23rd Feb.
Tue air is full of schemes for the regeneration of China. Some think that when railways are really open the thing is done; others advise other things—Universities, Armies, Fleets, China is to join the great brotherhood of armaments and take her place among the progressive nations, Tt seems to us, however, to be a reasonable question whether such a consummation, however devoutly to be wished; is @ possible one or not, That the: Chinese are in many respects a great people with many most admirable qualities and with a great future before them is not to be denied; but whether they will enjoy that future as a free people, and march, as a nation, shoulder to shoulder with other nations down the path of progress, may be questioned. In the life of the individual there comes a time when the doctor gives him up. By careful nursing his days may be prolonged, his - pains assuaged, his death made: easier but no one speaks of his rising again and going forth to his labour. Cannot it be the same with a nation? Tntellectually in a cataleptic state, politically, in her officialdom, a mere running sore, may it not be that China "es & nation is past hope, its day of grace gone by for ever? It is falsely said that while there is life there is hope; but every hope seems to hang on an impossible if. If the patient would rouse himself, if he would submit to an operation, if the operation did not kill him, if the waiting eagles would only be patient, or even help him a little, who knows, he might recover even yet? China has but recently been sadly humid hated. If after her humiliation she were humble; if she were openly and honestly in the sight of all men setting herself to the task of reform if even there were but a small and earnest band of men who understood and would devote life and fortune to bringing China into the right way, then we would applaud and even hope. Yet the determined purpose and the appearance of most enlightened and devoted patriots would only inspire hope, not confidence. It would still be a question: whether China could bear the pains of her purging. It seems impossible that she should recover unless that cancer of hers, the corruption of the official classes, is first extirpated. But is it possible for her to go through with and. survive such an operation This is the dilemma that must trouble every.one.who looks seriously at her state, Bat. again, even supposing she had her pure patriots, and would submit to the pains of' reformation, and had strength to go through with it, it would still remain a question whether such a task was still possible for her, because she has not only to reform, but to do it without colliding with any of the mighty but highly sensitive Powers. by which she is surrounded. We have seen quite recently how Japan could hardly put her. head out of window before three sticks came down on it; and it is impossible to suppose that such a lumbering mass as China could move very far before offending some of her neighbours, In the spaces between cannon-balls a weak little wren may live un crashed; and China's weakness seems safe at present between the tremendous but mutually-opposing strengths of the great nations who surround her. She will, however, hardly be able to exert the force necessary for her own reformation without: coming into collision in come way with some of those Powers, without uniting two or three who were before at enmity, or without giving to them some reasonable grounds for interference in her affairs, Let it be granted that no Power wishes for more than the opening up of China, just as England had no conscious wish to' possess India, Yet it may bea true instinct which leads the Chinese to exclude foreigners so long as they can; for when railways run to every city and foreign trade lays hold on every province, we may expect such complications, disputes, and injustices as will lead to various Powers interfering..'There may be no Calcutta Black-hole business, and even the 'Pientsin and Kuchéng massacres may never be repeated; but if only the way of doing business which led to war fifty' years ago were continued over larger areas, and if the unsatisfactory relations which occasionally exist at every port were multiplied over the Empire, involving other Powers besides the meek English, then in spite of treaties, apologies, indemnities, and what not, the end might soon and easily coma.
Thus the means she must uso for reforming and strengthening herself may break her up either from within or from without: If some strong mai, or group of men should appear soon, with heroic ardour that can kindle the courage of others, with a clear view of China's condition and needs, with superhuman wisdom to guide her amid the jealousies of the Powers, then China may yet as a single, independent nation hold up her -head and look forward to' a glorious future, ~Bat without the man, with so much to be done, with apparently no heart or intention to do it, and with so man; possibilities of entanglement and: mistake, it may well seem doubtful whether her regeneration except under foreign tutelage is still in the range of practical politics,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.