The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1911-12-13
And Fast Drifting Into
Political Chaos.
} THE IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT
ISAbOut tOFaIl, With No Stable
Organization Apparent
TO Control.
THE REBELS LACK COHESION

day brings keener apprehension that
chaos. Although the fundamental
aims of the present revolutionary
movement are worthy, they are
brought to naught by lack of a real
leader. The situation inspires the
most pessimistic forebodings from
impartial observers.
The revolutionary juntas here are
now marking time, awaiting the ar
rival of DR.. Sun Vat Sen, who is ex-
pected at any moment. 1t is hoped
that he may prove to be the leader
whom every one is seeking. If he
can line up the various revolution
airy chiefs and unity the movement,
a solution of China's troubles may
be hoped for. The task is difficult
one, however. There are dissensions
everywhere among the rebels, espec-
iallv at the Wu-Chang and Marking
headquarters.
The fall of Han-Yang last week
proves to have been due entirely to
wholesale assertions of rebel troops
y enrolled in HUMAN province. Some
Wy that the. soldiers were bought by
y Yuan-Shi-Kai, but most persons at
tribute the assertions to the old
time jealousies between the people
of Human and Hu-Peh.
The defections would probably
have been prevented had a strong
leader been in command of the sit
uation. The rebel General, Huang
Sing. who was at Wu-Chang as sec
ond in command to Gen. Ii Yuen-
Heng, left Han-Yang a short time
before the Imperialists regained that !
city. He arrived in Shanghai this |
week and Immediately proclaimed |
himself generalissimo of the revolu-
tionary forces and assigned to Ii. a !
subsidiary place.
Huang asserts that he has been |
given the right TO name a temporary |
Premier or dictator to act pending |
the election of a President. He is
now making plans. he says, for an
overland advance on Pekin through |
Shan-Tung province.
The complete collapse of the I'M
perial Government is regarded here
as imminent and there is as yet
nothing stable to take it's place The
revolutionists have thus far been
incapable of effecting any cohesion
among themselves and unless DR..
Sun Vat Sen proves to be the man of
the hour, they will be found far less
efficient If called upon to take the
responsibility of national Govern
ment.
The cost of the struggle thus far
has been far greater than is easily
realized Apart from the losses of
Aampaign and battlefield, 1t has
plunged a majority of the provinces
into poverty and famine, has stop
ped all commerce and trade, Grip
pied agriculture and industry, and
diverted practically every penny of
tax revenue from the purposes of
peace.
!
at large is another matter Reports
from the interior indicate that con-
ditions everywhere are growing /
worse. Brigandage is almost the /
only profitable profession left to a
people hitherto peaceable and order I
ly. Millions are starving within g
radius of few hundred miles OF, ,
Shanghai c
In increasing number there are
brought to this city accounts of rob- Il
berries and violence, and even the q
killing of Europeans has ceased to \
be the exceptional in absence of law n
and order. Close observers are very 4
uneasy regarding the prospects for d
foreigners in the immediate future. n
Facts are hard to get at. Both &
sides are close to bankruptcy and I
realize that their first need is to es- t
tablish credit. In the hope of Sc Il
curing assistance abroad they are c
unsparing in the use of legitimate s
and illegitimate means to influence a
opinion.
News Is censored and colored to b
suit the purposes Of those in con- o
troll Some of the accounts OF bar G.
barities and atrocities have been L,
exaggerated, but 1t must be remem- c,
bered that many things which make I
the westerner shudder cause no dis Il
turbance to the nerves OF the ORR b
entail. IL
A group Of reformers is at pres 1
ent holding convention here, {,
claiming to represent the revolution Ct
lists OF the entire country. The del Il
egates assert that they are authoriz- 8
ed by fourteen provinces 10 act as In