Despot's Machiavellan Policy:
Newspapers Anti-British Comment on Lincheng Affair From Our Own Correspondent.
Chengta, Sze., Sept. 30.
Tha past month has been one of continual unrest politically. would be a miracle if we had anything else to report. The civil war has become a habit in this province now, and like the old lady "who enjoyed poor health," so we continually ''enjoy" this chronic state of warfare. It has almost reached this, for we have long since given up the plan of postponing important events waiting for the fighting to cease. It simply never ceases. It only seems to get worse, so by degrees we have become hardened, and carry on because we must, and do things we hardly thought possible-in former days—the days of peace and prosperity of the hated Manchus.
Liu Vu Chin is still in the saddle. He reigns like a king, but seems impotent to contro] his subjects, or do anything that he ought to do. His policy is the line of least resistance, and a real Machiavellan policy he pursues with an extraordinary degree of success—to the degree of keeping in the saddle, no matter what happens. True Hsiong Keh Wu is the "man behind." He is wise enough to keep out of the public eye as far as ruling is concerned, but every policy that comes out is his. He provides the brains and the money.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.