten away the devils, but that now they must go to the Christian nations to learn how to use it in the most scientific manner, so as to kill the largest number of their fellow men. What a taunt that is! and what a taunt this is, made by China's near neighbor:
“MODERNISM OF THE MOST PRONOUNCED TYPE” The newspaper room in Peking's free public library.
"For two thousand years, we have kept peace with the rest of the world, and were known to it but by the marvels of our delicate ethereal art, and the finely wrought productions of our ingenious handicrafts; and we were accounted barbarous. But from the day on which we made war on other nations, and killed thousands of our adversaries, you at once admit our claim to rank among civilized nations." — Nineteenth Century Magazine.
Armageddon is before us, and for this the multitudes are preparing. Read Joel 3: 9-12.
