THE REVOLUTIONISTS' AIMS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1259, 14 October 1911, Page 5

THE REVOLUTIONISTS' AIMS.

REPUBLIC TO BE ESTABLISHED. Many attempts have been made by tho Chinese to rid their country of its Manchu conquerors. China, indeed, has been well described as the classic ground of revolutions. And as for rebellions, they havo been innumerable. Too often tho people have had no other means of directing attention to their grievances than by armed uprisings against (ho aggressions of despotic rulers. "The benevolence of tho Emperor," writes Mr. A. R. Colquhoun, describing the system of government in his "China in Transformation," "when filtered down through nine grades of officials, may be turned to vexation and other tyranny when it reaches tho last rank, which is in contact with tho people." This taking of the law info their own hands has, however, proved a cruel and often disastrous remedy for grievances. The Revolutionary or Republican party has became one of the most important political organisations in the Empire. It owes its existence to Dr. "i'un Yat Sen. Twelve years ago tho doctor's followers wero wild adventurers from different quarters, not a few Japanese being among their number. The chief strength of the party lay in tho lower classes—in tho various secret societies. In 1900, when the party attempted a rising at Hankau, it had in its ranks for tho first time men of eminent learning. Since that year it has steadily gained strength by the voluntary adherence of men of ability and position. Tho aims of the Revolutionary party are thus described by its leader:— "Tho foremost object of our party is to ensure entiro political freedom by overthrowing tho present Government, and establishing a republic in' its stead. Tho pernicious tradition of the official world and tho evil influence of the Court can only bo swept away by a revolution. A constitution under tho present rogimo would bo worse than useless, sinco the old abuses would continue, with o mock Parliament at its back. A radical change is ahsolulely necessary, for (.ho old and the now aro irreconcilable—ono must'l)o tho victim. . . . It has been argued by tho Constitutional Monarchists that a revolution means a disturbance which would inevitably bring foreitni interference, and the instance of tho Tai-ping rebellion is often quoted. But tho failuro of the Taiping rebellion was caused by their lack of higher inspiration, their ignorance, and their cruelty. We revolutionists will take rare not to repeat their mistakes. f iirmly bclicvo that if a rising be solely directed ngainst the Government, fully respecting the right and safety of the' foreign community in China, a.nd avoiding to do any harm to commerce, no foreign Power will interfere. . . . Once the Government, is overthrown, reorganisation would bo n. comparatively easy task. All the foolish restrictions of trade would bo removed, and tho country would soen recover from its economic distress, and wo bolievo that tho Powers would want no more than to ask us (o acknowledge all tho obligations entered upon bv the present Government."