The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-29

through Parliament became impossible
n Yuan Shih-k'ai was obliged to
dispense with Its cooperation, much
In the same way as Oliver Cromwell
did with the Long Parliament in Eng
land. and to establish what Is to all
intents and purposes a Dictatorship,
more absolute than that of any Of
the Emperors in the past history Of
China.
While 1t Is just possible hat the
present condition Of affairs in China,
that Is 10 say, the dictatorship of
Yuan Shih-k'ai, might continue for a
short time longer, 1t cannot be denied
that the Government at Pekin is seri-
! ously hampered, both at home and
abroad. by the doubts entertained as
to Its stability. 1t is this fear as to
the permanency of the present condi-
ton of affairs that gravely affects tho
financial and political credit OF China
in America and In Europe, that causes
rich and influential Chinese to hesi-
tate about giving their entire support
and whole souled cooperation to the
President and that furnishes "a pre-
text to Japan to interfere more and
more in the internal affairs of the
republic. at the cost of the latter's
independence.
BY proclaiming himself Emperor
Yuan Shih-k'ai would give "A sort Of
guarantee as to the permanency of
his rule and OF its continuation after
his death by his eldest son, who has
been educated in Belgium and in Eng
land. 1t would encourage the leading
statesmen in China. the presidents of
the great industrial and merchant
guilds and the most notable and in
fiuential of his countrymen to group
themselves around him and would pro-
mote hat policy of Capitalization
which is indispensable to the future
welfare of China.
The weakness of the Government in
the days Of the former Emperors was
the tendency of the Niceroys of the
great provinces to aspire to independ-
cnce II to retain in their own hands
the of their satrapies. in
stead OF forwarding them to the I'm
perial Treasury at Pekin. A seces-
sionist spirit was in this way developed,
and it naturally was promoted by the
presence on the throne Of an alien
dynasty. namely. that Of the Manchus.
The establishment OF the republic
had the result of still further augment
ing these separatist tendencies in the
provinces. The revolutionist Or. Sun
took advantage thereof to secure ad-
herents in his conspiracies against
the rule of Yuan Shih-k'ai. especially
in the south. aiming at rae organiza-
! ton of almost as many separate re-
nr,hIing In china no Fhnra u.Ara nrnN.-
inces.
Now this breakup of the present
republic and Of the former empire OF
China into a number OF separate and
Independent states would constitute a
source of terrible national weakness,
not merely at home but more particu-
larly abroad; would encourage inter-
ventlon, economic, political and mill
tary, on the part of the foreign Powers,
especially of Japan, which is a stand
ing nae to the independence and to
the territorial integrity OF the Chinese.
That is why the most capable of the
foreign advisers of Yuan Shih-k'ai are
urging him to proclaim himself EN-
pcror and why he himself seems dis
posed to accept their advice. not be-
III he bankers after any additional
honor or glory but for the reason that
he realizes that unless he takes this
step the condition of his country will
become such as TO render his eXpatria-
, ton advisable, together with his aban-
Comment of the role OF President of
the only republic of the Orient for
that of a country squire n county
magnate in the midlands of England.
Among the other great sources OF
weakness of the recent dynasty of
Emperors at Pekin was the fact that
it was alien and hat the monarch
represented a race of cruel conquerors
n invaders always identified with
tyranny M oppression, with no hold
whatsoever upon the sympathy or
loyalty OF the Chinese people. Yuan
Shih-k'ai, on the other hand, Is a Chi
nese OF the Chinese, a son of the peo-
pie in the best sense Of the word,
with nc pr%etensions to blue blood.
A native of the province of Honan,
which has produced many remarkable
men in Chinese history. he differs
from his great friend and former pa
tron, the late Ii Hung Chang. to 50
many of whose offices he succeeded.
in thai he is neither an aristocrat
nor a scholar and in that he has
never visited any foreign country. Ii
Hung Chang was the grand seigneur,
the l%itterateur, the polished man Of
the world. the approximation OF all
the virtues and Of all the vices OF
the Orient.
Yuan Shih-k'ai is a far more honest
man, infinitely more patriotic. in that
he would not dream of robbing his
country to the extent that did Ii
Hung Chang, who is credited with
having amassed in this way the great
est private fortune in the world. He
has no graces of manner. no polish.
He Is brutal and direct, intensely loyal
to those who are really his friends or
whom he regards as having a claim
on his gratitude, and is above every
thing else a soldier. Indeed, it is
owing to the fact that he Is a soldier
that he enjoys his present eminence.
II Yuan Shih-k'ai proclaims himself
Emperor he will have at his back the
entire Chinese army, which, now well
trained and equipped according to
Western ideas, knows that II Is in
debted to him for the consideration
which II now enjoys. Prior to his
day there was no calling that was
more generally and profoundly de-
spised in China than that of the soldier.
Then, too, he enjoys the good will Of
every admirer and follower of Con-
fucius. whose cult he has revived.
All the conservative elements of the
nation in trade, industry and science