New-York tribune., 1917-10-28

the fight Of New China and cannot De
permanently put down.
"What the South wants IL only con
stitutional government. The law must
be observed II China is to exist as
nation. II cannot be permitted that
military men who object to the iorm OF
the law for any reason should apoiish
IL by force. II one party does IL an
other can, too, and then there snail De
nothing but anarchy in China. 49,,
"And that Ia the situation now. Inc
men now holding high office in Peking'
from Premier Tuan Chi-jui down to de-
partment assistants, are either mon
archists or those who took part In the
recent revolt against President Ii be
cause of his stand for constitutional
ism. They are men who wear the garD
of liberalism, but really are reaction
aries.
"If they were competent and honest
men it would not so much matter, but
they are not. If they continue in office
China's prospect is not bright. IL Will
always be as 1t is now, poor and cor
rupt, with no possibility Of sensible rt
form. From them certainly no real re-
forms can be expected. They will per-
petuate the control Of the military
party by increasing the number Of Of
ficeholders from that party. Take our
annual appropriations in the last Few
years-60 per cent for the army alone.
Can any nation parallel that-even
nation with an efficient armyY
Puts Internal Fight First
"That is why we are putting our
internal fight against militarism and
autocracy above the external fight. it
Is for the men in Peking to say whether
there shall be internal peace and
real contribution to the Allies cause.
They can suppress the South by force
perhaps, but it will take time and
money and the lives Of many men. II
they admit the illegality of their past
acts and offer a compromise, we can
unite. But if, because of their support
from foreign powers, they are AFRO
CANT and prefer to fight it out, they
will hurt not only China, but the AL
lies and the world.
"But on no account can 1t be said
that we of the South are deliberately
helping Germany or that we want TO
do anything else than to help in the
fight against its menace. 1t Is true
that because of the German propa-
ganda, Whlch was so SIronR mere d.
the beginning of the war many OF
the Chinese saw only the German point
Of view. But the Allies have turned
their attention this way in the last
year, and their publications and the
action of America and other former
neutrals have convinced the majority
Of tho Chinese that China's place IS
in the war and not with the neutrals.'
War on Peking Unlikely
Under the leadership of men like Dr.
WI strong efforts are now being made
for a compromise. The Southerners
demand a genuine parliament and a
representative cabinet. in return for
which they will cancel their declara-
ton of independence and join in the
war plans, principally by mobilizinG
labor battalions for use behind the
lines in Europe.
Under any circumstances, however
an active military campaign by the
South against Peking is unlikely
Whatever it's motives might be. such
action would be construed as help to
the Ger raj Powers and would alienate
foreign opinion. That the Canton lead
ers do not want to do. To that extent
they have been outman9uvred by Tuan
Chi-iui's hurried declaration OF war.