The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-09
YuAN,s COMPROMISE uEruBI.IC.


preventing partition of the empire, cs-
abIc to all factions. and avertinS years
of internccinc strife, he will have
achieved one OF the greatest triumphs
of constructive craftsmanship in the
worlds history. Yet this. according
TO latest adviccs, there is the promise
OF his doing by means of his com
promise republic" iii default, that is,
or the neur-plottins of outside influ-
cnces
Than Mr.. Yuan no man was ever con-
frontcd with q more difficult problem
OF mediation. From the beginning of
tho development of the Chinese dis
turbances into a revolution, the qucs-
ton of the way out, save through
anarchy or Acknowledgement. has re-
VOWED around him. He has hccn the
embodiment OF the storm centre, and
been literally between the devil and
the deep sea. OF course republic
in China conforming to the Occi-
dental idea. is little. if any, short OF
srotesque. But the essence. "a repub-
licanism." has existed in the Chinese
masses for centuries, and has demon
stratcd itself in various ways. The
true Chinese. the people OF the middle
kingdom, have for ages exercised In
large measure self Eovernment-bccn
accustomed in large degree to local
home rule. Notwithstanding, and dc
spite the imperial sway and absolutism
OF Peking, each OF the eighteen prov
inces OF China proper has presented the
anomaly of asserting and enjoying q
certain Independence.
Though an imperial appointec, the
Viccroy has frequently openly opposed
The policy. and even the mandates of
the court, and while ostensibly an auto
crat in himself and absolute within
his territorial jurisdiction, has AT the
las; been really subscrvtent 10 the in
tlucncc of the popular will. For OK
ample. no viccroy would dare TO re-
adjust the rate of taxation without
consulting the leading men of his
province. lest the taxpayers should DC
termine 10 preserve the status QUO
by resort TO tho convenient process of
assassination. Picking eiicts none the
less against these conditions-aga!nst
the dictates OF the middle kingdom
innate and traditional democracy-th
throne has been iInpotent TO contend,
especially since they have been but
,ressei By powerful secret societies
embracing true Chinese from the high
est TO the loves, classes.
On the one hand. Mir. Yuan had TO
face the fact tina, the revolution had
assumed tho status Of a concrete or
=anized, militant, practical exposition
OF this middle Kingdom democracy. Its
indefinite and scattered Integers were
only awaiting tho meeting of ,h- man
and the hour, and these met In Or.
| sen on the other hand he was con
/ frontad with the factor OF Manchu
autotracy ana its traditional, intense
! and unoomnromiS!nE loyalty thereto.
This situs;l5n-,,his antag onism-prc
zent4d menace Of dissolution, apart
| from partition ny the powers, through
the secession OF Manchur!a, step. it
Il no secret. some OF the foreign in
tercsts have been covertly urging. To
J harmonic tine two elements was the
tasi; before MI yuan. ana mis- CON
promise republ cgnccp, is the result
Of hi. abors ana Negotiations.
Tho plan 10 general ss a dual order
( uuder which tho republicans would in
s,i;uto some form Of representative
{ sov"rulucut republican System ~ ad-