THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1911. REFORM IN CHINA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10452, 18 October 1911, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1911. REFORM IN CHINA.

According to a- Chinese student, who wrote a couple of years ago in the "Westminster Review," there are three principal .reform .parties in Cliina. The Monarchists aim at retaining the Throne, but desire a Constitution, the reorganisation of the army and navy, and reform in administration. The Constitutional Democrats hold (that the present distress of the country is economic, and (that education and scientific method must precede political reform. The /third is the Revolutionary or -Republican party, -which owes its existence to Dr Sun-Yat-Sen. "Twelve years ago the doctor',s followers were wild adventurers from different quarters, mot a few Japanese being among tbheir (number. The chief strength of the party lay in the lower classes—in the various secret societies. In 1900, when, the painty attempted a rising at Hankau, it 'hod in its ranks for the first time imen off eminent learning. Since that year it has 'steadily gained strength iby the voluntary 'adherence of tmen of ability and position." The aims of the (Revolutionary party are thus described (by its leader:— "The foremost object of our party is to ensure entire political freedom by overthrowing the present Cover n<ment, and establishing a. republic in its istead. The pernicious traditions ot the official world and the evil influence ■of the Court can only be Bwept away Iby a revolution. A constitution under the present regime would (be worse than useless, since the- 'old abuses would continue, with a mock Parliament at its back. A (radical change is/ 'absolutely necessary, for tQie old and the new are irreconcilable—one must -be the victim. ... It lias been argued by the Constitutional Monarchists that a revolution means a disturbance which would inevitably bring foreign

interference, and the instance of the Tai-ping rebellion is often quoted. But the failure of the Tai-pdng 'rebellion wn. caused by their lack of 'higher inspiration, their ignorance, and their cruelty. We revolutionaries' will take care not to repeat their mistakes. I firmly believe that if a rising be directed solely against the (Government, fully respecting the right and safety of the foreign community in China, and avoiding to do any harm to commerce, no foreign Power will interfere. . . Once organisation would be a comparatively easy task. All the foolish restrictions of trade would be removed, and the country would soon recover from its economic distress, and we Ibelieve that the Powers would want no more than to ask us to acknowledge all the obligations entered upoi, by the present Government."