CHINESE AFFAIRS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 442, 3 December 1908, Page 2

CHINESE AFFAIRS.

Privatk cables received in Sydney last week state that the Emperor was poisoned at the instance of the Foreign Minister and Viceroy of Chi-Ei —Yuan-Shi-Kai. It is stated that he bribed a doctor to do the deed. Referring to the fusion of the Chinese and Manchu races in China —a movement which has made quite remarkable progress of recent years—the Spectator, of October 10th stated Perhaps the most notable ' triumph of the Chinese as opposed to the Manchu element is the pre-eminence of Yuan-Shi-Kai. He is still young, as statesmen go. Only the other day we read that the EmpressDowager had lavished valuable presents on him on bis fiftieth birthday. No one else was ever thus honoured by the Empress. Yuan-Shi-Kai is not the only leader of the reformers, but the greatest force in China. He has the advantage of being Grand Councillor and President of the Wai-Wu-Pu, or Foreign Office, and while he is in this high position reform will probably flourish. His whole history points to it. As Viceroy of the province of CSi-li, he showed himself a sane and earnest administrator; it was he who organised a new of troops, training and equipping them as Chinese had never seen trained and equipped before ; and it was he who purified the Government and the Courts of his province, and set up an “educational ladder ” to the /value of which many- observers baa testified. The unusual honours heaped upon him by the EmpressDowager seem to show thajrYuan-Shi-Kai’s position is stronger than '■■l.. .'I \

ever, and Ibis is a very good sign. Our difficulty here is to know whether part of Yuau-Shi-Kai’s success is due to the co-operation of the people, or whether it is all the harvest of singularly strong will. The second explanation will be more Haltering to Yuau-Shi-Kai, but of less good omen for China. Yuau-Shi-Kai ought to aim at ridding the country finally of the corrupt and idle mandarins who prey upon it. Wonderful things come out of the East ; and if Yuan-Shi-Kai does not tall in favour, we may yet hear of the mandarins voluntarily surrendering their privileges like the Daimios of Japan.