Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03
SEVERAL FORCES HAVE HAND IN AFFAIRS

PEKING, March 2-(Special 1.-THE ques-
tion is everywhere being asked what is the
real significance Of the reform movement
IN China and what will be the outcome Of
such a movement. That movement OF
considerable proportions has begun and
that II Is going on with gathering strength
is certain but Europeans IN this, as in
other things which pertain to the Chinese,
are forced TO acknowledge themselves at
sea. They are forced to admit that the
vast problem remains obscure as a whole
and that even the most careful observer
can scarcely hope to detect the real causes
OF the apparently inexplicable contradic-
tions that mark the situation.
Fifty years ago the prospect of the re-
generation OF Japan would have appeared
as hopeless a task as does that of a sim
liar regeneration Of China today. There
were factors In the Japanese situation at
that time that wero not understood, just
there are factors in China today that are
not understood. '..
The dynasty and the court are not = iely
90 Introduce reforms of their own will, and
nobody knows what the strength Of the
court party is or the strength of any of
the various parties for that matter. The
''powers that be" have recently issued or
ders concerning the dress of every subject
in the empire and TO these orders even the
perty OF young China" submits without
difficulty or question. Quite recently they
have bidden scores of millions of men in
all classes of life to renounce within a
brief period an intimate personal habit
which is almost invincibIe. and many per-
sons have seemed to think that this COM
mand may be obeyed. They often aver,
nevertheless. that they cannot compel their
own officials in the provinces to carry out
NAr roNIxsv tfnv,
and other like purposes which they con-
clude in the most solemn way with for
eigners.
Peculiar situation.
Naturally the questions are being asked,
Would the reforms be as easy to enforce
as the orders for wearing the pigtail or as
impossible to enforce as the authorities in
Pelring declare their railway contracts to
be2 Are the emperor and the court as om-
! ANcipotent as the opium edict would seem to
ffnply or as impotent their repeated
failures to keep their word suggests7 II It
ia answered that they are able TO enforce
edicts which have the support of public
opinion and unable TO enforce those which
have not, the world is driven TO inquire
what Is this public opinion and what are
genuine and comprehensive reforms7
There are many different things 10 be
said concerning public opinion in China.
There Is the opinion of the provincial Of
ficial classes and OF the rural gentry, which
Is mainly reactionary. There is the opin-
ion Of the students who think they are
quite capable of remakng China out OF
hand on a brand new social western
model. There Is the opinion Of the Canton
ese school, which is possibly the most i'm
portant OF all. This school has behind II
a powerful organization with numbers OF
ma MI NJ
pore in the Straits settlements and along
the Pacific coast, It favors reform, but
the reform which II favors involves, some
times explicitly and sometimes implicitly,
the overthrow of the Manchus. The ques-
ton Is being asked what attitude would
these several parties adopt II a wide scheme
OF genuine reforms were introduced from
above, and attempts made to execute Il?
ForeiEner is Hated.
What following would they have amongst
the 400. 10000 OF Cinnamon, mostly dumb :"
who have hitherto lived from century TO
century as their fathers lived before them ?
How would the oriental humanity with
it's 'ungovernable passions and unfathom-
able impulses" acts were the framework
which has kept them so long quiescent to
break7
However. the one point upon which re-
hatred of the foreigner. class of stu
dents is said to be increasing which does
not regard this passion as the corner stone
OF Chinese nationality, but so far they do
not appear to be very prominent. The
4 mandarins naturally hate the foreigner:
he is disturbing with his pestilent notions
a world with which they are content. The
country gentlemen are honest eonserva-
tives, whose detestation of Europeans is
rooted In their astounding ignorance of
everything outside their own districts.
The greater party OF the students have
gorged itself with the commonplaces OF ex-
treme democratic doctrine without assim-
ilating such elements Of truth as these
may contain, and their enthusiasm renders
them an invaluable tool 10 the mandarins
IN their efforts 10 saddle the foreigners IN
the eyes OF the people with the guilt of
their own extortions. How far the more
sagacious members Of the Cantonese school
may sha.e these deiusions IL Is Of course
hard 10 guess. They have lived long
abroad, and they have accumulated wealth
there. II Is difhcult TO suppose that men
OF experience, OF knowledge and of proved
business ability can really believe that
China is able and willing to govern itself
with honesty and intelligence without for
Nm aid.
New ships Planned.
SHANGHAI March 2-(speciai)-It Is
proposed to create four squadrons with
their naval bases for the future navy Of the
Chinese empire under the following desis-
nations; Q) The IAaohai yellow sea-
squadron with its naval base at Chaoshau
island In the Miaotao group. C2) Phhai
Cgulf OF PeehilD squadron with is naval
base at Yangcheng in the bay of that name
on the shangtung coast near Wei-hai-wei
~ CS) Chehai (waters of the Chusan archipel.
ago) squadron with a naval base al
Hsiangshan island In that group. CO Yueh-
hal (south China seal squadron with It's
naval base at Pakhoi island OF Hainan.
The Board OF War has resolved 10 es
tabliHh At once a naval academy at Tient-
sin. and naval schools In Nankiang. wu-