Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-23
YUAN SHIH-KAI AS
CHINA'S NAPOLEON
Is He Trying to Steer His Country
Back to Monarchy General
Chang's Conversion to Re
publicanism
By ELLIS RANDALL
ytIHEN Yuan shIh-NaI become President

tion OF the Nankin Provisional Parliament
he said In his letter Of acceptance, II have
long been in favor Of a republican form OF
government"
II was hardly his repubicanisrn. however
/ that won him HIS position OF power yuan
| by methods Of the shrewd and unscrupulous
self seeker. and. some say, with the motives
| Of patriotism. secured control OF the repub-
lican movement II is characteristic OF Yuan
to observe carefully the drift Of affairs and
to take advantage Of the current at the
favorable moment.
The report from Pekin that he Is contem-
plating the rehabilitation Of the monarchy
and his own establishment on the throne as
the founder OF a new dynasty need surprise
nobody. II should be borne in mind how
ever. that the statements issuing from the
presidential palace have carefully attributed
the suggestion OF a change in the form OF
government to Yuan's advisers and not to
Yuan himself, who is represented as a loyal
republican. The inference is. OF course, that
the Chinese President is taking this means
to sound public opinion.
In a book called "The Remakng of
China" written by Adolph S. VALLEY, an
Englishman Of monarchical propensities but
OF undoubted familiarity with the course of
events in China since the revolution, the
author recently asserted that Yuan intends
TO initiate Napoleon III and seize the throne,
but this fact did not in the least alter Mr..
Valleys estimate of the Chinese dictator as
a true patriot.
The Quest of Power
The authors Interpretation OF events fol-
lowing the death Of the Dowager Empress
in 1908 is Of timely interest in connection
with the latest reports concerning the Presi-
dents supposed ambitions. Indispensable to
to the Manchus Yuan could dictate his own
terms, and he insisted that the military
command should be turned over to one Of
his own friends. Mr.. Valley writes;
YUAN was perfectly aware that. with the
fall OF the Manchu dynasty, the throne could
easily be gained by strong man who could
count upon the allegiance of the army, and
with this knowledge came the conviction that
the flower of the modern army In China, which
owed its whole being to him, would follow him
to the death. with that wonderful fore
sight which has been such great asset to
Yuan Shih-kai throughout his notable career, he
anticipated the moment when it might be i'm
perative for the good Of his country in the first
place. and for the furtherance OF his own am
billions, in the second to abandon the Manchus
to their fate: and in such crisis he desired to
have. commander of the imperial forces.
man of his own race who would unquestionably
obey his orders"
1dVlnB secured COntrOl OF Ine army,
Yuan'g next step was to take possession of
the republican movement. While drawing
his salary as the Imperial Premier he Sc
cretly became a republican leader At first
sight, the British author admits, this volte-
face appears strange in man known to be
a convinced monarchist; but he adds that
Yuan was familiar with Napoleonc history
and knew a stepping-stone to a throne when
he saw n A neaca conferenca ca11ad at
Shanghai With WI Ting-fang to represent
the republican cause Yuan sent Tang
b Ehae-yi toorepresent the monarchy, but Sc
cretly arranged that he should betray that
side, and throw his influence with the repub-
heanss, I Mr. Valley weighs the arguments of
those who think that Yuan was innocent of
this treachery, and that Tang Shao-yi be-
trayed him well as the Manchus, but
concludes
'Tf. however Yuan Shh-kai was acting
secretly in the republican land incidentally in
his own interests. his reason for appointing
Tang Shaggy becomes quite clear, for Tang
Shao-yi was an intimate friend of HIS a Can
tonese, and persona grata with the revou-
tionary leaders. themselves mostly from Canton.
He was therefore a most suitable intermediary
to negotiate with the republicans, not on behalf
OF the Manchus, but on behalf of Yuan Shih-kai
himself, ana so to arrange matters with the
revolutionary leaders that when the Chinese Re-
public was an accomplished fact Yuan Shih-kai
should be its first President"
If Yuan has not yet become Emperor, he
has frankly expressed his determination to
prevent restrictions on his authority, and
has actually assumed the prerogatives which
from time immemorial have been vested in
the throne. Mr. Valley compares him with
the great Emperor Hangs Kanghsi, who
made China a strong and united empire
Everything points to China having found a
second Kanghsi in the person Of Yuar
Shih-kai. There seems reason to hope that
his great intellect and strength OF character
| win prove equal to the magnitude OF his
task, and that under his rule China will at.
tain the strength and self-reliance essential
/ to a great nation, retaining her nationa
ideals in all that appertains TO her spiritua
life while becoming westernized in all mat
ters OF practical value"
Chang's Change of Mind
II is interesting to compare this occi
dental view of the issue between monarch!
and republic, which may shortly produc
another crisis in the history OF China, witt
the changed attitude OF General CHAM
| Hsun. the Butcher OF Nankin." Genera
Chang remained until very recently
Manchu monarchist, and was regarded a
the foremost OF the Manchu loyaIists in tn
country. He was thought to be irreconcil
ably opposed to the new order OF things
Not long ago. in language as picturesque a
one could wish, he said TO an interviewer:
'Republicansl why, republicans such as "
see In China are boys trying 20 teach thei
masters. They are idiots trying to rise 10 IN
ceiling without something tangible TO stand OF
They gardeners trying 10 grow cabbaes toI
before the roots are planted. They are like III
audacious people who would come and open
porcelain shop Of inferior merit In place wheI
an old and well-known factory has long bee
established. BY bright pigments and tricks the
seek TO sell some Of their goods and fool u