It is true of nations as of individuals that the fittest survive. In population and possessions, in trade and wealth, the British motion still enjoys a world-wide supremacy. While thas is true of the empire xs a whole, there has been a real decline in our prestige in the Far East. Tt may he not so much a retrogression in British interests as a steady progression in the position of other Power. Still, failure to kerb abreast of the opportunities in China means, in the Img run, actual recess, or at all events a decided loss of prestige. What has been the cause?
(1) the mistaken policy of upholding the Tartar against the Chinese rule, From the time the Manchus conquered the Middle Kingdom their persistent and consistent policy has been to prevent intervention ly, or intercourse with foreign nations.
Tartars were tov few amongst the millions of China to allow intercourse with outside nations that might lead, to complicated issues. From the first, therefore, the Manchu Government has stoutly opposed all commercial or progressive mexsu Their policy has been one of rigid exelusiv ness. The so-called Boxer movement was but the latest attempt to extirpate the meddlesome foreigner xnd hermetiouly seal the empire against intruders. The Chinese, on the other hand, have never manifested the same exclusive spirit save in so far as they have acted as instruments of the reigning Before, and particularly ducing ang Dynasty, there was active intercourse with other nations; Arabs, Persians, Indians and others traded at the ports and traversed the interior at will. The Tartars changed all that and in supporting them we have onforeel their power against ourselves. War has made trestles and compelled concessions, but the Tartar toe day as two hundred years ago is the parasite of China and the foe of her progress, (2) In the fall of '95 and for the first time in the history of China, a Manchu Monarch was prepared to full in Tine with the aspirations of the Chinese nation and ress of her people. Edict after vas issued sanctioning measures of drastic and far-reaching reform. For 50 yours such measures hid been advocated by all the representatives of Commerce and Christiani: y. Progressive ideas had leavened the thought and moulded the minds of the leaders of ths nation A ations! Renaissance had begun, The evement touched the intellect of the country and would have transformed China, but the coup d'état crushed it, The Empress Dowager and the dis. satisfied clansmen removed the men and stamped out the move me t that. menaced i ire and would certainly have yed their power. The moment for ction on the part of Britain found ister disbelieving the crisis and nor ant of its issues. Instead of upholding the legitimacy and power of the party of progress, the British Representative, in the face of British interests, played into the hands of Russia by acknowledging the usurpation of the Empress Dowager, The occupation of Port Arthur lowered and the coup tat blighted the prestige of Britain in the eyes of the Chinese nation.
(8) The Boxer movement has immensely diminished the power of Britain in Peking. Undeterred by repeated warnings, unbelieving in the face of couviusing evidence, Sic Claude Macdonald persisted in the fatuous policy of allowing the Dowager Empress to work her will. Not till several massacres had taken place and the Legations were bombarded did the p-til of the situa-ion come home to the official mind.. But it was too late. The results are before the world. Every Power hus reaped advantages that are to our disadvantage. Russia has occupied Manchuria, Germany
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.