Iris now more than twenty years ago since Mr. Wade wrote his elaborate account of the "Army of the Chinese Empire, its two great di " the Bannermen or National Guard and the Green Standard or Provincial troops." We believe that very little has been added to that paper, as indeed the subject is almost exhausted. Some remarks at the close of it, however, are fruitful of suggestive reflections, and may well form the basis of certain observations of a practical character. There is no doubt that some remarks made in 1861 are inapplicable to the present state of affairs, as the great Rebellion, with all its losses and lessons, las intervened since the sketch wax made, Yet there are the main features still to be found, The army is not now So numerous as it was, but it is nearly as costly. 1f we consult such historical records as we have at our command, we are strack by the fact that the Chinese have never been distinguished by warlike ambition, They have never wished to extend their boundaries by the sword. What the Society of Friends is amongst religionists, China is amongst ations, She has attained a position which, if not proud or splendid, is at least important, by Keeping to herself and by following the atts of pence and not the arts of war. She has had border wars, and now and then violent internal dissensions, but has never been a military nation in the sense in which may European na-tigris are military.
It is not difficult to see one reason for this. China is separated from other lands by vast wastes. As has been truly observed: "Her distance from the bor f any state of ce-ordi dignity, and the natural difficulties op-
armies across the wastes which mask posing themselves to the passage of her land frontier, have preserved her from the invasions to which the prox-unity of a-rival might have exposed her, and atthe same time from the excitement of a longing for aggression which might have been provoked by the presence of any object worthy of the appetite." There is another cause which must be taken notice of in this connection. We refer to the prommence of~ the literary class. It obvious that the man of books esteemed in the Middle Kingdom as he is esteemed nowhere else. And Mr. Wade is compelled to hint that this aversion to war is to be traced toa defect in the national character, though he is most guarded in his language. His words are these: "I have above considered this unfitness for war as a quality that I have not chosen to term defect; but, believing as we do in the near alliance of truth and courage, it is impossible not to feel misgivings touching the connection be-character of a Chinese, or to help wish-tween cowardice and mendacity in the
ing that the blessings of peace and the doctrine of forbearance had left what more of an energy which becoming more necessary to its independence." It will be observed that, though the word " defect" is not used, unfavourable implication is not to be escaped. Still, military virtue when found is appreciated. The praise accorded to 'I'seng Kwo-fan in the Imperial Edict recently quoted in these columns, proves that the Chinaman can admire the quality in which he is lacking.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.