The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-03-16
s.ss.ss.Ssssas,
China S Problems
By E. w. Thwing.


Ing problems now before that vas
empire
One of these great problems toda,
is how to unity the many forces, boil
in the government and among tht
people. in the direction of real reform
At Picking today there are two
strengthening onistic parties, the Lib
eral and the Conservative.
The Liberal party will perhaps stand
for constitution. for parliament
| tary self government" and for com.
| pulsory education" of all the youth OF
| China.
The Conservative party is afraid OF
much of the new education and
stands for reaction and more or less
| of the old official corruption.
The people also are divided into
| many parties. Some are ready to help
| the government in its efforts toward
/ real reform. Others are too impatient
| at the slow and orderly changes, that
must be based on true education and
enlightenment, and wish at once to
upset the present order and make rad
icaf changes before the people are
| ready or able to carry them out.
To meet this most difficult problem
of uniting her people and her govern
ment, China needs many strong and
wise and faithful statesmen.
TROUBLES MANY.
Not only the present trouble at Ma
Gao is giving China much uneasiness,
but difficulties are found at Canton,
at Kwong Sal, the West River, and
many other places in South China.
Reports come also from Swallow
that large quantities of arms are be-
ing struggled into the neighborhood.
The officials are uneasy and on the
lookout. Many new societies are be-
ing formed throughout the two south
ern provinces, who want to secure
self-government Immediately. Some of
foreigners, and wish to see their own
government changed. This Is a con-
slant source of danger.
Robbers and pirates are found in
large numbers on all the many water
ways in the south. This has led to
more activity on the part of the Brit
ish gunboats. On their landing, and
in their dealings with the natives, the
bluejackets are not always as careful
as they might be. Some of the young,
hot-headed students of the more than
fifty new schools and colleges of Can
ton are ready at once to rage at this
so-called aggressiveness of the British.
They are crying with more zeal than
ever, "China for the Chinese as we
cry, America for Americans" These
students are talking of their New
China, and of Chinas sovereign rights
on her own inland waters. Even the
government of Macao is charged with
trying to secure more of Chinese ter
ritory. These difficulties are multiply
ing every day and week, and present
many new and hard problems for
China. Among the viceroys and high
officials at Picking there are also many
differences.
The Tokyo Puch, referring recently
to some Of Chinas difficulties. said:
1.-TWO greatest statesmen of China,
Yuan Shihkai and Chang Chfhtung,
are on bad terms Both being Chinese,
their quarrel is not that Of Chinese
and Manchus. Nor is it due to any
difference of political views. They
are striving for their personal ascend
ency; each wants to have the En-
press Dowager solely on the side. The
welfare of their country is not what
they care for. But even in Japan,
there are statesmen who love their
party more than their country"
However, in spite of some minor diff
ferences, it is now reported that Yuan
Shihkai and Chang Chihtung are
working together for real reform. And
it is, said now, that the influence of
the reform party in Picking is para
mount.
Important official changes are also
reported from Picking. Tien LANG has
resigned the Ministry of War, and
Yuan Shihkai, 1.-The Man of Iron," is |
said to have taken his place. Prince |
Ching wishes to resign the presidency
of the Grand Council, but the Empress
Dowager will not permit him to do so. |
The Chinese Recorder of Shanghai, for |
last month, also speaks of trouble |
brewing between China and Japan.
TROUBLE WITH JAPAN.
Trouble is threatening the peaceful |
hitherto nominally exist
ing between Japan and China At
tempts are being made by Japan to |
bring pressure to bear upon China and
to increase the exploitation of this
resources. A good deal of
irritation is felt and has been express
ed in Japan against Great Britain on
account of the refusal of that country
to aid Japan in her design upon Ko-
-ea and Manchuria. The claim made
Oy Japan to rights in Chientao as
part of Korea is stoutly contested by
he Chinese and the landing of Japa-
lese troops in that island TO protect
ler Korean subjects is the subject OF
diplomatic discussion in Picking. The
Japanese are planning a new town of
proportion few miles to the
vest oe Mukden.''
It can be clearly seen that what ia
1an wants, and needs To-Day is more
erritory for the colonization of her
many millions. She has Korea, but
he would like to have Manchuria as
we'll. and it looks as if she was def
nitely and steadily working to Sc
,ure that end She wishes to con-
roI the railroads and the trade of that
erritory. And it is a very difficult
natter for China to preserve her rights
here. In fact China has her hands
ull, in the provinces nearer home.
NEW FORCES.
Some one T believe has written a