May 25.
Tue situation in China to-day as described by Mr. Rodney Gilbert on Tuesday is perhaps the most extraordinary and the most hopeful in its possibilities that she has known since the Manchus were overthrown. In passing, we do not claim omnisdence for Mr. Gilbert any more than he would admit the accusation himself. His description, however, will stand the test of comparison with every-day events within everybody's knowledge, and is borne out by the testimony of those who make it their business to study the developments of politics. The outstanding feature of the moment is that there is absolutely no Government in the north, not even such a pretence of one as has hitherto existed. Chang Tso-lin's fall is moré* complete than can at all be measured by his military failure. Just for a few days it seemed that he was trying to stand at the Great Wall and might still be formidable. But even as a face-saving device it flocks as if this attempt would fail. His prestige is gone; and though it is possible that he might rise again one day, for the present one may say that he simply does not count. On the, other hand, General Wu Pei-fu, though master of the situation in fact, is congenitally opposed to anything savouring of political interference. This may be a matter of military necessity, but delay has, ds always, its dangers. There is no Prime Minister and no Cabinet. Only there is President Hsu Shih-chang, retaining that position chiefly betause he has not been challenged, not, if all accounts be true, because anybody wants him.
In the south of the country the prestige of Canton has vanished. Only a few weeks ago the Southern-Government was attracting a great deal of attention. It had ideas, it appeared to have infiuence, its doings were followed and canvassed in a way that had never been known before, it seemed as if it might really be
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.