Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-09-26
Populism in China.

E"puilSN III emma has been given a
fair trial For thirteen years it was the
national procedure Then the Chimes.
condemned il and abandoned it forever.
THIS was over eight centuries ago
since which time their story has been
one of marvellous development. amaz-
ing increase OF population and general
comfort.
One of the most brilliant politicians
IN Chinese history, dreamer, a poet,
4 rhetorician, was especially active in
propagatng his theories of govern
mcnt. His idea was that the duties of
cubic administration could be vastly
expanded. He claimed that the EN-
peror Cor what amounts to the same
hing. the government is literally
father of the people. If the people are
children. they should have all their
wants attended to.
This brilliant politician best known
among his many names and titles as
y. 5. Wang, dreamed out Utopia and
believed he could actualize his dream.
Of course he made the pretext of fol
owing the fathers (of the distant
how dynasty. In the first place he
would have the whole population en-
oiled for military service; so that in
stead of regular army there should
ae only large number of trained Of
lcers. leaders and commissaries who
n time of war should assemble the
people who should he called out from
heir fittings in numbers according to
he population. All public works and
enterprises We're to he under govern
Mt,
cution.. All cultivators of land We're to
receive loanSat a very low rate of in
crest from The government treasury
which was to be especially liberal
toward farmers. Instead of the old
editions.of the classics and the ordinary
ihannels Of publication of general lit
erature, the government was to turn
publisher, organize department to
publish and circulate new editions of
.he classical texts, with notes, COM
nentafies and explanations setting
forth the views of government and
morals rropounded by n. S. Wang. In
word, Confucius, Mencius and the
aages were to be entirely reconstructed
IN text. theory and commentary. and
the people Were. to be taught by the
government in the political. ethical and
financial orthodoxy designed by n. S.
Wans. Still further, new departments
of the government were to be estab-
hshed to carry out these regulations
which were to completely re-create ad-
ministrative methods
The Reforms" started off with a
splash.
For two or three years everything
went on swimmingly. In the fourth or
NTH year there was shaking of heads
with many complaints and groaninSS
About the seventh or eighth year there
was howl of vengeance. BY the
tenth year things had become desper-
ate. vast party Of opposition was
organized against the schemes of n. S.
Wang. Two great political parties now
formed. One was of decided opposition
to Populism. declaring for the old order
Of things. Still by reason of the vast
government patronage exercise and his
own unquestionabe abilities, ~ S
Wang was able to hold himself and
his party in power. He had the EN-
peror on his side, and was able to
make out his opponents not only enc
mics but even as tainted with trea-
son Nevertheless, the believers in com
mon sense. who held to the lessons
taught by ages of experience, kept up
their opposition and agitation. They
pointed to the results of Populism or
the application of the theories of N. S.
Wang
In the first place. the system of gov
eminent loans at low interest to cul-
tivators and Chalmers of the soil did at
first benefit the agricultural classes,
yet the advantage was very quickly
neutralized through the dishonesty Of
the office holders who had charge of the.
disbursements. The system developed
new broods of eXtortioners. The gov
eminent got little or no interest upon
its loans. Vast sums were sunk in wild
schemes, so that while the Populistic
administration steadily in progress
the benefits hoped for by the farmers
did not accrue. The same vicious
spirit penetrated the military system.
The enrolment proved not only a bur
den but curse to the male inhabitants,
because the employees of the war de-
partment used the new system as a