OCR Text |
Show CHINA'S WOES. The fates seem to have conspired against the Chinese in Iheir efforts to establish a republic unon secure foundations foun-dations and elude the destroying grasp of Japan and some of the great powers of Europe. The Chinese government recently tried to borrow $:tn,nuO,OUO or a larger amount in tee United States in order to keep things going' iD the republic. Sow it is announced that the, negotiations ..ave fallen through aud that unwilling response is being made to the overtures of Japan, which is only too willing to advance the money and thus strengthen the strangle hold the Nipponese have obtained ob-tained upon their nciguuor by war, threats of war and the application of pressure in various wavs. Great "Britain, France and Russia will participate in the loan, which will be secured by the salt monopoly. The three European powprs named have been borrowing heavilv in the u nited States almost since the day upon which they became involved ;" the war with the central powers, .but they are unable to resist the temptation to join Japau in the further exploitation of China. Of course, if the American bankers had seen their way clear to advance the $30,1)00,000 it would have been a straight business transaction, for the American government could, not be a party to anything that savored of the grinding-down process employed by Japan and the European government when they get the upper hand of a nation unable to defend itself from aggression on the field of battle. Doubtless, as a result of this loan, the "spheres of influence ' of the four lending powers will be considerably enlarged en-larged and the yoke of the Chinese become as heavy as their necks will bear without breaking. We have no confidence in the professions pro-fessions of honesty in connection with the dealings of the great powers with China, and we do not believe their intentions in-tentions are any more upright and honorable hon-orable than they have been at any time since G reat Britain forced the traffic in opium upon the Chinese people at the point of the sword, in defiiance of the instincts of humanity, the laws of nations and the teachings of the Christian Chris-tian religion. So, we look for still further encroachments upon Chinese territory and the continuation of recent attempts to control the trade of the Chinese to the exclusion of the nations who would do business upon a fair and honorable basis. |