The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-31
Governments Have Little Con.
troll Over the People.
GOOD LEADERS ARE SCARCE
Crimes of Every Kind Are Be.
ing Committed.
Christianity, However, Flour
ishes as Never Before.

-FOUR nOn0FeQ mllllOn people pTdC-
tically without a central government:
burning, robbery. kidnapping.
pillage, systematic looting, spreading
misery and desolation over large
areas-this is the chaotic condition
China is in today, according to the
Rev. w. S. Bissonnette, who has re-
turned to Topeka after serving fifteen
years as a missionary of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church, in Foochow,
South China.
A de facto republican government
at Pekin, headed by President Hsu,
has a recognized delegation at the
peace conference and another repub-
lican government at Canton, with
parliament. represents a number of
southern provinces which seeded
from the north when President Ii, in
1915. dissolved the parliament under
pressure from military clique in
Pekin. But neither government has
much authority in the country at
large, the missionary declares. The
provinces are ruled, or rather ex-
plotted. by military governors, who
acknowledge the authority of Pekin
or Canton, according to their political
interests.
Leaders Are Scarce.
THE present weakness and disor-
ganization." says the Rev. Mr.. Bis
sonnette, ARE due to the sudden at
tempt to adopt a democratic form of
government after ages of absolutism.
The period of transition has been
marked by the conspicuous failure of
leadership among public men. Moral
standards in public service have been
entirely lacking or broken down be-
fore opposition"
The revolution of 1911 drove thou
sa nds of the old corrupt Manchu rul-
ers out of office and they were re-
placed largely by new men, many of
whom were educated in Japan. There
are some capable and we'll meaning
men among these new officials but
they failed to lift the morale of the
public administration as a whole and
in some cases showed themselves more
corrupt and incompetent than the old
mandarins. A reaction later drove
them out of office and President Yuan
dissolved parliament and governed by
decree. The failure of the higher po-
litical leaders has been more conspic-
uous. The great Yuan. of vast ex-
perience as a soldier and administra-
tor. succumbed to a conservative re-
action, was tempted to assume the
power. fighting the spirit of demo
crazy.
How Trouble Started.
President Ii. who succeeded him
was a military man, loyal to repub-
lican principles but lacking in moral
courage and independence. Having
recalled parliament. which Yuan had
Illegally driven off, he began well, but
in a few months this policy collided
with the monarchial instinct OF the
military .chieftains. and Lii, under
! threats of force and fearing for his
life, dissolved parliament and resigned
in 1916. After cha otto interval
President Feng, successful general
took the office. He was a neutra
character, tainted by the old corrupt
influence of Chinese officialdom, and
suspected of engineering a big dea
! with the opium merchants OF Shang-
hal. President Hsu. the present ruler
who succeeded Feng in 1919, is ira
ditional type of the Chinese mandarin
with revolutionary tendencies. Hi:
election was merely the choice of the
northern military leaders. 1t is re.
! ported on good authority that he ha:
ordered the destruction of the remain
| ing stocks of opium. about 1.20(
chests. in the warehouses at Shanghai
THE hidden power in Chinese poll
sonnette. has been the northern gen
eral. Tuan Chi Fui. Controlling g
powerful army. he has made and un-
made presidents. parliaments and
cabinets; acted himself as premier
de facto president and cabinet secre-
" /
mercenary game, which has brought
his country to the verge of politica
| extinction.
Christianity Growing.
THE period of social disruption and
anarchy covering the last three years
! has seen the high tide of influence
and power of the Christian missionary
institution in China. The church ha.
grown rapidly and in one of the mos
| troubled districts-the Yeuping pre-
lecture of the Fukieu province-it.
growth has been wonderful People
have been murdered by the hundred!
| and scores of villages burned, yet the
| church has grown stronger.
| Yuan Shikai remarked not long be
fore his death that Confuejanism coult
/ not rescue China from her social anC
| political miseries. but the Christian
| Bible could. This consciousness i;
growing stronger among thinking
| Chinese as they see the crumblinl
| down of their ancient civilization anC
multitudes are knocking at the door
| of our schools and colleges wher'
moral leadership of the type needed
| by China in her present crisis is de
veloped in the young men /ant