To the Editor of the "Nowrm-Cuixa Datuy News."
+Sm—The eyes of all interested in China's government are, at the moment of writing, turned towards the happenings at the Nanking Conference, the outcome of which, so many of us are thinking, is of the greatest importance as aiTording an indication of whither the Chinese ship of state is bound. If the results are satisfactory, we think, then is further proof afforded that the vessel is, after all, weather ing the storm. But is not our attention directed all too much to the question of the condition of the ship, without sufficiently conside' ing the storm? Are we not str ing at the superficial gnat whilst blissfully swallowing the actual camel, There was a day when students, of the Chincve political situation freely expressed themselves as to whether the republican form of government was suited to this people. It seems now that this question has been disposed of and that, in conceding Republican prin-suited to the Chinese, we verned only with their out pression as exemplified in the construction of the government organs. But are we justified in s0 doing, and are we not putting too nich' faith in outward semblance and too little, in basic truths' There are stouns no ship can weather, Have we, therefore considered sufficiently' the turbulence of the elements upon which the present Chinece ship of state, bearing the proud title "Republican" at its prow, has embarked? If so, T much doubt any optimism as to making the port where stability, and security may be found, except after a lengthy period of dire travail.
When the Son of Heaven was brought tottering to earth, and made to be of the earth, instead of complementary thereto, there was destroyed in the minds of the millions of this land the politicoethienl concent that engendered fabric of a state organization which had survived the test of centnties.
Confucius expounded it; the people accepted it, and the State embodied it—the principle of Authority, Con formity and Orderliness. "The sages of that erstwhile China expressed a concept of a universal order to which the individual and the State were inherently and vitally related. It was a. static concept of all things being complementary and inter mutually dependent. Wi high feeling for inc Chinese had an equal foehn solidarity, and it was this highly developed sense which evolved the precept of mutual responsibility Heaven and Earth, the natural order and the individual life, made a cycle of orderly, rational' bein which had its image in a stabilized state.
"Equilibrium" was descriptive of that visualized universe which eluded the Princely Man—he who swerved neither to the right nor to the left—as it did the cavernment administrators who were the jx (father) and mac (mother) of the people. The Emperor stood for the extreme human link in the commie cohesion. The exercises which he performed at the Temple of Heaven represented the recognition that he was the tie which united Heaven and Earth. Thus, in the eye of, the people, he was considered to bear responsibility even for nature teel, carrying oct at the Temple 1al vouching to the peasantry for
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.