The Hawaiian gazette., 1912-08-27


cialdom is facing the prospect of a
long indulgence in the "simple life, "
says the special correspondent at Pek-
ing of the New York Herald.
Every official Of the central govern
ment is now on $50 a month salary,
and that means 500 Mex, or. Mt
present rates of exchange, slightly
more than $50 United States currency.
1t is condition made necessary by
the financial eXigencles which the gov
eminent is facing. China has her
nose to the grindstone. /.
Advices from the interior indicate
that the country, taken as whole, is
rapidly settling back into normal con
ditions. This Is true not only of the
vast majority of the population that
was little affected by the revolution,
but it is true of some of the sorest of
the sore spots-the centers of dis
turbance. Canton is still an uncertain
quantity, there are recurring troubles
in Fuklen, and at Marking, and in the
region Immediately north there is a
considerable surplus Of soldiers to be
constant terror to peaceful persons.
But with these exceptions conditions
show steady improvement. Good
crops have proved an important factor
in bringing about this result. Through
out the length and breadth of land
made beautiful by its eXuberant rich
ness myriads of brown backs, barred to
| the sun, are to be seen moving over
fields green with the lush greenness
that comes just before harvest Men,
women and chIldren-no thought have
they for politics or problems of govern
ment. Their every faculty is centered
upon the more important problem of
sustaining human life. Each is the
embodiment of the cardinal doctrine
of Chinese faith-that man must work
People Are All Right.
The Chinese people are all right
The country is all right. 1t is only
the condition of the government that
gives warrant for pessimism.
The pessimists are many. Some
predict another revolution, others an
early division between north and south
or a breakup into smaller divisions
some even regarding foreign partition
as still possibility.
There is no more warrant for this
extreme pessimism than for the ex.
treme optimism which fails to take
into account the manifest difficulties
confronting the men who are trying to
put the new government on its feet.
Making due allowance for local dis.
turbances, of which there have been
many and will be more, an impartial
Judgment must be that President Yuan
and his associates have accomplished q
great deal. Gradually civil authority
has superseded the authority of the
military leaders IN the provinces
Quite a large proportion of the surplus
troops in the South has been dis
banded Most of the others have been
sent back to their own provinces, thus
greatly minimizing the probability OF
mutiny and looting. In a province
other than their own the soldiers are
in an alien country whose people are
looked upon as legitimate prey; in theil
native province they are among theiI
relatives, neighbors and friends.
Notable Step Forward.
These two things-the return OF
troops to their native provinces and
the reestablishment of civil authority
mark a notable step forward. Neither
has been completed, but much has
been accomplished.
There is still spordaic footing, usu
ally affairs of not much Significance
save in the eyes of the Tientsin lial
who has wrested the laurels that 60
with the prevarication championship
from the brow of the Shanghai liar.
There is, however, much politica
strife. China is experiencing thu
same bitter rivalry of parties thai
marked the early days of the American
Republic. The problem which Presi
dent Yuan is endeavoring to solve il
very much like the one Washington
was called upon to face. As one OF
his biographers tells it,
cat the outset Washington sought Il
enlist on the side of the new govern
ment the ablest men in the country
whether they had approved or disap
proved the precise form of the consti
tuition. A strong party sprang into lif,
and began campaign which never ha
been surpassed for personal abuse anC
virulence. Stung by their taunts
Washington lost faith in American in
stitutions, went over heart and soul {,
the federalist party and even doubted
whether republicans should be admit
ted into the Army
China g present troubles are politica
and financial. Those who indulge il
loud criticisms because all the politi
clans are not pulling together fail t.
take into account the obvious fact thai
there is a vast deal of human natur,
under the skin of Chinaman.
Expect the Impossible.
These critics expect the impossible
For the most part they are men who
have had no previous experience with 8
big political game Of the kind now be
ing played in China, aud in conso
quenee they attach entirely too muel
importance 90 the talk of second rev
olution now being made by some of IA,
politicians Of the Sworn Brother so
eiety All Of this talk, aud most OF IA,
agitation against foreign loan, has n,
other inspiration than desire 10 embar
rass the present provisional govern
ineni, 10 the end, Of course, of promot
ing the political interests Of the agith
Tors,
Naturally President Yuan ana Ms ad
yiset have 10 consider this agitation
lieeause N IL ihey could not accept IA,
| damandh ~ tho kif IOwsr nuuuria|