The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-13
SEATTLE. WEDNESDAY, JUNE IL.
To Modernizc China.


Very significant Is the message con-
yeyed TO the nations of the West by
representatives of the deposed emperor
of China. II lifts a corner of the cur
tain that shrouds the internal affairs
OF that great empire. and shows us the
leaven of political modernity working
there. II carries with II a daring sug-
gestion. and puts into plain words the
thoughts that are flashing through the
brains OF every master mind in Europe.
the suggestions that have been whis-
pered behind closed doors In many Eu-
ropean cabinet. II needs but a conf
denoe and cooperation that do not
now exist between the powers. to start
the remodeiing OF China according to
latter-day IDEAS
This message amounts to proposition
20 do for China what has been done for
Egypt II Is frank confession start
ling when coming from such a source.
that China lags behind the age and
must be brough, up TO the level OF our
times Her system has broken down
hopelessly. There Ia no sap OF youth
no regeneratIve force in her veins
Her own people cannot brins
about the vast political reformation
that Is required. Left to themselves,
they must become the sport OF success
sive tyrannies aud the prey Of invaders.
II has become clear to some OF the In
telligent Chinese. and II is admitted be-
cause they are In a minority and ex-
cluded from power, that the world
spirit In too strong for even the Inn
They are willing to place themselves
In its hands and to have their future
nodded by its representatives,
The suggestion is that instead Of plan
ming for partition. the nations declare
Joint protectorate and take upon
themselves the task OF maintaining or
der In china. now grown too heavy for
native ability The scheme IL that
which was at first established for
Egypt The ruling powers would be
Chinese and OF course the deposed
emperor counts upon the restoration OF
his ttular dgnites Rut the admins
trRtion would be directed entirely by
foreign eouusels The army would have
10 be- remodeled under the command ~
foreign officers and according TO F,u-
ropean methods. The Internal admins
tratlon ~ Justice would follow the same
plan. Finance would have 60 be entire
~ reorgsniEed. or 20 speak moro a.
curatrly. "a financial system would have
~ bo provided Cor the empire This
would Include the provision OF proper
currency. the laying ~ tayss accorling
TO present IDEAS ana methods. and the
receipt ~ an revenues 90 the state and
theiv disbursement, under accounting
Officers PROV lied by the powers 1t ls
gigaut.e plan ~ imperial r-'rgan "a o.
tivn, 8scat military economic ard ~
dicisL /, is an idea OF magnificent
scope
W do not doubt that 20 Hes w,thln
che power W QuadrWn>lrate Of ma
tlons to make this sulpapdous scheme
practical reality Every one knows
that China has u3 longer any national
Conference white a majority % tas peo-
~ are probably ON the side NJ the ~
dictionaries. they could be sutdued hy
small military force ana kept IN
check indefinitely nv native troops un.
der European officers The govern
ment of China ia q far less dl;ncult OF
dangerous problem than that 81 India.
It's reconstruction ga modern lines
would work immense and uppredici-
able changes in history and In the N.
turc OF the nations controlling Il. one
feels that the time IS rspe for such 4
undertaking movement and that Il
would contain the happgesi fate fol
whichS hs Chinese can hope.
Is~IA the attitude Of the European