The Washington times., 1909-03-08
REFORM THAT MEANS BUSI-
NESS IN CHINA.

Nobody prophesies as to China UNI
I'll after the event. 1t is the kingdom
of celestial uncertainties. Neverthe-
less in the two months which have
elapsed since the dismissal OF the great
Yuan Shih-kai so many good deeds
have been brought forward to sustain
80 much good talk that the outsider
has genuine warrant TO hope for
progress.
Yuan Shih-kai was the organizer of
the old household. Under his hand.
the aftermath of the Boxer disturb
ances developed into a plan to mod
ernie the Chinese army The death
of the Dowager Empress transferred
the reins to the hands of Prince Ch'un.
believed by foreigners resident in
Peking To be a man somewhat austere,
studious, standing sloof from the cor
ruptions and luxuries of his associates.
Toward such prince, as regent for the
young Emperor, Yuan Shih-kai is said
=
IS to make the latter's degradation in
dispensable to the dignity of the court
When this action was taken there was
general alarm-in Washington as well
as in Tokyo, possibly even in Picking
as well as in Shanghai-for fear it in
VOWED discontinuance of Yuan Shin
kai's good works.
The regent IS known TO be man of
high character by any reasonable
standard. 1t means something, then,
something for good and responsible
government, when Prince Ch'un gives
out through the censor, Chao Chuh-
yuan, a statement that the throne is
genuinely bent on introducing consti-
tutionsl government (which shall be
something different from the mere sp-
pdhntment of a few favorites to draw
salaries on the plea of carrying it out
The manifesto goes on
The people having paid duties and
taxes, IT would only be right for them
TO be acquainted with the mode in
which the authorities have expended
the moneys In recent years much
peculation has prevailed in financial
not only do the people not dare to
question the provinces, but the throne
Itself cannot scPutinize them. How
could constitutional government be
instituted while such a state of affairs
existed
There is something Yankee in the
very tone of that statement 1t reads
like Lincoln up to the last sentence
which rings like Roosevelt. The old
old story shows all through it-taxes
snd the people; people and the taxes
They are the forces which have come
together for every step of occidental
progress toward government by consti-
tuition. If We can accept this showing
as to the present trend in China they
are the forces which promise real re-
form and real stability in that Oriental
empire which numbers its people by
counting every fourth man in the whole
world
So much for the regents words.
Here are some of his deeds
He begins in the royal household. bv
cutting down a bill for $4,000 taels for
three sedan-chairs as preposterous, and
enioining rigid economy on the comp
trollers. He makes excursions outside
the palace in street rickshas like anv
ordinary being and sees conditions for
himself. He eliminates middIemen in
making appointments 10 high office.
He orders all provinces to submit their
budgets 10 Picking, and forbids the rails
ing of loans without authority from
the regent. He orders an eXamina-
tion into the accounts Of all vicerovs
and governors. Best OF all he dis
hands command of uniformed free
hooters, the Msnchu Banner Corps.
with system for teaching the men
trades and making them support them
selves.
All this may not work out But IT
would indicate that at last reform in
China has passed the stage OF de-
tendency on any Yuan Shih kai.