Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-12-28
cHINA's ANT1-MoNARcH1sTs.

Has the ashrewd Yuan Shih-Kai made TIN
mistake in a lifetime of achievement by hi
participation in the successful move for
monarchy
Many close observers of things Orienta
think SO. Yuan, they believe, for once has BEEF
led astray in his instincts as to the road O
statecraft which should be pursued. And, ac
cOrding to a story which has reached Honolulu
but which, SO far as we know, has never befor'
been published, it is the "o'ervaulting ambi
ton" of Yuan's eldest son which has put hi
father on perilous road.
This son, the story goes, has determined
some day to be emperor, and has brought hi
father to his own view. A few days agC
Peking advices noted that the son had con
suited priest or soothsayer and had manifest
ed his willingness to "accept whatever burden
the welfare of the atate' might place upor
him. The unofficial version is that he has
worked long and with his fathers cunning tc
bring about the establishment of the monarchy
Now the Chinese as nation have not OPP
posed what amounts virtually to life tenure
Of the presidency by President Yuan. They
know that he is the strong man of China, and
he has at his elbow some able hackers. Peking's
diplomacy at the time Japan was pressing the
twenty-one demands is generally regarded as
far-seeing and effective Yuan has started to
build up the army and navy, to develop edu-
cation, to foster physical development by the
race. He is placing it in position to defend
itself from outside aggression. The Chinese
Recognize this. They did not rise up in rebel
lion when he practically abrogated the parlia-
ment and instituted the council of state. They
did not revolt at the prospect of ten-year
presidential term.
An acute observer of Chinese affairs who
recently visited Honolulu says that the Chin
csc might without uprising see Yuan take the
monarchy were it not that they fear he would
be followed in the imperial office by much
weaker man. They do not want to bind them
selves to hereditary overlordship. The repub-
lican form of government leaves them free to
choose their own chief executive when Yuan
dies or his term ends. And they intend jeal-
ously to guard this approach to free suffrage
which was won through long years of rebellion
against the Manchus.
In this connection it should be said that from
the American point of view the recent election
IN China was farce. This election was to
manifest the choice of the people upon the
Question Of republic or monarchy. 1t is said
that the ballots were so cast that the manner
in which every man voted might easily be as
ceftained. One voter, whose sentiments were
known to be republican, is reported as having
been asked why he voted for the monarchy,
and as having replied: "What else could |
dot A book was given me wherein | wrote
down my vote and signed my name. Had 1
voted against the monarchy, what would have
become of my headi"
If this is true, it is hardly to be wondered at
that the vote was reported unanimously in
favor of the monarchy!
In the southern provinces the republican
sentiment runs high. They have always been
the source of much trouble for Yuan and much
strength for DIR. Sun Vat Sen. 1t is said now
that DIR. Sun has lost much of the confidence
of his former followers. since his executive
qualities have not measured UP to their ex
but that if he should succeed in
reaching the southern provinces and making
speeches which coincide with the present tenn
per of the people, he might again become the
head of powerful revolutionary movement.
The presidential nuptials have given Vice
President Thomas r. Marshall two of his few
chances to get into the news. When the en-