THE NEW CHINA.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1419, 20 April 1912, Page 4

THE NEW CHINA.

An American journal reminds us that in our time "there is happening in China one of those world changes comparable only to the discovery of America, the Crusades, tho fall of Rome, the defeat of the Persians at Salamis"; -while the far-seeing New York Journal of Commerce describes it as "perhaps tho most remarkable event that has occurred since, with the coming of the Goths and Vandals, there passed away the Empire of Home. The installation of the first President of the Chinese Republic was complete; we are informed that there was a simple ceremonial in the presence of delegates from Nanking and Wuchang (representing the.Revolutionaries), from the Manehus, Mongolians, Mohammedans, and Tibetans; envoys from most of the proviuces, and the Army and Navy. The Legations were not represented, a circumstance that may be construed as showing a lack of confidence in Yuax-Shih-Kai, and not a want of confidence in the stability or permanence, of the Republic. The significance of this wide representation is that all the principal and most remote and diverse elements are agreed and united in the formation of a Republican Government, thus minimising the chances of subsequent secession or rebellion. It is a mistake to nsnumc that, the extinction of the Mnuchu dynasty v.p.!i ibn ultimate. .Aim of thj) rovolutioa. Itwatk.oa thai

| contrary, brought about by a growing and bitter hostility to, and n tlctermination to end, certain practices of Western civilisation. In a little over fifty years Jlussiu, France, Ormany, Japan, and Kngland have between them extorted from China no less than £200,000,000 in indemnity for wrongs and injuries the Chinese have perhaps unintentionally committed; and, in addition, the same Powers have in that period despoiled China of over sixty pi;r cent, of her territory. The once much-used phrase "the dismemberment of China" was therefore a very; grim fact, with still grimmer possibilities, and sufficient to arouse to determined action even a people so conservative and fatalistic as the Chinese. In view of these circumstances it is not _ difficult to I trace the origin and prime cause of the revolution. . During the last decade a great exodus of young and intelligent Chinese, estimated at no fewer than 100,000, took place to America and Europe. Of these many •returned imbued with Western' humanism, and with a knowledge of Western science and progress. They created newspapers wholesale, perhaps the most amazing feature and the most important factor in the awakening of China, for only fifteen years ago the Chinese, press was represented by the effete, solitary, and very occasional Peking Gazelle. Today there are no fewer than 300 dailies, many of them _ enjoying a wide circulation, wielding enormous power and commanding lns-go profits. They all preach the gospel of change, all are extremely nationalistic and against provincialism and sectionalism—conditions that have been the cause of China's misfortunes, and which were carefully fostered by the astute Mntichu Government. _ This new press played a large part in converting China into a nation. _ The new Government is pledged—it was indeed its first pledge—to "sweep away the disadvantages of monarchism," which means that the uncouth and boorish Tartar clan, the Manchus, who for. three centuries have imposed an intolerable tyranny, disappears for ever from the history of China; _ nor is a newer rival dynasty likely to take its place. China is not lacking in leaders or reformers of uncommon ability and courage, who will not only set about the most thorough modernisation of their country, but who intend China to be for the Chinese, and who mean to bring to a speedy end foreign oppressions and exactions. It is significant that syndicates in Japan have not only openly financed, but armed tho Revolutionaries, and the Japanese Government has expressed its one and only concern that no violation of the territorial integrity of China shall take place. This points to active Japanese sympathy, and possibly in the near future to a Japanese alliance. '