Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-10
IMPENDING CRISIS In
THE CHINESE REVOLUTION

A Chinese statesman recently re-
marked to a distinguished occidental:
You are doing your
Critical possible to awaken China /:
once she is awakened
soASsuAe. she will march so quick
ly that you will regret. that you have
troubled her repose." From a monarchy
to a democracy is surely a great leap.
but the feat is being performed in the
occident. why not in the orient
China is steering straight in this
moment for a republic. Since 1905
there has been in China, in Europe
and America a Chinese revolutionary
committee.
And now the crisis has come. When
Premier Yuan-Shi-Kai is confronted
by financial difficulties and an empty
treasury: when victory OF the revolu-
tionary army has bred dissension and
strife: when. according to a dispatch
from Hongkong. 'the ship of state 4:
sailing without chart or compass and
all on board are DESTROYS OF acting as
captain: We must know that the crisis
has come and the hour of action
awaited by the committee has struck.
The first to depart for the future
editor Of the Chinese Free Press OF
San Francisco. At Shanghai, we are
told. he Will prepare place for the con-
stitutional convention convoked by the
committee. Thence he will go to Can
ton as messenger to the leaders there
Meanwhile the mysterious masters Of
this Chinese revolution are on the sea
ploughing the waters of the Indian
ocean, due to arrive at Shanghai tn,
18th instant.
At Shanghai, become the capital of the
Chinese republic. a provisional govern
ment will be established by order Of and
under the Chinese revolutionary commit
tee which until now has had it's head
quarters In San Francisco, in New York
London, Paris and Berlin. The Chinese
revolutionary committee consists of the
Chinese DR.. Sun Vat Sen and the Amer.
lean Gen. Homer Lea.
This double barreled military govern
ment appears upon the scene at an aus
picious moment. 1t carries with il a vel
filled war chest and it's timely arrival
aided by its printed proclamations t.
army. press and people. will create moi
only unity of action, but precipitate the
downfall and hopeless rout of the Man
chu, with whom there is to be no truce
or compromise.
This Chinese government is to be II
Dr. Sun Vat Sen will b.
Three. Year charged with the civil af
fairs of the country. Gen
ACAIou. Homer Lea with the mill
tary. In this interval the country will b.
prepared for the American form of con
stitutional government with a presiden
and two elective assemblies. DR.. Sun va
Sen may be the first president, and wh'
knows? MIR. WI Ting-fang, former Chi
nese minister at Washington. may follow
The North China Daily News. writing
of the regent, the functionaries and VIVA
it knows Of what is going on in China
exclaims: The people have no confidence
in any of the revolutionary leaders, fol
none of them has shown any talent ex
cept to obtain money l cite the FOL
which Mr.. Charles Halcombe of Kent
member of the China reform party" al
association in sympathy with the Chimes
revolutionaries, writes: 'One Of the revo
utionary chiefs writes me that he desires
to see England and China bound togethe
intimately
The foregoing may signify nothing o
itself, but in connection with the recogni
ton openly accorded certain Chinese revo
lutionary leaders in London it may hav'
significance which our department ma!
do well to note For example, Lord Rob
erts Is reported in the press as having
presided at reception recently accorded
one of the Chinese revOlutionarfes II
London. Lord Charles Beresford wa:
likewise present.
was in Washington, but he was not giver
so much recognition or announcement
which from a governmental point OF view
Is unfortunate. A major general certain
ly might have been sent ex offfcio to pa!
his respects without committing the gov
oYn in, Chinese (0l(
system) provide against oversights o
such a nature by maintaining depart
ment of rites and ceremonies. 1t is II
the memory of all that Mr.. Cleveland
the Infanta Eulalie when that lady visit
ed Washington, and all because of the
lack of a protocol chief or a department
of rites and ceremonies.
We are told in the China Journals
that there is a dearth of leaders amons
the revolutionaries. Per
Leaders haps both Dr. Sun va
r Sen and Gen. Homer Lex
n6' are not of that mind.
First there is Yuan-Shi-Kai. who
rightly or not, has placed himself in
the front rank. But Yuan is manifest
ly the wrong man in the wrong place
He is loudly acclaimed as a reformer
but he carefully abstains from placing
himself in the ranks of the revolution
aries. 1t is the hour of revolution in
China, and reform must wait upon the
revolution.
Yuan has had ample opportunity TO
carve out his fortune, perhaps obtain
the throne, to which he aspires, but
he is manifestly afraid of the sword.
There is something in the attitude of
this much Wanted soldier that recalls
the figure of Gen. Boum of the arm,
Of La 0rande Duchesse de Gerolstein.
immortalized by Offenbach.
While l am writing this dispatch
from Peking, dated December 6. an
nounces that Yuan has obtained the
abdication Of Prince Chun, regent, who
is succeeded by Shih-Hsu, a Manchu
prince. who is to rule cojofntly with
Hsu Shih-Chang, a Chinese. formerly
vice president Of the privy council. I'm
fortunately for Yuan. the compromist
is tardy, and will not be accepted by
the revolutionaries. Its only i'm
nortance lies in the fact that 1T may
serve to constitute Yuan-Shi-kat the
recognized chief of a Manchu-Chinese
party. But even if Yuan was soldier
which NAV be doubted, he has no money
70 nav his soldiery, and this fact We
NAV he sure is being already communi-
cated by the messenger who has pre-
,adad the revolutionary committee. Inc