Evening star., 1923-07-16
EAST IS EAST
By Frank III. Hedges :

the two chief topics Of conversation
among American and other foreign
residents of Peking. A newcomer, in
vited to dinheriat the home of some
friend or acquaintance, is amazed and
sorely puzzled as he hears queer Chi
'nese names banded about the table
and fellow guests, both men and
women, discussing in an Interested
and Intelligent manner the latest
change Of Office holders, the prospect
for this or that particular individual
orr clique to gain control Of the gov
'ernment or the likelihood or the OUT
break of new civil war in the re-
public. Then one or the guests no
tfces a new bit of porcelain or bro
| cade, asks the hostess where 1t was
bought and how much 1t cost, and
pronounces judgment as to whether
or not the purchase Is q bargain.
Once in awhile. there may be men
tion"of racing. tennis or some other
sport, while occasionally, but only
occasionally, other subjects intrude
for few minutes.
The game of politics as played in
China is one of the most fascinating
spectacles the world affords. 1t is
a puzzle of the first magnitude. 1t
is quite as much g. puzzle to the
Chinese himself as to the observant
American, save that Chinese names
stick better in his well trained mem
ory. Chaos seems weak word in
describing the situation that usually
prevails politically:
It is chaos, but it is also evolution,
and what could be of greater interest
than to see evolution close up? When
the latest political developments are
clearly earmarked as part of this
process of evolution Of the evolution
Of an old and established order
through turmoil and disruption into
new order; when they are so ear
marked they are easy to follow, but
this Is not often the case. Now
and again a situation arises in which
the opposing factions are definitely
and progress. A few words inserted
in the cablegrams sent to America
then make the situation clear in this
country also, and the United States
at large Is enabled to follow the
struggle taking place in China.
Chinese politics are dramatic, but
no critic would ever award the laurel
wreath to them. There are too many
distracting side plots which divert at
tention and interrupt the continuity
of the central plet. the comparatively
understandable plot of evolution.
They cannot be discounted. for over
on the side of the stage the action
taking place Will determine which of
that particular group of actors is to-
move into the center and assume a
role in the major drama. The diff
Guilty for the observer lies in forcing
himself TO remember that after all
side issue is only, side issue and
not to be confused with the dominant
movement in which he is most in
terested, most interested because IL
is the true dramatic action; Of China
today that is determining the China
of tomorrow.
the stuff of which politics in China
are made. Seldom, indeed, does what
we of America call an issue interfere.
The anti-Japanese agitation is an is-
sue, the only truly national issue the
country has felt since 1917, but 1t
stands almost alone. Strong armies,
much money and even stronger in
dividualS would be necessary to the
survival of any political clique that
publicly declared itself pro-Japahese
Armies come first in Importance
because with them as an instrument
the warrior politician can acquire the
money he coVetS, but it requires q
strong man with a long purse to hold
the loyalty of his coolie-soldiers.
Nearly every change made in office
holders has been possible because the
militarist then controlling the capital
willed or was willing. The president
of the republic is now refugee under
the protection of the British flag be-
the office for himself. This same
president was placed in office a year
ago because the general who had just
captured Peking desired it. The
partly eclipsed by that of 1.-The mar
shall, which explains the change.
Money is not only a means. but Ii
is the goal of too many politicians
in China. They seek control of the
government because with that. con-
troll go the proceeds of foreign loans.
certain tax receipts and the revenue
from certain public utilities. .r
With a people not trained in party
government. in following a political
issue, it is but natural that the fig
ure of the political leader should
transcend in Importance any platform
that he may draw up. It is the man,
not the issue, that. gains adherents.
money and personalities. are the side
shows. They are the weapons of the
Ireactionaries, the weapons with which
! they fight each other to see who shall
gain a part in the major drama. And
the part that the victor gains Is that
of the villain of, the piece. He still
must play his rolein the center of the
stage, and playing opposite him is the
hero. the man or little group of men
actuated by true patriotism who are
tTylHs " IcbuHu thCli ia
ton into a great power. The theme
Is the old against the new. the evo-
luton of the past into the present.
There are men in China with public
spirit and broad vision, forgetful of
self and of personal gain. Their
ranks are increasing, slowly but
steadily. Not for one minute is 1t
said here that these men represent
the western world, that they seek to
duplicate America in China, but they
a 20 nf iy,o
and of the new world in the rearing
place by the side of this country: of
where all are equal, but not Identical.
The drama of China's evolution is
perhaps the most interesting. fas-
cinating and absorbing spectacle the
world offers today. What the next
act, the next scene, may present, is
unknown. The two forces, reaction
each other and before the curtain
the plot is desperately tangled and
confused. but it is doubtful If the
deus ex machina, the ''god from the
tervention, would be able to descend
to the stage and unsnarl the COM
plications. 1t is quite possible that
instead of aiding 1t would merely
offer one more side show and so de-
actors themselves can carry on sue
cessfully. Substitution is Impossible
in evolution. - .