The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-22
TASK FOR THE PRO
N
Mr.. Joseph I. c. Clarke on Yuan and
On Jspsn's Attitude.

To THE EDITOR or II SuN-Sr:
Surely that prince of suave advocates OF
China Professor jerks Is losing his fine
balance az a debater when his recent
structures on MFR. Cunlife-O Owens article
partake OF a recklessness OF invective
and l~ooeeness of statement that he would
be the first to reprehend In others.
Where. indeed. could he have found In
the Japanese press such a motif as thai
which ne puts in quotation marks:
yuan Ia Japan's enemy he must be got
rid Of at all costs? No such mini
Believe me. II Yuan Il to be despatched
"at all costs II will be at the n
Of the Chinese themselves. In japan
when I was there I found Yuan In hign
regard. He was looked on as the shrewd
embodiment Of China's oficial class n
no one talked Of getting rid OF him. the
true burden of tho Japanese press. as
addressed to China, IL TRADE. brothers,
trade, and keep the peace in China while
Europe IL at war" -
Since my visit no Chinaman mas
shown at the front who could take
Yuan's place. although his attitude on
Chino-Japaneee questions has left mucn
to be desired from the standpoint OF
Japan. What I found in China was a
shrewd dictator with ofhcial China In the
hollow Of his hand. busy recognising the
public service. strangling the young re-
public and summarily dieposing OF CHI
nese who disagreed with him. Fear
of assassinatio kept him close within
his palace In the Forbidden City. l gave
II as my opinion that he was even then
nursing the project Of becoming EN-
peror from many unmistakable signs as
they appeared to me, and the access OF
vanity In the old man which would ADD
a peacock feather to his many decora,
lions has since, as We all know. r1pened
into realisation or near realization.
As Americans may look at this. II IS
%lamentable for its los opportunity OF
building UP a republic in the Far East.
but II the Chinese republicans OF San
Francisco happen to be taking measures
with the view Of overthrowfng Yuan, or
revoiutionists al Shanghai are nrtne
bombs before a monarchicaI
Office. why insist that Japan 10 back OF
such pitiful protest?
The recent execution of Nan Yum. who
was said to advocate a restoration OF
ex-Emperor Hsuan Ting. Is proof that
Yuan will not allow anything Chinese
to stand in his way hat death can be
asked to remove. Chinese revolutionists
therefore know the penalty II they fail,
once started but they are y fatalistic
| race, and the prospect Of the block or q
bullet will scarcely intimidate them.
With manifold symptoms Of unrest al
| home, IL IL not weak Of Professor Jenks
to rail at all the Alies-Eneiand
France. Italy. Russia, with ~Japan-And
even at Germany IN his explanation OF
the difficulties in China's path. and viii
Yuan even now trying on imperial robes
Of his own ordering? Surely II helps
little to characterize the amiable efforts
of Mr.. Cunliffe-Owen and others ia
clarity the situation az connections
manufactured out of whole cloth by con-
fessedly prejudiced writer's"
Tho professor surely takes a Lowell
level in thus assailing those who dis
agree with him. while his true task
might be the thinking out OF some mas
terly scheme for solidifying the ground
under Yuan's feet and bringing light e
the dark spots in Chira's future. How
can China become what the United States
and all the trading Powers desire Il
physical control Of tho market We arr
seeking is to be divided between Yuan
active police m a seditious mob?
JOSEPH I. c. CLARKE.
NEW YORK. December 81.