The debacle of the Military Government and the precipitate flight of its administrative heads, the downfall of the Kuangsi Party and the triumphant entry into Canton of the Kuangtung Army, were facts known to the whole country, but which have nevertheless been seized by the Peking Government as incidents justifying the issuance of a Presidential Order, solemnly announcing the reunion of North and South. The Chinese Press has derived therefrom much materia] with which- to make humourous and caustic comments, ~holding up. the Government to ridicule and giving the public some insight as to the true significance of the situation. the agitation for the abolition of the tuchunate and the restoration of the self-government system is being kept up, and delegates representing as many as 11 provinces ave besieging the President's Palace and the Cabinet to press the point.
The contest for the tuchunship of Kiangsu is still going on, General Tsao Kun recommending Wang Shih-chen to fill the vacancy while the redoubtable Chang Tso-lin is fiercely wishing to see his friend Chang Hsun reinstated at Nanking. The proposed conditions to be imposed by the Consortium in connexion with future loans to China are generally regarded as too harsh, though the necessity for safeguards as long as the present officials hold the reign of government is admitted, The strongest opposition is evinced against pledging the land tax for foreign loans. As the election of members of the Provincia] Assembly for the third term will shortly be held in every province, the Chinese Press is earnestly urging every citizen eligible to vote or for election not to abandon his right. Regarding the famine relief measures, it is generally thought that there have been too many "plausible suggestion" and famine committee's, but too little practical work and too few energetic workers. The traditional way in Which the Chinese people had tried to save the moon from being "'devoured" by the "wild moon" during her eclipse last week (and the common people should not alone be blamed, as indeed certain official formalities have still to be observed on such occasions) is noted with regret, Other questions discussed include a recrudescence of crimes in winter' the Navy's appeal to Peking for their] pay; Ma Chi's destruction of the Canton Arsenal; Mu Yung-hsi cancellation of Kuangtung tonomy; explosive elements in the country; reforms for the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce misappropriation of educational funds; encouragement for the devel-lopment of the woollen industry; Wang Hu, the new governor's sense of justice; and the following which we reproduce in part, The sudden announcement of the restoration of unity, made at a time of turmoil and unrest on various sides, has taken the public by surprise. Can such a chaotic state of affairs be disentangled by a mere scrap of paper? queries the "Sinwanpao." However, since a residential Mandate has been issued in making this announcement, there should be no hesitancy or any attempt at backing out of its responsibility on the part of our Government. If sufficient energy be plied in carrying out all reorganization schemes, we may yet hope to see some welcome change take place in the system of our government at a not very distant date. According to advices from Peking, the three principal items on the programme of reforms are disbanding of troops, holding of elections in a serious manner, and adoption of self-government.
The paper feels apprehensive in that as orders and laws of to-day are mostly ignored, and as it has become a fashion among officials to gain popular approbation by empty talk, there is every likelihood that no more attention will be paid to these three items of reform after their embodiment in an order.
Ktayasu versus Cuano To fill the vacancy of the Tuchun of Kiangsu is a matter in which neither the Chihli nor the Fengtien party should concern itself, comments the "Shunpuo."" To our surprise, the Chihli party nominates General Wang Shih-chen and the Fengtien party Chang Hsun as candidates for the vacant post. Leaving out General Wang, Chang Asin was the leading spirit in the attempted restoration of the Manchu Dynasty. Let us see what sort of man has Chang Hsun shown himself to be. If Chang Hsun had really wanted to act up to the role of a loyal servant to the Ching House, he should have held Nanking until he died instead of abandoning it and fleeing, in the Ist year of the Republic. Having fled from his post, he should not have surrendered himself to the Republic and become one of its officials. Having accepted a Republican appointment, he should not have turned traitor and plotted the rein. statement of the Manchu Emperor. Having committed himself to the latter deed, he should have sacrificed his life upon failure of his attempt—he should not have prolonged his miserable life by taking shelter in a foreign legation. Having been allowed to live on, he has shown unmistakeable signs that he is again willing to be an official of the Republic. In a recent manifesto, he
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.