Oct. 25.
THe sensational statements made by the writer of to-day's letter, under the title '"The Appalling State of Canton," are strikingly borne out by further information reaching us yesterday. Local Cantonese residents, retired politicians and others, who are in close touch with the affairs of their native province, are convinced that Dr. Sun Yat-sen is once more at the end of his tether. Dr.
Sun, during his present sojourn in the south, has been forced to resort to more desperate measures than he has ever employed before to gain a hold and to maintain a hold. His employment of Yunnanese mer-canaries and the imposition of every manner of tax upon an already distraught people have cost him whatever prestige he had left with his native provineial.
The sacrifice of his popularity was undoubtedly deliberate and desperate. No less desperate were his performances in the field. Tt is no myth that he has gone into the ranks and led his men in assaults, to turn ion and mutiny into Tt is all very spectacular and thrilling but, according to local reports, the last resources are exhausted and since Dr, Sun cannot fall back upon the support of the people. it is believed that he will soon be in flight again.
The local Cantonese are equally certain that when Dr. Sun's power collapses again, will be neither Chen Chinngming nor Shen Hung-vin who will take up the sceptre. Shen Hung-vin is a broken alien raider who cannot come back. Chen Chiung-ming, they say, is responsible with Dr. Sun for the state of civil war and for the latter's excesses, on the sound principle that it takes two to make a fight. The Kuangtung people are so thoroughly sick of this unending turbulence that they are ready to hate the deliverer almost bitterly as the tyrant, if deliverance involves fighting.
This is coming to be a. common feeling throughout China, for the simple reason that those who advertise themselves as deliverers never deliver. It is a promising and wholesome feeling: Its growth may mean the salvation of Chi A
Chinese never discharges a servant until he has given up all hope of teaching, training or disciplining him. The people of China seem to be on the point of applying this domestic code to their officials. They would rather try to put checks upon the devil they know than support the devastating campaigns of the devil they don't know. This attitude accounts for the Cantonese hostility towards Chen Chiung-ming, otherwise difficult to explain, and it also accounts for the feeling among the people in and about Peking that with Tsao Kun in the presidency he had better be kept there and used.
The popular dislike for any deliverer who tries to unseat Tsao Kun by force of arms will be even more intense than the present popular contempt for the President himself and the national hatred of his following. The sum of these sentiments may in a few years develop into great moral force which will reshape conditions in China.
ly Wise Chinese observers think so To return to the Kuangtung siliuition, it is believed here in Shanghai in some circles that Lin In will be the next controller of Canton's destinies. Though a Kuangsi man and a former retainer of Mo Jung-hsin, he is now Chen Chiung-ming's ablest lieutenant in the field and seems to enjoy much more Cantonese confidence than his chief, Tne engagement is announced of Mr. Guy Haywood, solicitor, of Hongkong. and Miss Violet Searle, states the "Hongkong Daily Press."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.