New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-08

who understands China much oeuei
than he. He lived in China, right
among the Chinese-not in foreign
conce.sion-and for many, many years
In the revolution of 1911, which over
threw the Manchu dynasty. he was IN
the centre of the stage, in hanSau ana
Wu-chang, where it started. IL was ]"
those stormy days that he came 10
lnow President Ii Yuan-hung person
ally and had the opportunity OF study
inc him at close range. He is an in
innate friend Of Ii Lieh-chun ana
other Republican eladers OF Southern
China.
dyes. I read Of the restoration OF
Hsuan T'ung to the throne" said ne
at is just one act in the same DID,
long drawn-out drama.
ats first scene was staged at Han
kau, Wuchang and Hangyang and the
curtain went up on it in October, 1911
A good many people thought that 1t
went through its fifth act when Yuan
fim-Aammed the TEACHING dynasty out
Of the dragon throne. But to some OF
us who watched the drama the tnale
was not quite satisfying sunset
was not robed with the wonted brocade
of colors that should mark the setting
of the three hundred year reign OF
great dynasty. We then all felt that
a good deal more blood would be shed
before the imperial rule would be over
and the republic be foundationed
properly.
"Chang Hsun, according to the Pek-
ing reports, seems TO be debating 10
China with Emperor Hsuan Tung back
upon the throne. II is the one great
play Chang is enacting just now
Nothing more. II won't last. lie saw
the supreme chance of his life IN the
.trifo between the North and the
South and took it. It's Chang's one
brief little tragedy-or comedy, per-
hans. The Tsung- she-tang, as the Pro-
Imperialists are called, hasn't the
magic Of holding China and keeping It,
"A casual glance at their leaders
would chill ones hopes. There Is
Sheng yum, there is Chang Hsun' and
Shi LANG and Kuang Yuwei-one ana
all are men Of the past even from the
purely Chinese standard. And they
have in the present crisis all the ap-
pearance Of the old men singing 'heir
savage swan-song.
ain the shutdown days Of the sun
dynasty, the last Emperor OF the line
called out to the world, in the bitter
ness of his imperial soul; -Four and
twenty provinces and not single
loyal soul?" Well, there were two men
Who answered the imperial call, as we
all know. And to-day Hsu Shih-chang
and Chang Hsun seem to be embroider-
inc the last days of the Manchu
dynasty. -,
"a few years ago was talking with
the late Hwang Hsing. the colleague OF
Sun Yat-sen and one of the authors OF
the Chinese Republic. II was at the
time when Yuan Shih-Kai was trying to
ascend the throne. Hwang Hsing told
me that Yuan's assn option OF the I'M
nerial dignity is tie best thing which
could possibly hap zen TO the cause OF
the republican China, for the reason
that the republicans of the South can
then rise against Yuan in the fairest
name in the world-namely, popular
liberty against autocracy, and the
South would command the sympathy
and support Of the people Of China at
large. He was right. Yuan's fall
began the moment he aspired to the
imperial yellow.
"Now, II Chang Hsun were to or
ranize a Cabinet under the premier
ship Of Hsu Shih-chang and launch
new government, backed by the mill
tarv faction OF the North, promising
the people a new Parliament, he would
have an excellent chance of achieving
something. For TO the majority OF the
! Chinese people at the present time IL
( does not make much difference whether
( IN. South or the North IS IN power so
long as they have a republican form
/ ~ Government. But TO restore the
Manchu dynasty. that is quite another
thing. A. oro., of
tho four characters 'Tao-Man: Hsing-
Han, Down with the Manchu: Up alott
/ With the Hand upon the people at
large. and more especially on the spirit
Of the republican army OF l9ll' know
one thing: For the Manchu to rise
| again and rule over China is one OF
/ those things which can never be- mat
is all. Not for long, anyway.
"Whnt is the attitude OF Japan
toward the present political chaos IN
/ China? Well, the government VIII
doubtless maintain the policy OF non
/ Interference as usual. There IS no
other way for it 10 act. With the
japanese people, that is quite ahothet
/ story. Americans seem to think thaI
Japan is pulling all sorts OF wires De
! hind the political disorder IN China.
All that comes from confusing the
Jspanese government with the Jopa-
nese people. 49,. -.
There is not a single political dis
! turbance in China which does not al
feet the people Of Japan more or less
seriously. There are number OF
/ Japanese this very day who are de-
voting their treasures and thcir very
/ live. 10 the cause Of the Southern Re
publieans. On the other hand. there
are not a few people In Japan who are
risking their precious heads FOR the
sake Of the Chinese Imperialists.