A WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING

The cause of the keen interest which everyone has shown in the recent Sino-Japanese crisis is found in the fear of another world war. Predictions have been made since the last great war that the next one would start in the Orient. In the present disturbance people see the possibility of these coming true. In their alarm they lose track of the tremendous result which this contest may have beside which another world war is insignificant.

This is the rejuvenation of the yellow race to a point where they will be equal if not superior in power to the Caucasians. At the basis of this change lies the naturalization of China. China, the largest country in the world with her population of 400,000,000 people, has been a puppet in the hands of the Europeanized nations with their national unity. In her disorganized state she has been helpless. Without any national feeling but controlled sectionally by selfish lords who relied on their army to keep them in power, China could not organize. But give her nationalism and the consequent organization, and she will be a tremendous power. More than this she will be a menace with her overpopulation and consequent desire for more territory.

Such a nationalism is far from an idle dream. Already it is taking place. The Cantonese nationalists failed in their attempt to unify the celestial empire because the people did not have a common fee against whom to unite. Only those along the coast really felt the oppression of the world powers. But now with the Japanese troops penetrating almost to the Russian border the Chinese all have a common enemy whose depredations are felt by them all. The recent statement of Marshall Chiang Kai-Shek, president of the Cantonese republic, promising to lead a united China with an army of 2,000,000 men against Japan is indicative. Just as the War of 1812 with its naval successes brought forth the American nation, so a few Chinese victories would create a Chinese nation with potentialities unequaled by any country in the world.