The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-12-29
MONGOLIA ABSORBED.

1 Ne Dracllfdi absorption OF MonHOlia
by Russia has been forecastcd for some
time. II was probably secret under
standing with Japan at tho peace con-
| ference in Portsmouth. There is a good
dcal to say in cxtcnuation Of the OBJ
sorpiion of that province. 1t is immense
in area, comprising 100000 square
miles; but very thinly populated, hav.
| ing probably not TO exceed 100000
people in that whole vast area. Il has
never been anything more than nomin-
ally a part Of the Chinese Empire; and,
in throwing off the Manchu dynasty,
it was not inappropriate that the
province Of Mongolia should 20 with
it. Probably the pretensc that Man
will soon cease also, Again, the
Russian-Siberian railway passing
through a portion Of Mongolia,
the acquisition Of at least that portion
Of the province through which tho rail
road runs WAS highly desirable for
Russia At the same time. it Is likely
that there will he rcmonstranccs from
the powers at Russia s aggrcssiveuess
in practically selling the province,
since China is now in no condition to
protest. It is stated. 10 be sure, that
he official prcpondcrancc Of Russia in
Mongolia. and also in Eastern Turkes,
tan, is to he merely "'sphcre Of in0u-
cncc. But, as We have Just seen In
ha, h,- hf
consent of Great Britain, had acquired
a sphere of influence. that sphere means
practical control IN everything of I'M
portancc: and the gradual assertion of
complete sovereignty will not he lack
ing in either Turkcstan or Mongolia,
The detachment OF Turkcstan and of
Mongolia viii not have any real effect
upon China proper.
Matters appear TO bc fully shaping
in China toward the establishment of
Republic. with DIR. Sun Vat Sen as
the first president in the new form Of
government, With this announcement
comes also the statement that the
Manchu rcigning house is willing to
the Chinese: this viii undoubtedly aid
very largely in the restoration Of
peace.
We have suggested hitherto that
probably the DEGREES Of the Chinese
throne to eradicate the culture Of the
poppv and the smoking of opium has
had a good deal 10 do with the con
soldation Of the Chinese people against
the Manchu dynasty. This is confirmed
by advices which state that the new
movement is absolutely rejecting the
anti-opium policy Of the court. Where
ever the rcvOlutionists have prevailed,
the poppy fields have been replantcd,
and the, trading in and use of opium
arc revived, The comment is made that
freedom to hit the pipe is ga poor
basis upon which TO erect 4 republic -
1t might have been said that the re.
lection of cargo OF tea in Boston har-
Dor. aud the throwing Of it into the
bay. was n poor foundation upon which
10 found the republic of the United
States. In both cases. however. it is
not tho incident that counts, but the
spirit behind it; the spirit OF liberty
which asserted tho right of the people
10 reject the taxed tea in one case,
and to cultivate the poppy In the other
case. if they see ft TO DO so. We may
all dcplorc he effect of opium upon the
Chinese: but, after all, the assertion
of the right OF tho people to smok @
the drug if they wish 10 do so is
fundamental. and the people are in this
simply asserting primcval principles,
The poppy is the most profitable crop
that can be raised in MANY provinces
Of China. and TO arbitrarily decree that
it shall not be raised was an economic
hardship bard TO bear.
All in all, matters appear to be NOV
ing SWIFTLY in China towards con.
summation which will establish peace,
order, and tstraugc word for China y
liberty.