The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1913. CHINA’S PROGRESS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 87, 19 April 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1913. CHINA’S PROGRESS.

The rejoicings in Pekin in honour of China’s first Parliament mark another advance towards the awakening. It is only about eighteen months since the most ancient of monarchies became the most youthful of Republics in one great upheaval, but it could not be expected that thought and, feeling would change as suddenly. Young China, says one authority, while it differs from the Old in externals, must for many years to come make representative government impossible. It is the old despotism called by the name of ‘‘Republic.” The supreme question would seem to be: How long will the now older last ? And the answer is: It depends on many things of which the general outside world hears little. The Ambassadors and Ministers of the Powers, it is said, regard the recognition of the Republic at this stage of its being as premature. And the Powers, most probably, are right. A Republic that rests for its security upon force and the profound apathy and ignorance of its millions of citizens has not yet proved its right to be accepted at its own face value. The sword of the executioner has been and continues busy. Whole hatches, companies, regiments, and battalions are officially massacred by the authorities. Mr Edwin Dingle, author of “China’s Revolution, 1912,” says that in the opening stages of the revolt 12,000 mothers’ sons were blown and hacked to pieces with the grossest barbarity, and as recent as last August the North China Daily News said: “It is certain that in- Kwantuug men and women are bring executed iu astonishing numbers. . . only ti work of destruction goes on.” Meanwhile the Western world looks on and wonders what will be the outcome, and whether the new form of Government will develop a less despotic administration,, and one more acceptable to the patient people.