Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-03

be maintained In order that they may
receive what they consider to be tho
proper returns on their Investments.
This insistence they are more and more
liable to carry TO the point OF actual
destruction of the political inde-
pendence of offending nations and of Idi-
rect administration OF their govern
mcnt IL this is necessary to the at
talnment Of the ends desired.
1T Is therefore becoming loss and
less likely that countries will be per-
mitted In the future to work out their
own salvation through disorder and
revolution. as mas nave been the case
during the past century with some OF
the South American countries. Under
modern conditions countries must de-
wise some method of government UNI
der which peace Will be maintained
or they will have to submit to foreign
control.
TIL. question naturally presents it
self-ftow do these considerations af-
feet the present political situation in
China?
China is a country which has for
centuries boon accustomed to auto
cratic rule. The intelligence Of tho
great mass of it's people is not high.
owing to the lack of schools Tho
Chinese have never been accorded
much participation In the work Of gov.
eminent. The result Is that the politi-
cal capacity OF the Chinese people is
not large The change from autocratic
to republican government, made four
years ago. was too violent to permit
the entertainment of any very strong
hopes of its immediate success Had
the Using dynasty not been an alien
rule which 1t had long been the wish
OF the Chinese people to overthrow,
there can be little doubt that it would
have been better to retain the dynasty
in power and gradually to introduce
constitutional government in accord
ance with the plans outlined by the
commission appointed for this purpose
But the hatred OF alien rule made this
impossible. and the establishment OF
a republic seemed at the time of the
overthrow of the Manchus TO be the
only alternative available.
GREAT PROBLEM IN CHINA
STILL Is UNSOByED
1T can not. therefore, be doubted
that China has during the last few
years been attempting to introduce
constitutional government under lcss
favorable auspices than would have
been the case had there been royal
family present which the people re-
garded with respect, and to which they
we're loyal. The great problem of the
still to be unsolved. The present ar
rangement can not be regarded as sat
isfactory. When the present President
lays down the cares of Office there is
great danger that the difficulties which
are usually incident to the succession
In countries conditions as is China will
present themselves The attempt TO
eolve these difficulties may lead to dis
orders which, " long continued. may
seriously imperil the independence of
the country.
What under these conditions should
be the attitude of those who have the
welfare OF China at heart? Should they
advocate the continuance OF the repub-
lie, or should they propose the estab-
lishment Of a monarchy?
These are difficult questions to an
swer. 1t is, of course, not susceptible
OF doubt that a monarchy is better
suited than a republic to China. China's
history and traditions, her social and
economic conditions. her relations with
foreign powers all make 1t probable
that the country would develop that
constitutional government which it
must develop If II is to preserve it.
independence as state, more easily
as monarchy than as a republic
But II Is to be remembered that the
change from a republic to monarchy
can be successfully made only on the
following conditions:
First. That the change does not
meet with such opposition either on
the part of the Chinese people or of
foreign powers as will lead to the re-
currence OF the disorders which the
present republican government has
successfully put down. The present
peaceful conditions OF the country
should on no account be mperled.
Second The change from republic
to monarchy would be of little avail
il the law of succession Is not so fixed
that there Will be no doubt as to the
successor. The succession should not
be left to the crown to determine for