CHINA'S FREEDOM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1336, 13 January 1912, Page 13

CHINA'S FREEDOM.

THE OLD ORDER CHANGETH. _ A COLD QUECELESS POPULACE. Writing from Shaaghii on December 17 the correspondent of tho Sydney "Daily Telegraph" states: Tong Shao Yi arrived this morning with all tho pomp and circumstanco which would a year ago have impressed all Chinese, but which now fills the newly-iledged KepuLlicans with disgust. Tong camo to town on a chartcrel steamer, with a retinue of 50 people, and it is the retinuo which makes tho ltepublicaus of Shanghai snort witli scorn. In tho new order of things relics of the old stylo of officialism aro "taboo," and the coimug of Tong in the full panoply of .Manchu extravagance prejuuices tneu' immensely, notwithstanding lie is a Cantonese. From the point oi view of expense the Republican Government regards tho iniiiction of half a hundred "hangers-on" with anything but pleasure, lor while here long and his followers aro their guests. "Whafs he want witi that army? said Went Sung Yao, Under-Sccretnry for lorfign All'airs, yesterday. ."Like his impertinence to como hero and flaunt extravagance in our face," and tho new Minister of tho new Government spluttered aud fumed as he strode the room, telegram in hand. It is hardly a year since this very sanio Went bung lao travelled from Lhassa with a retinue of 300, including some troop 3 as a. bodyguard. But the spirit of tho now era lins now entered liis bones. Ho travels about most unostentatiously. 110 even docs not own a carriage, but does his travelling in rickshaw, with one puller at that. He for one l>olicve.s in being thorough in what he takes up, and invariably declines a lift in the motor-car of his colleague, Wu Ting Fang, preferring to show his penitence, for errors ho uiadb in the past in participating m official splendours which have done so mucli to impoverish tho people of this country by adhering to a humble manbulled vehicle. A Cool Wclcomc. long's welcome was not a warm one. Largo crowds assembled to inspect this relic of other days, and spcculato as to his chances of saving tho dynasty, out apart from that, made no motion to indicate to him that they were at all impressed with his self-satisfied importance. Tong Shao Yi looked disappointed. Instead of genuflections nearly bringing tho heads of the people to the pavement, as in tho olden days, he found a quoucless populace, cap on head, regarding liim with apparent? indifference, ilo was the oiily ono to bow and scrape as he inado his way from the wharf to a motor-car in waiting. His impressions of the changed character of tho people since tho white flag of the revolution has been flying would-surely bo worth money to obtainBut Tong will not speak. Could Yuan Shih Ivai havo but understood what his peace plenipotentiary has' suddenly had brought nomo to him by his landing in Shanghai, it is certain he would never havo lent himself to tho effort to lestoro the Manehus. Yuan Shih Kai has proved beyond dispute that tho past two years' retirement has lost him his knowledge of his own people. Ho has failed to appreciate the change in their thought and character. Ivo doubt from the first ho regarded the revolutionary movement as one of those easily put down. It is certain ho thought that immediately 1m came forward those whom. he regarded as blatant, audacious leaders of tho revolt would fall flat on their backs with tho very awo of his presence, and that tlio bottom would fall out of their movement.. The contrary has happened, and the strenuous attitude of Yuan has inspired tho opposition more than anything elso Tho thoughtful sacrifices of tho liegent, and other Manehus which ho has mado, ostensiuly in response to tho public clamour were also prompted by that human desiro for revengo which actuates a Chinese perhaps moro than anv Occidental. Yuan saw his opportunity to get rid of tlio man who, put him out-of office with such contumely, nnd was only too delighted to take it. Now ho can gloat ovor t jo fallen as absolute controller of their destinies. Kven his enemies do not blame him for gkating, though at the same fame llicy will do their utmost to oust him unless he soos tho error of his flnr JS in " 10 P°P ulfl r movement for the abolition ot th.o xnunaiclij.

A Matter of Expediency, Yuan's personal predilections run to monarchal government, but ho might bo convinced it is better to throw in his lot with tho new cause than plunge the country in a civil «ar. Witt the hope that ho might go so for, the delegates who went to banking a day or two ago determined to immediately elect J)r. Sun Yat Sen as President held their hand, and left the olhce for Yuan if ho will take

That it is necessary to put a period to the lighting as scon as possible is becoming more and more apparent every cay. Anarchy of the worst kind prevails in many places, simply because in the old days the police force was never properly organised, corruption among tho officials diverting the funds for that purpose to their own pockets. Tho result is row that robbers have the upper hand, and are running whole, districts. Near Pakhoi the country is being overrun with different factions of lawless people, houses aro looted, women ravished, and safety only can be found in foreign houses, where women and girls cry by hundreds before-the doors for protection.

In Kiangsu province, across the river from Nanking, an almost similar state prevails, and with the coming winter tho conditions will be intensified, as this is the area whero famine will bo most intense. The step from this state to an assault upon foreign property and life is a short and easy one, and may be ex r pectcd to bo taken at any time. Neither the revolutionaries nor anyone elso can stay violence due to starvation iu' a million Gtomachs. Though the foreigners are now doing their utmost to collect funds to provide work and food for the helpless, the response is not very large. Up the Ynngtsze River towards Hankow similar conditions prevail, but thero is more order. Hundreds of thousands have beon burnt or driven out of their homes are simply perishing in the cold for want of food and shelter. Unless peace is brought about so as to permit of orderly government and relief oeing introduced, the situation must be extremely bad before tho end of February. The revolutionaries try to tho utmost extent to maintain order in those cities they take over, but their force is not large enough to police whole territories.

German Unpopularity. To make matters worse, there is already an anti-foreign sentiment gaining headway owing to the Germans supplying the" Imperialists with munitions of war. Already a boycott is spoken of, and will surely be carried on when tranquillity is restored. They have mortally offended the revolutionaries by the oxtent of their trade. Tho Germans' efforts to explain that the arms now coming forward were ordered More the revolution. and are not for delivery, are futile in view of tho fact that the agents of the revolutionaries constantly report that ■ cargoes arc being delivered. Germany, too, has shown a strong Jfanchu bias. The recent action of the local Consul in demanding an apology for the stoppage of a German transport on the way to Hankow, in addition to a free passago for all German ships, has not done anything to mend matters. One of the most aggressive competitors in inciting the Chinese against tho Germans is Japan. Daily their newspapers make some allusion or other to Germany's efforts on the J[anohu behalf but tho Chinese do not look upon this attitude in the light that Japan desires. Tho Chinese are moro suspicious of Japan, perhaps, than any other nation, and generally it is believed that Japan wishes to make trouble for Germany in order to draw attention from _ herself whilst she plays a game she has in view. But the Chinese have eyes for them both and a few more besides, and are busy following the advice of Captain Cuttle to, "when found, make n note of." Persistent reports are afloat that Japan I»oks for an excuse to seize Manchuria, whilst Hussia aims at either Tibet or Mongolia, or both. But in regard to tho former territory, Great Britain taking time by the forelock to place Indian troops near at hand. I'otli America and Great Britain are standing strictly neutral, whilst this revolution ia progressing, ajid if any other Powers try bjr > toijrerj to #t*j> in. and. grab com# Cb>

neso pic, whilst the others are not looking. there will bo serious trouble. Tho only foar revolutionaries havo is thut (hero may bo foreign interference. They rightly or wrongly look for it. If they defeat the Manehus Ihty foar the Manehus will, on tho evo of their annihilation as a power in tho land, baud over the territory to Japan or Russia, in return for bupport. Whilst the other nations are not lively (o toierato such a thing, tho revolutionaries cannot get the idea out of tlieir heads. They are ready to Iwlievo Yuan Shih Kai is sufficiently traitorous to engineer any steps lilto that as a last uosouree, or at least threaten it to secure his ends.