THE FUTURE OF CHINA.

Inangahua Times, Volume V, Issue 63, 31 July 1878, Page 2

THE FUTURE OF CHINA.

Of all (ho countries of tlio world China possesses tho potonlialilios of greatness in tho most eminent degree. Tho "oil is an n gonemi rulo fcrtilo and pro* duotivo, tho populntion is ominently dooilo, intelligent, and industrious, with tho nccunmlatod oxporionco and wealth of n thousand generations of civilisation, whilo tho numbor of tho pooplo exceeds thnt of nil Europe put togothor. Horo, thcroforo is tho ruw mntoriali of groat* Doss. To* aohioyo tho grcatnoss it only remains that this raw mntorial should bo wisoly nnd skillfully usod. If China, is couquorcd it will bo ontiroly owing to tho blindness nnd perversity of tho ofli? ciftl classes; ns rightly usod, hor resources nro such as should make her invincible. Tljono resources, however, require to bo dovolopod nnd orgnnisod in such d way that (hoy enn ho handled with vij;or ond effect,, olao they will coaso to lie of

any praelionl value. Heretofore two poli«ioa hare cDitcndod for nvistory in China—i h«> policy 'if inaction ond the polii-y of progrosa. Inaction implies wenknese, and is bosel with two dangers —ono is foreign oonquost aud tho othor is internal revolution. It must not be forgotten that the veil has boon lifted to a considerable extent which in formor tim«?s was interposod botweon China and foreign nations. For years past ibou^ nnds of Chineso hnvo been domiciled abrond, and such of thorn as hnvo re" turned to China must havo carried back iho knowlodgo of what they havo soon elsewhere. For years past this knowledge) has been permeating tho lowor strata of tho Chineso people nnd tho com* pnvisons havo been mado between their own nnd foreign countries which havo not been always to tho . advantage of China. A desire for improvement has thu9 been Bprend nbroad which if not gratified by substantial progress will naturally lead to disaffection, and thus the present dynasty, if hostilo to progross may lo overturned from within as well as from, without. Thcso nro no imaginary dangers 1 Already Iho numerous secret societies in China aio a source of anxiety to tho Government, nnd if they were to bo mnnipulatod by such an un* scrupulous Powob ns lluaoia in further- ( nnco of her hostilo designs they might bo | rendered truly formidable It is import taut, thoroforo from mcroly dynastic conconsiderations, to remove nil renflonnblo ground of complaint on tho part of tho most intelligent a-nd onteuprisiug section of tho people, which is ov.cry year growing both in numbers nnd in. .stuunfith, nnd such persons will not bo propitiated, except by tho introduction of ikose improvements which havo given wealth and power.to othor nations. Every miindarin who resists Ibo introduction, of such improvements will bo stigmntisod as an enemy to his country and a secret ully of Kussin*. and a discontont, which is reasonable in iis own nature and which ia widely spread, it would bo wholly impos* siblo to repress, If tho dynasty should adhere to ir,» nnoient narrow policy, if the conviction should arise — as.it roasonably m.iy—that the present sufferings of iho people fiom famino havo boon groatly aagraitatod by tho action of tho Govern* me nt in prcvoniing tho establishment of railways nnd other public works, which would have giren rcmuiionlivo employment to tho bndly clothed nnd ntarving people whilo facilitating tho introduction of food to .district* now inaccossiblo (o relief; and if the doctrine should sproad Mint the wiint of intelligence in tho Government is tho uroat impediment to tho mUionai 1 prosperity and' safety, then.it will assuredly follow thnt tho Government will bo swopt away, and advantngo mny l)o tiilten of Wio oi-oasion by tho soerct Kocioties to sweep nway tho dynasty also. i\ li«i(iv,y- responsibility now, thoroforo, roAn U|.cn tho nd/i.v,rs of tho Dragon Throno. No tompornrisintr, no half moa* sunn will now do. Botweon tho policy of inaction nnd the policy of progross they must malco their election. Should they clioo.-o the for-mer- tho- Govornment is doomed. Hovolu^oniry intrigues will iiu'hi-i' foroo from jut discontont, and oven loyal sul'jlicts migiit begin to think that foreign conquest was not; an unmixed evil, as it would lid them of tho mandarins nnd that t«ny nlmngo might bo for tho bolter, and could not be for the worse,