Sept, 18. 'RECENTLY we drew attention to the.close parallel between the ancient and modern civil wars of the Chinese, the war between Wu (Kiangsu) and Yueh (Chekiang) in the time of Confucius, 2,500 years ago, being similar to the present war between the same provinces. It almost seems as if the pessimists are right when they say the world is constantly changing, passing from one extreme to another, but never advancing, like a sailing ship tacking against a strong wind but making little or no actual headway. And in modern China the prospect of being able completely to abolish internal strife and war seems as hopeless to-day as it was felt to be by Confucius in his time. It is narrated that one day the great sage ascended a sacred hill and, sighing deeply, said to the three disciples who were with' hi "Standing on an elevation like this, one looks over, as it were, the whole world; and alas! alas! as I do so I cannot help being struck fact that, of the my-in it, there is scarcely' one man to be found who is not, to disagree with them.
But] devising some means by which he how do the Powers regard it? may best injure, or even, if occasion The balance of opinion is quite ***¥ed, destroy his neighbour. That clearly that they wish to remain' absolutely neutral. Does this: mean that they regard Marshal]
Yung-hsiang as belligerent or a rebel? Inasmuch as they have recognized the Government in Peking as the one legitimate government of China, there would appear to be only one answer to this question. On the other hand, Marshal Lu, in itself is sad enough. But there is something still sadder. It is to be so helpless and incapable, that even when we would wish to do s0, we can neither find remedies for way of come, warding off those which are to
Turning to his disciples, who! being younger were more hopeful, Confucius said, "You, my friends, have doubtless thought and with him others controlling not much less than half China, over this matter; let me have then your counsel with regard to it, have never for one moment! acknowledged the legality of the Government of President Tsao each one speaking in his turn." After a few minutes reflexion the martial-minded Tsze-loo was the Kun, Looking at the matter first to answer. quite dispassionately, therefore, it seems hard if they are to be regarded as rebels by outside peoples, who indeed have no] interest in one side more than in the other, and are making it plain that they do not desire to be involved.
'The question is one of considerable importance to Shanghai as instances frequently arise on which it has a very distinct bearing. For example, one party or the other may' have, stored in a Shanghai godown, property which is of military) value. Supposing it wishes to! remove this property, and the opposing party protests to the hanghai authorities on the} ground.
that. to. hand. over, supplies of military value to his opponent is a breach of neutral-how is the point to be decided? If one party is a legal: belligerent and the other is not, then the one appears entitled to set what it wants out of!
Shanghai, and the other is entitled to nothing. But to take, this line, is certainly to be unit would not accord at what we believe to be the general sense of fitness; and furthermore, in view of the general circumstances of China and conditions of the country, it "As for me, I think I could manage it easily, if T were placed at the head of a great army. But even then, I would not be precipitate. Before taking the field, T would see that my troops were thoroughly organized and disciplined and commanded by competent officers; then, when all was ready, I would lead them against the enemy, with clang of gongs and many-coloured standards glittering n the sunlight. The victory assured, I would cut off the heads of the vanquished leaders, and expose them publicly ax a warning to evildoers. Then—if I were king—I would re-and there, with jose my two companions, take stich measures as would cause the existing laws to be d, and the ancient usages hard not to agree with that the of turbulent unscrupulous lenders responsible for ters out considerably, and probably there will not be much dissent when we say that if some.—we do not say all—of China's, present leaders were to "pass on, they would not be greatly missed; at least there would be no profound and widespread lamentation over their departure, But the policy of "off with—thei heads" usually fails because successors of the defunct officials may be just as bad. Moreover, an em-
Ascainst this, our special correspondent Kianesu General) Headquarters tells. us to-day' that special arrangements are being made for the relief of the country folk at Li said to have suffer! any others through the fighting. Also, one of our staff, visiting Huangtu ten days ago bore witness to the respect that was being paid to property in farm houses and cottages deserted their owners. Tribute should be paid (especially by a newspaper with correspondents the field) to the courtesy of the officers on both sides towards: cognition recorded to Pel ago unduly far.
In all ices, it that should Appears most the Diplomatic which would let us know where we stand. work on the HAL.
Muensterland brought the str. Kweichow safely out of a difficult ration.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.