The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-09

Since the enforced abdiCation of the
ManChu dynasty from the Dragon
Throne 1t has been by no means easy
To comprehend the position Of that
which once was the Chinese Empire.
1t has been set forth that II is now a
republic and that Yuan Shih-k'ai is its
constitutional President. There is such
tangle Of conflicting statement.
there il such a complex Of Oriental
thought scarcely comprehensive to
the Western mind that there is small
blame for failure 20 comprehend the
events Of the last few years and the
position in which they result at this
time when Japan is making demands
equally incomprehensihle. The stu
alton is somewhat cleared by ADOLF
$ VALLEY in an interesting primer
The Rcmdking Of china tNew York:
T.. l.. Dutton Il Coz.
While presenting running COM
mentary on the events succeeding the
attainment of his ma jority by the En-
peror Kwang-hsu. the author utilizes
this record of events principally in es-
tablishing the character of the three
most distinguished leaders of what
may he described with equal proba-
billty as republicansm or as opposi-
ton to the Manchu monarchy. To the
author II seems republicanism and he
finds parallel IN France upon the
overthrow of the King. The Chi
nese revolution, like the French one,
had its Jacobins. the followers Of sun
Yat-sen; and its Girondins, the ad-
herents of Kang Yu-wei; the French
Republic founded on the democratic
teachings of Rousseau was followed
by the autocraCy of Napoleon, and in
China the democratic republic of sun
Yat-sen has given way to the despot-
ism of Yuan Shih-k'a al
Mr. VALLEY gives credit to Yuan
for the good that he has ace mplishcd.
but he il not inclined to credit him
, with good intentions or strict probity
OF character. on the other hand. ne
admires sun Yat-sen as a model pa
/ triot. These are points upon which
argument may spend itself itlcssly.
| II should he noted that Or. sun had
long been known in the lands Just he
yond the reach Of the Celestial police
| for an invoterate schemer and con-
spirator of plots which always came
| to naught. In China his following
was confined To the South and he
was viewed with profound diStrust nv
the sturdler people Of the North. It
| should also he noted that kang Hu-
wei h.S always been under suspicion
of acting in the interest of Japan.
Now. as to Yuan Shh-k'di. He IS
de facto the head of such government
as China now enjoys: he has refraincd
! from acts OF violence such as mig u.
reasonably he expected after the COM
motion Of the years out OF which he
has emerged as the peacemaker and
consolidator Of warning factions,
| N"ninaly the President Of a republic,
hts powers rest upon the agreement
90 the principal armies, for the voice
of the people has never been regis
,crcd in his favor nor does there yet
exist any machinery of government
by which democratic opinion may
he expressed, Governing without a
consultative Parliament. he ranks
less as President than as dictator.
| There Is reason to imagine his power
as something higher yet
II will be recalled that Yuan has
now performed the ritual ceremonies
at the Temple Of Heaven. an act in
itself sufficient to stamp him as en-
pcror in the eyes Of the people and IN
consolidate In his behalf all the ster-
ling Confucian morality Of the Chinese
people. Chinese morality does not OBJ