Tampering by the Politicians—The Usual Obstruction —What the People Should Learn By Rodney Gilbert Peking, Aug. 31.
Most foreigners resident in China whose minds are untainted with such Chinese sophistries as constitu tionalism and the internal peace question have been keenly interest-General Wu Pei-fu's plan for a National Popular Assembly. It seemed a genuine move towards democracy initiated by a Chinese with sincerity, courage and fighting ability to his credit. It was taken for granted that the entire official caste would be opposed to the idea, for the success of such an experiment would mean close control by public opinion; and it was presumed that any movement on the part of the people to respond to Wu Pei-fu's suggestion would be resisted and would bring Wu into direct. conflict with the Tuchunate, but! at the same time it was felt that if the people had a genuine will to express themselves through representation, an_ unprecedented opportunity was afforded them to make at least a demonstration of their interest in national affairs.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.