New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-19
Our Part im a established Chinese Empire
Fight for Control Of 1.-The Little
Grandsons," and Through Them
the Future. Elevated Yuan Shin
Mai to Throne Efficacy of Mo-
narChical Rule Not an Issue.

run Il must intallibly justify itself by I'M
measurably raising the standard OF national
happiness. and in this they are right.
Now. il is necessary TO recall that American
solicitude for China has always been very
marked and has had peculiar emotional APP
peal. Beginning with the very first MISSION
dispatched by the Washington government to
China. the United States has always consist
emily attempted to play the part of moderator
in Far Eastern politics. tempering the wind to
the shorn lamb. Again and again has It hap
pened that Washington has interposed her
fist and made the execution OF subversive de-
sign impossible. Though diplomatic gauch-
cries have perhaps been more common than
diplomatic triumphs the general effect OF this
constant interposition has been most weighty
on the mind of the world.
1t is not much to say, remembering that the
master Of kings-money-is finding its home
more and more on the western shores OF the
Atlantic, that the future effect of American
policy in Eastern Asia may suddenly become
overwhelming With Japan steadily locking
herself more and more permanently to the
strategic regions in Manchuria and Shantung
she now holds. with repubcanism in China
scotched. but still the most elevating thought
in the minds of the rising generation. new
American policy may be deemed imperative.
And if that happens the whole internal sit
uation in China will change with lightning rap.
idity For the time being the attention OF tie
civilized world is concentrated to the exclu-
sion Of everything else the European
drama; but with the final coming of peace the
swing of the pendulum must inevitably bring
interest back to the region where huge prob
lens are still in solution. That is the hour
TO be guarded against; that is the hour that
will count
We have given this brief and imperfect sum-
mary of the sort of things which will tend to
frame The final judgment on China because
il notifications are to-day made of farreach-
ing nature it is only logical to expect that the
network Of international agreements covering
the Far East will also be recast in such way as
TO introduce new limitations. The legend OF
Atlas, the mythical King OF Mauritania, who
is said to have supported the whole world on
his shoulders and whose name is imprinted on
every collection of maps, is one which it is
madness to attempt to revive. new Chinese
dynasty has begun and will end with Yuan
Shih-kai. The deep personal regard in which
he is held by all foreigners, primarily owing to
the mastery manner in which he saved the
situation in the Boxer uprising in 1900 as plain
Governor of Shantung, can never be extin-
guished What he did in that year OF suffering
is the pedestal on which he to-day stands
But the esteem is purely personsl-it is gwen
10 Yuan Shh-kai, the Man
To build an enduring state, to secure that
the frontiers of China are not further re-
stricted, ceremonies, subservience and great
circle of swords are to-day Of no mortal value.
There is only one Golden Rule-it is to have
the entire brains and wealth and energy OF
the nation conscripted in such manner as to
form a vast buckler impervious to all enemy
attacks new monarchy will never do that.
That is why the moment has arrived when
something drastic in the way of advice has
become essential.