THE CHINESE REVOLUTION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1299, 30 November 1911, Page 4

THE CHINESE REVOLUTION.

ITS INNER HISTORY. By F. A. M'Kcnzic, in the "Daily Mail." China is the classic land of revolt. There is rarely a decade without oneserious uprising. Never, however, in our (ime lias lliero been anything to compare villi Ihu present rebellion. The. Boxer ihovompiil, Iho heft known of modern disturbances, was wholly different in origin, plan?, and purpose; it wis created by reactionaries, fostered by the blindest superstition, and purposed to drive foreigners out of the Empire. The rebellion to-day is started by the group that led the young Emperor to disaster in ]S9S; its aim is reform; it is financed by a widespread organisation of Chinese living abroad; and it is backed by modern trained troops and I>y mauy young men educated in Europe nnd America. It has spread rapidly because of careful organisation, and general resentment at the feebleness of the Government, and because of famine, floods, and distress in j\lid-China this autumn. A starving people is usually desperate. To < understand tho crisis one must go Kick. Three hundred years ago China, was torn by another rebellion, and the Government invited tho Manchu Tartars -fierce fighting men from tho north—to send an army to crush the revolt. They did. Then, uninvited, they advanced furflier and occupied Peking. Arrived there, they decided that they might as well place one of themselves on the throne. A Manchu has reign over China over since. When the serious reform movement arose after the -var with Japan in lS9i the Manehus \vew> found in opposition. Many Manchu officials were and are keen reformers, but the Manchu iuHssace as a whole lias been for reaction. The Manehus fought the coming of a Chinese Parliament, tho creation of a responsible Cabinet, and the nffectivo reorganisation of internal government. The Manehus were responsible foi the driving into exile of the greatest administrator in modern China—Yuan Sbi-ltai. A strong patriotism, an intense desire for reform, and a passionate enthusiasm for Western education sprang up among all ranks of (ho Chircse people. The curl) on progresi wa9 Manchu officialism. Men tnirucd from their visions of a modernised China to contemplate the mummeries of the doings in tho Forbidden City, or tho carefully-guarded privileges of the Royal Astronomers, the Banner- Battalions, the Imperial Clan Court, and the like. . The Manchu rulers have been in the unfortunate position tho past few years of men who could do no right. They were blamed for slowness in reform. But often enough what they tried to do counted against, them. '■ ' I How the Revolution Began. The hatred of the people for the Manehus led to the spread of a revolutionary group known sometimes as the Chinese Empire Reform Association. When, in IS9B, the young ' Chinese Emperor, after adopting" many extreme suggestions for Westernising China, was arrested and deprivtid of power by the old EmpressDowager, several of his advisers were executed. Two of tho chief of them, however, escaped—Kang Yu-wei, the great-, est reformer of all, and Lcong Kai-cheu, one of his principal lieutenants. They had many sympathisers among Chinese abroad, and gradually they built up their society-in. the Straits Settlements, in .Tapan, in' Canada, and America, and even arcong the Chinese in London. In time they were joined by an able and strenuous young man, a doctor by profession, Sun Yat-sen, who soon became leader of all. '"-' Tho story of the conspiracies of these threo would make an amazing romance if it could be written. All the world knows how on one occasion Sun Yat-sen was kidnapped by tho Chinese authorities in Portland Place, London. Tho tliTee allied themselves with many of the secret societies .which undermine China. Soon' after Iho r.Boxer-. l'isinjj they began a'.steady, propaganda within the Empire which all the of the Government could not prevent. They got hold of the young .'Chinese sent abroad to bo educated and imbued them with their teaching. After tho Japanese war, when the , Japanese 1 had . many arms to . dispose of, they bought enormous quantities and smuggled them in to their sympathisers. So far back as five years ago Sun enlisted the support of a powerful financial group in New York. The revolutionists found their main strength in. the south of China. Their •first purpose was to' declare a South China. Republic, leaving the north for a .'more convenient opportunity. In 1907, believing tho time to be ripe, they attempted, to rouse the country.- They disastrously failed! Undismayed, they resolved patiently to wait. ; the Great Opportunity. ' Some weeks ago it became apparent that their hour was coining. Thero was famine in many parts. In the province of Kiangsu there came serious.disasters from heavy rains, which broko down tho dykes and Hooded cultivated lands. Men muttered that it was all the fault of the officials, who had not attended to their duties. Pekinjj cashiered the officials, but the discontent grew. In the province of Rzechuau (ho inhabitants rose in revolt hocause of the railway schemes of tho Government. At ■ first this seemed to bo a. "China, for the Chineso" demonstration and a protest against allowing foreign money and foreign influence to enter tho province. Troops were sent to quell the. disturbances. Some of the troops joined the rioters. Telegraph wires were cut. A groat official, Tuan Fang, was dispatched from Peking with an army of secretaries and many modern trained soldiars. Tuan Fang would soon put things right. Bui even while Tuan Fang was on the way the revolt spread like a fire in an August straw-stack. . Oddly 'enough, it was the United Slates Government which obtained the first real light on the situation. In the middle of .September it was stated in Washington that the Szechuan rising was the start of a carefully planned rebellion. So itprovcd to be. Kong Yu-wei was in Tokio, moving from there, Sim Yiit-sen was directing operations, and before the world had realised that anything; serious was the mutter Chiaa was in flames.

Whnt next? Great ravolta often arise in China, but for several bund-red years no revolt has permanently succeeded. The return of Yuan to active power is a serious Mow to the revolutionists. The new army .-worships Tna-a. He made it, and for years bis portrait hung in every bar-rack-rcom in the province of Pechil'i. Tho Government, 'following the usual plan, will riiake liberal concessions to progress. The great Viceroys and Governors are naturally averso u>'.following the lead of a non-official revolutionist—Dr. Sim. The hope of Peking "lies in Yuan, his influence, his prestige, and his known anJ sincere love of' progress.