Sir Robert Hart, G. C. M. G., Director of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs, contributes to the November number of th "Fortnightly Revie ide on his recent experiences in Peking, and his speculations on the fature of China, under the title of "The Peki: g Legations: A National Uprising and Taternational Episode." Ojening with a description of the origin of the "Boxer" movement, Sir Robert Hurt passes on to describe the siege of the Legations, of which he gives an exceedingly interesting account. The conparsazes of thy article, however, h the Director of Chinese Customs ish the future of China, are those wich sill excite the keenest attention and discussion, The episode of to-day, says Sir Robert, is not meaningless—it is the prelude toa century of change and the keynote of the future history of the Far National sentiment is a constant factor which must be recognised, and not eliminated, when dealing with national facts, and the one feeling that is universal in China is pride in Chinese institutions and contempt for foreign, Trexty intercourse has not altered this—if anything. it has deepened it, and the future will not be un influence! by it.
The first question now to be settled by the Treaty Powers is how to make po: Discussing the three courses—partition, change of dynasty, or patching up the Mancha rnie—Sir Robert pronounces against partition, and points out that, in regard to a new dynasty, there is no man Kali China would accept, and the plan would plunge the country into years of anarchy. Ihe recognition of the existing dynasty would be the easiest solution for all the Powers to acquiesce in, and would [restore general tranquillity more quickly and more effectively than any other acti 'The future, however, Robert Hart's from hopeful. That it will have' a yellow' questi peril' to deal wit the sun will shine to-morrow. slept long as we count sleep, but it is a at last, ard every member is tingling with Chinese feeting—"China for the Chinese and cut wich the foreigners."
The "Boxer" movement is doubtless the product of official inspiration, but it has taken hold of the popular imagination, and spread like wildfire all over the length and breadth of the country; it is, in short, jo purely patriotic volunteer movement, and its object it to strengthen China—and for a Chinese programme.
The first experience of the "Boxers" has not been altogether @ success, but it has proved how to a man the people will respond to the call. "The 'Boxer' patriot of the future will possess the best weapons money can buy, and then the yellow peril' will be beyond ignoring,"
'The first doings of the " Boxer" patriots show that their plan of operations was on the one hand to destroy Christian converts and stamp out Christianity, and thus free China from, in their eyes,' the corroding influence of a foreign cult, and on the other not to burt or kill, but to terrify foreigners, frighten them out of the country, and thus free China from foreign trespass, and these are the objects which will be kept in view, worked up to, and in all probability accomplished—with other weapons in their hands s—by the children or grandchildren of to-day's volunteers.
If the Powers could agree among themselves and partition China at once, put down militarism with a strong hand, and employ only their own race for military ana pea it that the peace-Joving und aman might be kept in leading strings till lapse centuries has given other civilizing me fluences time to change the tendency of the national thought, Or, again, if Christinnity were to make a mighty advance, so as to convert China into the friendliest of friend ly Powers, the dangers which threaten to "imperil the world's future" might be averted.
The words imperil the world's future" will doubtless provoke a laugh. Well let them do so; but let them stand. Twenty millions or more of Boxers" armed, drilled, disciplined, and animated by patriotic if mistaken motives will make re+ sidence in China impossible for foreigners, will take back from foreigners everything foreigners had taken from China, will pay off old grades with interest, and will carey the Chinese flag and Chinese arms into many a place that even fancy will not suggest to-day, thus preparing for the future upheavals and disasters never dreamt of, In fifty years' time there will be millions of Boxers" in serried ranks and war's panoply at the call of the Chinese Government; there is not the slightest doubt of that, And if the Chinese Government continues to exist it will on courage, and it will be quite right to encourage, uphold and develop this national Chinese movement. It bodes no good for the rest of the world, but' China will be acting within its right and will carry through the nation programme, The remedies for this great peril are, Sic Robert Hart fears, outside the range of practical politics, and, full of foreboding, he looks forward to the future.
Nothing but partition, a dificult and unlikely international settlement, or a miraculous spread of Christianity' in its best turm, a not impossible, but scarcely to be hoped for, religious' triumph will defer, will avert this result. Is either the one or the otter within the limits of practical polities or practical propagandism I fear not. And if not, what? Then the lawlessness of the present uprising must be condoned and the Manchu Dynasty supported; to this end it will be made to we face" as little as possible, but trade in arms will not cease, and our sons and grandsons will reap whirlwind.—Hongkong Daily Pros
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.