The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1912. THE CHINESE REPUBLIC.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 47, 20 February 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1912. THE CHINESE REPUBLIC.

With the "abdication of 'the Emperor of China a new order of things in that land of mystery will commence. Strangely enough" the first'head and Provisional -President of the Chinese' Republic, is a Christian. “East and West” (sajbs this has 'been no obstacle- to the Cxel-cise of the iiitt.nlonse "influence which ho exerts over millions of his follow-countfym6n. It was while he was on his way to attend service at St. Martin’s Church that the attempt on his life was made by the officials of the Chinese Embassy'in London. He was born at Fatdhan, near Canton, and is the son of a Chinese evangelist. He is a fully, qualified medical doctor. He, more than any other single individual, is directly responsible for the revolution which has taken place in China, and to hlis moderating influence is probably due the friendly.' spirit in which the revolutionaries have treated Christian missionaries and all Europeans. - The new Republic aims, ho says, at elevating the people, so- 1 curing peace, legislating for prosperity, remodelling the laws, reforming finance, abolishing trade restrictions, ensuring religious toleration, and cultivating better relations with foreign nations. Thus the Republic cherishes the hope of admittance into the family of nations. It will accord equality and protection to all Manchus who abide peacefully within Republican jurisdiction.

SYNDICALISM.

Syndicalism and its effects, declares Philip Snowden, are opposed to Socialism. “It is based,’ ’he says, “on a frenzied faith in virtue and destiny of the proletariat which it believes is everything and capable of everything. It puts a literal translation on the phrase, ‘The World for the Workers,’ which, when translated, would be no room to live to any man whose hands ware not marked by the scars of manual toil. Syndicalism repudiates careful organisation and the building up of reserves for fighting purposes. It rejects political methods and believes in fomenting strife because that feeds the fervour which impels the proletariat to action. ‘Down tools! Coats off!” That is the Syndicalist’s call to action. The strike is a tiling to bo welcomed, not to he regarded as a regrettable necessity. There are to be no binding agreements with employers lest ‘class hatred’ should languish.” Proceeding, be tells Labour that Syndicalism “can never do more than sow tares amongst the wheat which has been planted by wise men wjho knew that the social problem could ho solved only by a slow and painful process of change. The use of force by the proletariat may lie necessary if it be the only means possible to resist oppression or obtain justice, but when a proletariat is in possession of political power, it is not futile, but criminal to adopt antil.social methods. The idea of obtaining the desired objects by means of a general strike may lie due to either of twrtcoauses. It may lie due to youth, inexperience and impetuosity, or it may come as a despairing hope; for there life no doubt that syndicalism and the strike is a confession of lost faith in democracy.”

THE SPEECH.

That the (loverivpr’s Speech is finding no favour with any political party is pretty obvious. The “Lyttelton Times” expresses itself thusly; “The first

three sentences of the Speech whien the Oovernor’s advisers put into the mouth of hits Kxcellency yesterday would have met the actual requirements of tiie occasion admirably. Parliament has been called together to; the purpose of determining which party shall occupy the treasury benches, and no other question is likely to have much interest eitliei for the people or for their representatives till this one has been finally decided. But Ministers have seized the opportunity to foreshadow ar enormous programme of progressive legislation which would have tired the whole country with political enthusiasm and political resentment if it had been submitted under different circumstances. Before the election; it would have provided the Liberals with a score of rallying cries ; now it is more likely to give the 11-eformors additional material for their virulent attacks. The Speech simply abound; with suggestions of good things, reforms for which the advance wing ot the Liberal Party has been clamouring for years past, but many of the suggestions arc presented in such f crude ’way that their meaning is not very easily grasped. Of course am biguity of this kind is an acceptor" characteristic of “Speeches from tin Throne,” made almost sacred by ion;, tradition, but a Ministry whose exist once is hanging in the balance woulc have done better to sacrifice prece dent than to court misconstruction.