The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, MAY 16, 1914. CHINA'S PLIGHT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 21, 16 May 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, MAY 16, 1914. CHINA'S PLIGHT.

Though Young China still hopefully believes in the reform and awakening of their country by means of a Hepublic, all other parties soem to have arrived at the conclusion that parliamentary government has proved a failure and that the promised and much-desired reforms have come to nothing. The now order set up by the revolutionaries, which superseded the ancient monarchy of tho Celestial Empire has apparently developed into an autocratic rule by Yuan-Shih-Kai as military dictator, and there are those who now look upon him as a designing intriguer instead of patriot and lover of his country. Certainly this very remarkable man must have found the task he attempted greater and more difficult than ever he had anticipated, and to some extent he has, admittedly, been forced into a certain course from the very day tho Manchus wore supplanted. At the beginning of 1913, Yuan-Bhih-Kai had so worked matters that the -members of the Opposition were much reduced in number, and the Speaker and vice-Speaker wore his own nominees. Shortly afterwards came the murder of Sung-Yen, a powerful opponent, who, also posing as a patriot, sought to limit Yuan-Shih-Kai's power as President. Though complicity in the crime has never been proved, the President's name has been freely associated with the deed, and on all sides violent attack was mado upon him. Gradually, however, hy accusing his oppouonti; «f taking part in the outbreaks of refesllioH, hs increased hi* own power

and greatly terrorised other members of Parliament by means of the military community obeying him in everymatter of moment. Again, in October last, he was returned as President. Immediately after re-elec-tion to office he attempted a revision of the Constitution, and on his demands being ignored, under the pretence that those opposed to him had been concerned in the rebellions in the provinces, the President expelled; them from Parliament. It is practically plain now that the ruling party in China has arrived at the conclusion that the Parliamentary Government in their country is a failure, and that the nation must return to rule by autocracy under another form. A Pekin paper, commenting on the situation recently, says the Parliament of China had been given a great chance and had totally failed. Disorder was rampant and corruption quite open. Yuan-Shih-Kai once safe as dictator, proceeded to raise h rarge foreign loan, ostensibly for the purpose of developing industry and to increase and strengthen the standing army. Other of his acts point to the conclusion which public men and writers both in and out of China have arrived at, that in his ambition he Is giving himself, as far as possible, the sacred character of China's former Emperors, and that whatever he may have originally intended, he now proposes to be China's Emperor in reality, if not in openly acknowledged name. Young China, w e have no doubt, truly desired a change of constitution after the years of injustice and corruption which surrounded the Manchu rule, but It Ts certainly questionable whether, after the temporary awakening which has turned out so differently to what wa s hoped and expected, China may not sink again into that lethargic state in which she was a few years ago. At the mercy of the foreign capitalist in addition, China to-day is in a so „ T plight.