The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-08
Wilson Has Given Notice
That Formal Recognition
Will Be Accorded
NEW REPUBLIC HAS
PROBLEMS TO SOLVE
Yuan Shi kai Has Opposition as
Leader, But 1t Is Not Believed
New Republics Existence
Is in Any Danger
BY c. u. STEWART

Washington, April 7.-6speciaI )--Follow-
Eng his refusal to commit the United
States government as a hacker OF China
sn the matter of the six power loan, the
President has avowed his intention of
granting recognition to the new repub-
lie April 8, the meeting day of the new
assembly.
Giving the other powers ample notice
OF the intention of this government in
this respect, is hoped by the administra-
ton to induce them to follow by similar
action
The President has expressed the hope
that the new assembly called together in
China on April 8, will prove a genuinely
representative body This would mean an
election of delegates throughout China by
a majority of the people, who fully COM
pretended the purport of the election
and the significance of the convention.
Considering the fact that China has been
going on much the same way for cen
turies since the conquest by the Mahchus,
and even for thousands of years 1t is too
much to hope that any very radical
change in sentiment or customs could be
brought about even by the ambitious
new republic in SO brief time.
Things Not SO Tranquil
Things are not so tranquil In China,
as they might be. according to reports
reaching the state department Yuan
Ehih-Kai has been the leading candidate
for the presidency, but it ia stated that
he has a formidable rival in the person
of Huang Hsing, who has been assured
of the support of the southern party in
the new Chinese parliament. The latter
rendered distinguished service to the re-
publican cause in the revolution, and the
radicals from the south have rallied
strongly to his support
While this controversy may have soma
bearing with the powers upon the recog-
milton of. China, it is not to be presumed
that 1t will jeopardize the stability of the
new government which will be put into
concrete form by the parliament made
up of China's strongest men.
Whelpley Explains
In this connection very comprehensive
article in the March number of the Cen
tury Magazine. by James Davenport
Whelpley describes the conditions in
China in a very graphic and readable
manner.
Something has happened in China,
lie says, abroad it is called a republican
revolution. But the Chinese themselves
know better. The form of absolute mon
a-chy. ruling by almost prehistoric meth
ods and conventions, has been overthrown.
Less than per cent of the population
were really concerned in this overthrow.
A handful of idealists hope against their
own best judgment for an elective repre-
sentative form of government to succeed
at once, but it VIII not. This Is really the
only thing which cannot come about.
There may be new Emperor, a mill
tary dictator. a divided country, each
part governed as its strong people may
decide, or the present provincial govern
1nent may evolve into more or less wise
and disinterested oligarchy, compelled to
give the people fairly good regime bs'
reason of the simple fact that, If it does
not, its day will be brief This later form
of government has prevailed generally
throughout the modern world when vio-
lent misfortunes have come TO lons-es-
tablished rulers, and usually nasquerades
under the name of a republic. as in the
case of the many states of Central and
South America. This is probably what
will happen in China, but with many
notifications, for the country is vast and
ITS problems are many. and the relations
of the communities north, south, east
and west most complicated.
Yuan Shi kai's Position
I'm Peking there sits an old man, close
ly housed for fear of violent death al