Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-06
CHINESE D1scoNTENT

T N the most densely populated and
commercially important section of
u the middle kingdom Of China, In
the vast valley of the Yangtse river,
there is a great and widespread feeling
of discomfort among the people. There
is no longer doubt in the minds Of stu
dents of affairs in the east that there is
ferment at works among the mass of
the people which may be attended by
momentous consequences. The unrest
has grown fastest where the population
is densest, and it is there the propo-
gandists make the most headway. The
Philadelphia Inquirer has a special
representative in the orient, and that
enterprising journal is closely watching
affairs in China. This man declares
that the exact character. the impulse
from which the current of feeling pro-
ceeds and the object to which 1t is
directed is most difficult to ascertain
with any degree of certainty and detail,
From time to time there have been re-
ports from this representative OF the
kind of crystallization going on, and
the information which he furnishes Is
of more than ordinary value because
it is not derived from hearsay, but is
gained by personal information and by
a direct intercourse with the Chinese
people. From what he has seen and
heard he is inclined to think the situa-
tion grave. Not that an outbreak ap-
pears to be imminent. That would be
too much to say. But for one reason
and another there is a prevailing dis
content and by means Of the secret
societies, which have been numerous In
China from time immemorial, prepara-
tions are being made for the execution
when the hour strikes Of a revolu-
tionary program.
There is a general and bitter opposi-
ton to the enforcement of the recent
edict against opium smoking, which 1t
is going to be very difficult to render
effective, but that is only one on a long
list of complaints, and the agitation at
bottom is probably anti-dynastic. AL
though they have occupied the throne
for more than 300 years, the Manchu
emperors have never been able to COM
the willing loyalty of the middle
and southern empire. The memorable
Taiping rebellion, which devastated
large area of the country during the
fifties and which is computed to have
cost 2O,O0O.000 lives, originated in the
Yangtse valley region and was inspired
by the desire to depose the Manchu
regime and to reinstate at Nanlxin, the
ancient capital, purely Chinese gov
ernment. That rebellion was sup
pressed after years of merciless fight
ing, but not until Great Britain had
lent Picking authorities the services Of,
chinese Gordon, by whom an efficient
army was created, and it is now the bet
ter opinion that mistake was made
when this assistance was accorded.
Would a second TAPPING rebellion be
successful? 1t might, although the con-
ditions are too complicated and the
situation is. too obscure for any posi-
tive prediction to be permissible. The
crisis may be expected when the strong
hand of the dowager empress is re-
moved from the conduct of affairs.
Her impending abdication has lately
been rumored and she has also been
described as suffering from an incur
able disease, which has nearly run its
course. That this ambitious and IN
domitable woman will ever voluntarily
surrender her hold on, power is quite
incredible, and the story of her Ill
health is now denied, but she is getting
to be an old woman. past 70, and she
cannot, in the nature of things, last
great while longer. When she disap-
pears almost anything may happen.