The news that Yuan Shih-kai has decided to postpone the grand cere-many of his coronation was not entirely unexpected. It is still impossible to estimate the seriousness of the revolt in Yunnan for the very simple reason that we are being sedulously kept without information. Whst information we have, however, shows that the rebellion is far from being unimportant. In many respects, indeed, it is more serious than was that of 1913. Moreover it seems quite clear that Japan looks with no favour on the monarchical movement, which, farther, has received no encourage. ment whatever from the Powers. What, in these circumstances, was Yuan Shih-kai to dot Was he to push ahead in spite of all obstacles and risks or was he to mark time? He has chosen the latter course and on the whole it seems the wiser, though it will certainly lead to acensations of weakness and must necessarily prolong uncertainty. For the country, more especially the merchants class, wants to know what the ultimate outcome of the monarchical movement is going to be and now it will be kept in suspense for an indefinite period.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.