It hardly seemed worth while to pass any comment on Mr. Wen Tsung-yao's airy persiflage about North and South being united, nor on the subsequent Presidential Mandate proclaiming the same solemn nonsense. Anybody who takes the trouble to follow Chinese politics could see it all for himself. Mr. Wen Tsung-yao's friends (he has more than one in this office, if he will permit us to say so) know him well for a true humourist. Having escaped with a whole skin from Canton, one can imagine him making the statement recalled above, for the sheer delight of stirring up Dr. Sun Yat-sen & Ca. who, as our columns subsequently showed, were drawn like one man. As for Peking, it is merely trying to find an excuse for getting in its own men at Canton. As was to be expected, and today's telegrams show, Canton will have none of the supposed union. For several years past it has suffered the domination of the Kuangsi men, who were in league with the Anfu party in Peking. Like Hunan, it has now freed itself from the oppressor and has not the slightest intention of accepting another of northern manufacture. Besides, Kuangtung is not the only province concerned in any scheme of "union." What about Hunan, Yunnan, Kueichow, Szechuan, Kan-ssu, Shansi et al.? Chinese politicians do love their joke. It is the best thing that can be said for them.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.