The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-05
CHINA MAY DISCARD HER IMPERIAL YOKE Is Most Serious Situation That Has Confronted
 Government

Peking, November 4.-(Special.) )-Is China about to throw off the imperial yoke? The phenomenal success of the present revolution would indicate that such is the case. The southern part of the empire Is practically in the hands of the rebels, and many of the inhabitants of the other sections are only awaiting the approach of the victorious rebels to declare their allegiance.
 The situation is the most serious that has ever confronted the present govern ment. The revolutionary movement is well organized and apparently has plenty of funds. The government. on the other hand, is not only handicapped by a short age of funds, but also by the serious dis
 affection existing among the troops. A large portion are only waiting for the opportunity to join the revolutonists. The orderly manner in which the rebel leaders have conducted their campaign,
 has aroused the admiration of the va
 rious powers, and so long as they con-
 tinue along the present lines there is not
 likely to be any outside interference.
 While the pesent uprising was direct " tue lO tn0 OppOSiliOh cl tiiC PCoPio to the terms of the enormous railway
 loans negotiated by the government it was but the outgrowth of a disaffection that has existed for centuries, but which has only become formidable within the past decade, owing to the introduction of western civilization into the Mongolan empire.
 The Manclius, the ruling house of the empire have governed China with an iron hand for 300 years They won the throne by conquest and have retained it by the same method
 When they came into power more than 300 years ago, their first act was to vote themselves into all the positions of au- thority and establish an upper class'' which through 300 years of reign, has
 assumed an autocrtic attitude toward the less fortunate Chinese. The Manchus rule the courts, levy tribute from the rich and employ bands of assasins who put away" all who oppose their edicts The empire is rotten with political cor ruption. The taking of bribes is an hon. ored and expected adjunct to office. The wealth of the country has been viewed simply as a means of personal exploita- ton by those at the head of Chinese af- fairs. la It is here that the first trouble arose. l The land grants to foreign countries, the incursion of European wealth and l the bands of foreign engineers and | workmen that arrived to work the coun- | try moved the people to voice their dis | approval In many cases the foreign concession were of real benefit to the l Chinese, but with hundreds of years oi graft as criterion, they could see little else but the gradual disintegration ol
 their land for the personal benefit oi ''grafters'
 The dissatisfaction was fostered by 2 society of young Chinese" which has
 been steadily growing in strength since
 the unsuccessful revolutionary movemen'
 about. f6 years ago. Then came the floot
 and famine in the Yangtse. with it's crea
 ticn of marauding bands; the coalition of these bands and their pronounced re- | volt against the Manchus.
 Tho revoutionists could scarcely have
 cs osen more propitious time for theil 5enovncement. The Chinese empire fl officially demoralized and the revolution 1 will either tumble the Manchu dynasty like q card house in a gale. or som,
 strorR men will be developed and thu
 struggle will be prolonged perhaps fol
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