The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-28
cn.,orrc CHINA.

CHAOTIC CHINA.
Out OF the connictin. reports from
China regarding the policies. ncgotia-
/ tons and detectives of Yuan Shi Kai,
! Wu-Ting Fang, sun Vat Sen and the
/ ing, only one thing stands clear: that
is that political chaos exists and that
the nation is rapidly heading towards
general anarchy.
At the outset of the revolution there
were two partics--thc conservatives. or
tynas;ics, and the rcformcrs. or cham
ptons Of rcpnhlic---and the line OF
| cleavage was apprccinbly distinct.
Nomnally these two parties still exist
actually they are non-cxistcnt, for each
Is split up into many different factions.
and discussions arc steadily multiply
ms. Meanwhile China has no govern
iiieh'' there is nowhere any authority
capable Of enforcing order and safe
guarding life ana ptNpertv within the
empire or resisting aggression from
without. RI in the midst of il the
flame OF hatred of foreigners and an
started it would sweep over the land.
II bescin OF rapinc and slaughter, with
none to stay II. Despite tho tolcrn don.
the negative protection which on all
sides has rs rule been extended. to
foreign residents since the outbreak
stnrted, it cannot be doubted that the
etnhers of intense antiforeign feeling
are but smoldering, and il would take
but n comparatively faint breath of
arouscment of Innate Chinese racial
prejudice to fan them into n blaze.
In these circumstances 1t mus, be
admitted that the situation, so far as
arc concerned the thousands of west
ern aliens" missionaries and others
scattered throughout the land, is more
critical than it has been IN many wears.
Under the surface It Is even more crit
zeal than was the Boxer movement at
the height OF the latter's ravening
Then there was al least central tan
gtblc government, which the powers
could approach. which these could hold
TO accountability. and through which
they could and did compel restoration
OF order and cessation of violence and
trend to anarchy. Thcn they had no
excuse for intervention beyond thoI
scope to which they confined them
selves
Now there is practically no govern
ment with which they can deal. no au-
thoriiy they could support TO the end
of insuring the safety of their citizens
or subjects. Both of the nominal mar
ties or governments have all they CAM
so to protect themselves against each
other in the matter OF gaining the as
cenoancY and against utter annihila-
ton from ntra- party and intra-gov-
ornamental strife. Either would be
absolutely impotent to cope with a for
midablc antiforeign uprising among
the masses. even IL II dared or desired
to attempt so to do
Another intervention. therefore,
would 10 all lntents and purposes be |
independent of any real relation to the
Chinese government and without rec |
oSnition virtually that there was any
longer China in the acceptation of
the term and fact OF national entity.
That such Intervention Is being in
vitcd-will. indeed. be dcmandcd-un-
less the warning factions speedily come
together and agree upon some form of
legitimate and stable government
what form is no concern but China's-
must be as plain as Il pike staff to the |
most superficial observer of the drift
of Chinese events L; is fast approach |
ing u crisis in which the powers will
nave shirkcd a great responsibility, not
only 10 themselves. but to the worlds
civilization and to humanity, if they
iail to interposc and safeguard against
anarchy out of hand,
And after that? What with the
Bear that walks like man" stalking
through Mongolia, the Cobb Desert and
Chinese Turkcstan; the Lion crouch
ing in Thihot, at the back door of the
empire, and the Little Brown Brother"
cdging UP III Manchuria and coddling !
the Bear. and considering the ambi- ,
lions and interests of each the answer
should not be far to seek The outlook
is as gloomy for the territorial intce
rtty OF China as the present dcmoraI-
lied and chaotic state of affairs is i
mcnacing TO foreign residents OF that
country
--=----=--==--
TRAGEDIES IN PAINTING: