No rulora in the world require to sot their house in order more promptly and effectually than the present powers in China. None seem to be more careless of what will happen from their noglecting their duty to the people whom they rule, Perhaps the Turkish Government might run the Chinese hard in a competitive examination in the art of misgoverning; but the Turks know that thole hour, in Harope, at all events, ie at hand, and sultan and pashas, governors and bumbashis, are solely ocoupied in making as much hay for themselves as the very feeble sun that is loft to shine on them will allow. But there are no signs visible that the 'T'artars have soon, or in avy way dread the nearness of the day when they shall cease to rule in Chins. bey are accustomed to power, and like other Imperial and Royal lines that have been deposed iv other parts of the world, they never imagine a state of things in which they will be pensed with. And, besides, they misgovern by rule, Antiquiry supplies precedents for everything io Cina, and as long as its wisdom is followed the misgoverned should be happy. Discontent must increase year by year and day by dey with auch a system of government as this country groans under. However patient a people may be, they are sure sooner or later to sot about righting their wrongs. But the history of China does not show the people to be a particularly patient race. They have always been slow to or unworthy rulers. Probably the country is enjoying a period of greater political quiet at the present time than at any other period since the different states were consolidated into the Einpire, Observers among foreigners, and also among Chinese, say that Ube state is honeycombed by Secret Societies, all of which have for their aim the throw of the present dynasty. That is very likely; indeed it has always been matter of wonder that, considering the large number of officers and soldiers who were thrown on the world as soon ing rebellion bad been stamped out, there has not boon a ious outbreak long ago under the auspices of those gentry. The exhaustion of the country, ils complete dopletion of inbabitanis in many districts, as been, no doubt, the chief cause of the quiet which the Government has enjoyed. Bat the wasted: provinces are becoming populous again, and what occurred ab Wuchang this year may be regarded as evidence that with rota ing life revolutionary ideas are com back, perhaps in fuller strength. And, indeed, it is to be expected that next rebellion in China will be stronger, more dificult to quell, than those that have preceded it. Daring the present generation the Chinese, geuerally, Lave become more intelligent, better acquainted with the affairs of the world, and therefore more likely to guide a rebellion successfully than those who were at the head of previous insurrections. It may be suid that it la only those who have come into frequent contact with foreigners, and whose intelligence has permitted them to appreciate the benefits which science bestows, who are wiser than the genorations of their countrymen who have gone before; it may be true Unt only the Chinese at the ports and in Hung. kong have progressed notably, But all history tells us that it has been among seafaring populations and in the towns where mon dwell who traffic with foreign lands—those whose ideas have to stand rubbing ngniust the ideas of strange peoples—that the spirit of freedom has always been strongest, and turbulence most at home. the same in China, The neglect to repair and keep in order the great watorwayé of the country, particularly in the north and north-west, mast have accumulated immense amount of animosity agai the Government. The measures proposed in order to meet the evils tht arise from official neglect or inefficiency, are always mere expedients to put the matter out of sight for a time. Yet other countries have suffered, and continue to suffer, so much from floods that we hesitate to apply the fall measure of blame to the misdoings of the Government with the Yellow River, But European governments do try to provide effectual remedies for the floods which occasionally bring distress on their people. In no country is there a river which so regularly brings misery, rain, and death to great mule tirades of people as the Yellow River does to those wretches who live near it, The Mississippi is probably the nearest parallel to China's Sorrow; yet-by embanking it effectually for hun. dreds of miles, by " largo expenditure of money on engineering works, the waters lave been probably as well controlled as the science of man can control nature when in her "sense~ less outbreaks." The same means applied ov the Yellow River would be followed by similar results. The people would live in some sort of security, their industry would increase when they saw that there was some certainty about their enjoying its fruity, the value of land. would rise, and other benefits follow. Of course a largo expenditure would be necessary to bring about this happy change. But it would soon be returned by the improved condition of the country increasing the revenue. Special taxes might be levied from the districts bene. g fited, in order to repay the expenditure or the interest upon it, But before China could undertake a work on the scale needed at the Yellow River she must put a great many things straight that are now very cronked, She must improve ler fuaucial condition, 80 as to be able to raise money for such works as would be needed. When that has been done, her own people or foreigners will provide the necessary fands. In the meantime, we suppose, flood will succeed flood and hundreds of thousands of nubappy people be brought to misery, while High Commissioners and the Boards of Revenue are paltering with the menus of averting horrible mis. fortunes, as we saw them dying in the abstract of the Peking Gazette which we published yestorduy. Nothing shows note vleatly the feebleness of the govern= ing classes at Peking than their way of shirking their duty in the prevention of the floods on the Yellow River, And what a splendid renown would be that of the Emperor or statesman who succeeded in bridling the waters that have been a sorrow to his countrymen since they first came to Chiual His fame in the far future would outshine and displace that of Yao, There is unhappily no hope of such a man ap= pearing. Something temporary will be done; misery will come in the future in the past; and some day the people, goaded beyond endurance, will rise and create: or join in a rebellion.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.