January 1. As at the end of 1906 so to-day ithas to be said of the past year that the main characteristics are tendencies and strivings that have to become materialized rather than tangible results. The movement in the direction of reform began in 1905 was continued, and, although many of its features stamp it as ill-considered and ill-controlled, there is clearly a growing knowledge of shortcomings to be recorded, as well as of what should be aimed at by the nation. In some particulars the last twelve months have supplied the test—a modest test—of time to the reforms so hurriedly launched in 1906, and on the whole the results have been favourable to the good faith behind the movement, even while serving to adjust the perspective of onlookers whose ox-pectations took little heed of the difficulties in China's path. To no country in the world is the fallacy of generalization more applicable than to China, with its rest extent of territory, its scarcity of communications and its diverse population. Consequently all attempts to summarize situations in general terms must lack some measure of accuracy in their application to individual portions of the Empire, and we must, there fore, content ourselves with indicating symptoms which by their increasing dissemination appear to be gaining for themselves the hall-mark of universality. But if it is necessary to single out one characteristic feature that seems todominate the past year, it must be styled the drawing together of the nation, the dawning of a national feeling. It has manifested itself in many ways. More lively interest is taken in the affairs of the nation as a whole and of other provinces; the nileaye has elicited an exchange campaign against foreign - built
of sympathy or support between widely separated parts of the country; while to promote a feeling of imperial solidarity a Travelling Commissioner in the person of conquer, and his opponents were Yang Shih-chi, Vice-President of left to derive what satisfaction they the Ministry of Agricultare, Works could from Decrees reprimanding and Commerce, was by Decree Tang Shao-yi, his chief protege. dated August 21 sent to visit the On August 24" the feelings of the Chinese communities in the South Throne towards Viceroy Yuan Pacific. Moreover, tradition was so Shih-kai were placed beyond the far departed from that a party of 25 ibility of doubt, when an Edict, students belonging to families who ostensibly dealing with the Yan-had settled many generations be-kuei provinces, contrived to hold fore in Java were not only per-him up with their Excellencies mitted to come to China to com-Tuan Fang and Chang Chih-tung plete their studies, but were as model officials of the Empire. assured of a special welcome on Within a fortnight, on September 4, their arrival.
H. E. Yuan was appointed
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.