Now. 4.
Ir cannot be gain said that we the actual taking over by the in-sargent forces of Shanghai native city and of Kiangnap, may readily lead to an estimate of the general situation worse than it actually is. Bo long 8 the revelation follows fare in the midst of a most serious th almost academic lines on which situation, far more serious indeed, it may be said to have travelled hithbecause essentially different, than eto in nearly all districts except any that has been known since the Wuch ang, there is space for negotia-revelation began. The Manchu retion, Men's minds are yet compara-nunciation has now been before the tively calm and are' presumably country for five days. It is three days, if not four, since Yuan Shib- ta open to argument. We see this in the kai proclaimed that he was about a Pay whose general tele-m from the mutinous troops
to atop the Imperialist operations graphed, as our Peking correspon-at Hankow and negotiate for a per-dent told us yesterday, that the manent peace. Yet there is too soldiers were delighted with the much reason to believe that the edict of October 30, but that they bale ied encounter described by asked for a Parliament, the request correspondent to-day, being instantly granted. The which has tarned Hankow city into greatest danger is that the passions "an absolute inferno", is still in which have been aroused by the fall blast; and from oF soaroes fighting at Hankow, and particu-not lightly to be disregarded, we larly by the story of massacre, may receive terrible accounts of looting, communicate themselves to other rapine and massacre. Much blood regions. So far as can be seen, the has been spilt: much of it, we fear, quarrel in Hupeh has already gone innocent blood. It becomes a grave beyond the purely dynastic and question whether the combat, at anti-dynastic form in which it least around Hanyang and Wa-began. Blood is up on both sides. chang, can now be stopped. Frensy, Mere partisanship gives place to born of the slaughter of companions the desire for personal revenge. in arms, gains the mastery, bringing The result is too likely to be one of with it lust for revenge; and even reprisals in other directions and an those machine-drilled northern internecine war which might troops, those hitherto admirably deed be compared with the Taiping behaved revolutionaries, may get rebellion. It is for this reason that out of the control of their officers.
Moreover, as regards the movements of the chief persons in the drama, the rest body of sound and we would call urgently upon all
thoughtful Chinese to do their we know not where we stand. utmost, wherever the opportunity One day Yuan Shih-kai is on his arises, to allay popular agitation, way to the front; the next, he is the dissemination of false news to be recalled hot-foot to Peking. and publication of inflammatory Acting and substantive appoint- placards. ments succeed each other at The weak point in the Imperialist bewildering speed, and nothing is cause isthatit till appears to lack an certain but the panic of Peking, efficient champion. We do not ques-and her readiness to - pro mise tion the motives of Yuan Shih-kai, anything that will make the tam alt and terror cease. Meanwhile, the revolution, magnified no doubt by rumour, but no less dangerous in ramour than in fact, spreads from city to city, until it would seem that even the issue at Wuchang is of comparatively small moment and that there can be no peace while any Manchu remains in the Middle Kingdom.
have stated the ease as blackly as possible because it is in a sense a case ourselves and against that belief in the survival of the Manchu dynasty which we have always maintained. Bat us now review the situation as dispassionately as may be. The mental perspective is liable to distortion by the nearness or remoteness of events. The rumours of the past few days, culminating in the mutiny lof the Chapei constabulary and but we doubt very much whether the Chinese nation as a whole will regard them with the same confidence. Adversity has been said to make strange bedfellows. If we accept the idea which the Imperial Government is evidently eager to proclaim, namely, that Yuan Shih-Kai is to be at once the advocate, engineer and in of constitu tional reform, it is indeed a strange turn of fortune's wheel that brings his Excellency into line with the men for whose exile and proscription he was himself chiefly responsible. The Chinese have their own view of the coup d'éat of 1898 and from no standpoint is thst opinion over-favourable to the new Premier. On the other hand, the Imperial Government can lay this balm to its terror-stricken soul, that the National Assembly is enthusiastic for ite new promises. The
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.