He thought that there was more hope in the Canton party than any other, but thought it would be a good thing if any of the rival military governors gained ascendency and established a strong government on a constitutional basis. Public opinion was a much more important element in China than in England and no government could last that had not the support of the people.
One of his most remarkable experiences in China was passing from a foreign settlement into a native city. It might be just through a gate, and one was out of Europe and into China. In the latter there was want. filth, disease and beauty; in the former there was hygiene, health, clean-lines and ugliness. Personally he thought the Chinese were happier and better off in. their own cities.
He though that the foreigners would have never got a footing in
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.