JupGING by what the chinese Government has lately been doing and by what the Foreign Powers in Peking appear to be approving there seems to be a decided opinion in favour of a return to Barbarism.
Just consider the splendid series of conversions to better methods effected during the last three years by the Reformers. First, there was the conversion of the leading members of the Grand Council and of the Tsungli Yamtn; the conversion of many of the Hanlins and Censors in Peking; the conversion of the leading Viceroy Chang Chih-tung and the two Governors of Hupeh and Hunan; the conversion of the gentry and students of Hunan and Kiangsi—two of the most anti-foreign provinces in this Empire; the conversion of a large number of the gentry of Kuangtung province with the result that most of the younger men in every province throughout the Empire and the maj jority of the rulers were prepared to adopt sweeping changes of the most radical character without any opposi-5 tion.
The radical nature of the reforms is apparent when we consider that instead of the historical attitude of hatred to foreigners and the closing, up of their country, friendship an alliance with Foreign Powers and the opening up of the whole country were advocated. Instead of the intolerable conceit that the Chinese had the best system of education in the world, the substitution of Western learning for come of their own was advocated. Instead of being satisfied with Chinese civilisation and Chinese institutions ithe Reform portfolio ran over with wholesale improvements in every department, till the world was amazed jand said' that even the rapidity of Reform in Japan was nowhere as compared with that of Young China. But, alas! the Reform Cabinet ced cashiering some of the obstructionists and the change from Chinese to European costume, including the cutting off of the queue These were the last straws which made the burden too heavy for the Conservative party to endure.
The Empress Dowager at the special request of the cashiered obstructionists then forcibly took charge, beheaded several Reformers at once without trial, imprisoned some for life, banished others for life, degraded others for life, suppressed all newspapers, forbade the formation of any societies, promoted the anti-Foreign and non-progressive men to places of influence, and protested strongly against the Foreign Legations ordering some thirty soldiers each for self-refection against the rowdies let loose on foreigners in Peking. And more recently we have rowdy soldiers within ten miles of Peking attacking Foreign engineers and a member of the British Legation on the railway, and the Chinese official sent to en-Generals of the rowdy soldiers, while, fire into the matter insulted by the
about the same time, not far from Peking a soldier attacking a Chinese unconnected with foreigners was at once beheaded and his head put up ona spear as a warning to others!
Thus we see retrogression on every line save two, viz. the carrying out of concessions for railways mines, etc., already agreed to, and the protection of missionaries; the Government well knowing that much interference with foreigners on either of these lines would exhaust the patience of the Foreign Powers and lead at once to the partitioning of China.
So far as the Chinese internal policy ig concerned the Government goes back to the policy of forty years ago—hatred of foreigners, and no enlightenment, no reform, and woe to the men who attempt either.
relying on vague promises, say that wet Foreign Ministers in Peking, the Empress Dowager stepped in and saved the country. If the Reformers were ruining the country what is the new programme for the salvation of the country? No man in his senses will build anything on the promises of this Chinese Government after forty years' experience of their belli them. Deeds alone, not tina, ae: satisfy us to-day.
ill the Foreign Powers insist on oot that this new Government in Peking shall ask the Viceroys and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.