The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-12-02
visit of the American battle
ship fleet to Chinese waters

"HE visit of the American battle
ship feet to Chinese waters
may be said to be paid at pre-
cisely the right psychological
moment. 1t is at the time that China
S looking to the United States for
guidance In respect to the great prob
rms Of evolution along political and
social lines with which she is confront
I'd. 1t is at just the moment that her
attention is centrrcd on the constitu-
:ional changes proposed by her leaders,
md China, like the rest Of the world,
naturally looks to America when seek
ing an example of the highest develop
ment of constitutional government and
It's application to the needs of a great
nation. The boycott of American goods
failed to disturb materially the good
relations between China and the Unit
ed States, and since that episode many
things have happened to strengthen
the feelings of friendship between the
American and Chinese nations. Among
other things is the feeling that has
grown up in China that America is In
some way or other to become a buffer
between the empire ruled by Kuang
Hsu and that ruled by Emperor Nut
Suhito Of the realm of flowers. The
Chinese, whether rightly or wrongly,
believe that America is in a position to
protect them against Japanese agrees
sions and to prevent Japan from ex-
tending her sphere Of influence" to
the point Of making China q mere Jap
anese province. The mikado's subjects
have a systematic propaganda under
way for the purpose of spreading Japa-
nese ideas and influence among the
Chinese. They have gone so far as to
establish newspapers in the interior of
China with such objects in view, and
the Chinese journalist now visiting this
country, Ii Sum Ling, has declared
that steps would be taken to check such
a propaganda and that 1t had caused
much Offense among his countrymen.
All this tends to further American
influence in China rather than Japa-
nese. At the same time the Chinese
progressive leaders, who now control
the government ut Ickin and have re-
Gently drawn up Il constitution, have
gone to Japan for a great many of
their ideas, and the constitution pro-
mulgated is modelled more on that Of
Japan than on that of the United
States or those Of the constitutional
monarchics of Europe.
The form of political principles under
which ii is proposed to lead China from
her past status rs Il ucspotic govern
ment to that of an empire admins
tered through the aid of q parliament
was promulgated in Pckin on Aug.
%, and II is quite a different document
from what would be expected under
similar circumstances in a European
or American country. Under 1t China
will still have an absolute monarch.
but he will be aided by duly elected
representatives Of the people In admin
tStCring the empire. The form OF gov
eminent will more nearly resemble that
Of Japan or that of Russia since the
institution Of the doulna than that of
England, Germany. Italy or the Unit
ed States. The p%hrnseology Of the
document is oriental and in places even
poetic, many figures and SMILES being
used to convey to the untutored minds
Of the common people the meaning and
intentions Of the reformers. For IN
stance. in speaking Of the preparation
to he made for the opening of Il parlia-
ment 1t says: ut is like building II
house. Workmen and material must
be gathered. The house may then be
planned and worked out The work
must be watched day and night with