Oct. 10, To-day the Chinese republic celebrates its silver jubilee. The circumstances are somewhat peculiar, The twenty-five years since the, republic was proclaimed: and the Ching dynasty was overthrown. have witnessed some of the most Important developments in the: world's history. They have seen the greatest war the world has ever Known, followed by one of the greatest political upsets, nationally and internationally, ever to be re-, corded—an upset sh important that the world. is still endeavouring to understand all its implications. Compared with the chaotic situa tion in China, which regrettably has reigned over a large part of the history of the republic, the chaotic historian—not always an agreeable mantle, it should be stressed—and try to see in the perspective of years what has been. accomplished and, what has been left undone.
This has been attempted in other} pages. Critics of this country's beginnings of its recorded history embrace the range of political philosophies disputed to-day. And still China has much to learn, Would it be too much to suggest that, in the last twenty-five years, China has gone through nearly development may be inclined to every phase of experiment in re-dwell too long upon the things ublicanism and may at last be which have been left undone; for near to evolving a form of popular the devoted men who have achieved government adaptable to her eon-wonders in reorganization and Gitions? There has been a republi-furthering development are not government based on orthodox; vocal, and there is an unfortunately.
Western standards. There has well " substantiated belief among. been an attempt to overthrow that foreigners that the penchant still government and to re-establish the exists among the Chinese that a re~ empire. That government has} form on paper is a reform in actual been turned into a farce by the fact, whereas it still has to be most barefaced corruption, and plemented. In recent years that afterwards by a reversion to feudal-delusion largely has been overcome. ism with disastrous effects, There The progress made in China has has been a communist "revolution" been noted and commended by ex-now fortunately defeated. Order and. pert independent observers who. anarchy have alternated. There has have from time to time made visits been a period of tutelage. Outside to this country. They have been forces have influenced or attempted impressed" by, and" they' have to influence the course of events, praised, the carnosines. of the Progress has been hampered. by People's desire to do away with the major natural disasters, 'There has old abuses and to establish' a form occurred almost every' mischance of government which will put! from which a nation can suffer, Yet! China back into its rightful place China to-day stands on the threshold, in the sun. Suns significant. 'The of a great era. The nation is better movement for reorganization on ganized than at any time in recent modern Tines was inspired by the history. Its industries are struggling vision' of the man who has earned. into existence, There remains the the title of the founder of the re~ menace of foreign interference, but public, and who, strangely enough, the conversations to be held in has been called a visionary by those Nanking bid fair to eradicate even who wished at the time to detract that threat to national existence. from his other undoubted merits.
To be visionary when the vision is 4 great one and within reasonable
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.