The sun., 1907-08-21

for the reformers who for a short time
inspired him with the hope Of making
his country respected throughout the
East, but It is to be apprehended that
unless he could be rescued from his pres
ent environment his fear OF the palace
eunuchs will keep him subservient to
any one upon whom they see At to confer
substantial power. Il probably may be
taken for granted that they will choose
for this purpose a Manchu, unless they
should be coerced by tho able native Chi
nese who have risen to be Mandsrins Of
the first class and viceroys OF populous
and wealthy provinces.
Such coercion could undoubtedly be
effected, inasmuch as the Manchus set
tied south Of the Great Wall are rela-
lively weak numerically and no longer
can draw assistance from their early
seat in Mapchuria, but for the fact that
the leading official representatives Of the
Chinese people are divided among them
selves. Their predictions are diver
gent, their programmes irreconcilable.
The great Yangtse Viceroy, for exam
pie, CHANG TU TUNG, whose pecuniary
resources are comparatively enormous,
is looked upon as the head Of the con-
servative party which, with an eye to
national self-defence, is willing to borrow
military and naval improvements from
the West but is resolved to go no further
in the assimilation of European civiliza-
ton. Quite as stanchly devoted to the
progressive party is YUAN SHI KAI, who,
as Viceroy Of Chill, has the advantage
at his disposal by far the best trained
and best armed body OF soldiers in the
Middle Kingdom, a body said now TO
number upward of 10000 men. He could
easily occupy the imperial capital by a
coup de main and rule for a time in the
name Of the Emperor KwAN0-SU, but
almost certainly he would be forced to
wage a desperate civil war with CHANG
TU TUNo, who, besides controlling the
Yangtse region, would count upon sup
port from the southern provinces. The
spectacle Of an empire split into two
sections by irreconcilable sentiments
and aims would be nothing new in
Chinese history. The latest example Of
such segmentation was fifty years ago
when the Taipings rebelled against the
Manchu dynasty at Pekin and established
a rival capital at Nankin.
OF one thing we may feel reasonably
assured, namely, that whatever internal
disturbances may follow the withdrawal
of the Empress Regent from the public
| 10
conservatives and progressives alike,
will sedulously endeavor to avoid COM
plications with European Powers by COM
pelling their followers to refrain from
inficting injury on the lives or property
OF foreigners. IL the parties to the re-
cent treaties are sincere in their recip-
rocal promises to uphold the integrity
Of China, it will be the duty OF foreign
Powers, so long As their respective in
terests are concerned, TO let the inhabi-
tants OF China fight out their intestine
quarrels without interference from the
outside There is reason to believe that
Great Britain made a grave mistake
when she decided to help the Pekin Gov
ernment against the TAPPING rebels. As
Lord SALISBURY came at last to confess
concerning England's attitude toward
Turkey in the Crimean War, and again in
1873, she backed the wrong horse. II is
to be hoped that neither she nor any other
foreign country will make n similar mis-
take should once more progressives be
pitted against conservatives in China,
as they were half century ago.