New-York tribune., 1921-08-14

where except IN tno tOpSytuTVyuoiH OIL OnlHa
could such reversal of the natural order of
things be possible?
In the majestic pavions Of the Purple
City, where the sixteen-year- Son of
Heaven receives the homage Of the shriveled
remains of what was only few years age
probably the most gorgeous court in the
world, there is quaking now with the advent
of summer For summer is the season of
political unrest in China, and with unrest
come always whispered rumors of plots to
restore the Manchu rulers.
There are such rumors now. The date for
the restoration, one hears in the teashops Of
the poor and the feassing halls of the mighty,
has been fixed. The pseudo military powers
that be have been holding conference, making
and unmaking intrigue, threatening and
maneuvering toward battle. Out of the tur-
moil, one hears, will come a monarchy for
the third time in ten years.
There is ground for the rumors. The most
powerful military man in the country, the ex-
bandit Governor of the Manchurian provinces,
Chang Tso-lin, is generally accepted to be a
monarchist. And since he emerged victorious
in the civil war year ago, his word is prac-
tically decisive. SO also is the President,
Hsu Shih-chang, a monarchist If there is
anything anomalous in a republican presi-
dent being a monarchist in his sympathies,
that, too, is merely China. And certainly
majority of the older officials are monarchst
at heart.
There is reason, then, for the Manchu court
to quake and to send emissaries to the lega-
tions asking the representatives of foreign
powers to use their personal and official IN
fuence to prevent the Emperor from being
put back on the throne.
The court has had experience of restora-
tions 1t has aching memories Of the nine
day fiasco monarchy of 1917, when the trucu-
lent Chang Hsun-also ex-bandt-who had
entered Peking victorious at the head of his
famous pigtaed troops after another sum-
mer skrmish awoke the sleeping boy Hsuan
Tung in the middle of tremulous June night,
marched him through the silent moonlt court
yards to the throne room and proclaimed him
ruler of the Middle Kingdom, the while the
frightened hid wept petulantly at being
pulled out cf his bed and confronted with all
days later the republican troops marched into
Pekng and the boy and his court awaited
piteously their dispatch. 1t never came, for
variety of reasons, chief of which that
those who would have had to pass sentence
were all implicated in the conspiracy; but the
experience put terror into the imperial hearts.
Even in China, though rulers propose peo-
ple dispose, and for better worse the ma
jority of those Chinese who constitute public
opinion want no restoration. A republic they
have not assuredly, and the meaning of re-
public they may not understand nor be fitted
for its responsibilities, but none the less they
want no more Of monarchy, least Of all rule by
an alien dynasty. The future may hold reaction
and the chaos Of few more years, such as
these ten since the republic proclaimed,
may bring a reversion to monarchy and sta
bility, but now, at least, any attempt to foist
an emperor on the Chinese is an invitation to
disaster. AS we'll as anybody else do the
Manchus themselves realize this.
Nor have they any stomach for the use of
n their dynasty as football of politics. A
2 football it conveniently makes. 1t is some
thing to intrigue with, inversely and oblquely.
as an Oriental intrjgues. 1t is a potent weapon
IN the execution of the double-cross. A gen
eral, say, emerges out Of the military welter
Of overpowering strength. He becomes an
object Of terror to the opposition party. He
is even more an object OF terror to his own
party. Balance Of power is carried out to its
most delicate niceties in China. Even ones
allies must not be too strong The word is
whispered to tho general by other generals
that the time is propitious for the solution OF
Chinas problem, for the consolidation of their
own strength; that time has come, in other
words, for restoration. Who more fitted thar
he to lead, he with his power and his wisdom
and his glory? And his shall be the power be
hind the throne.
The abandonment is sweet. Strong OF will
and discerning Of discretion Is he who ressts
He Is given guarantees of support He cast!
the die, there il monarchy. Whercupon aflj
and enemy ali1e, proclaiming 10 the people b,
The spirits of their ancestors their Loyalty
TO the people, raise the gtandards Of the re
public, cast out the u>urpcr and rcstore ths
rule of The bal hsjnX-.hc race of the hun
drcd names. And the general, he Of over
sgeening military strcngth, feared alike p,
political friend and foe. Is shorn of hts army
his fortN,e and his reputation, reicgnted u