THE BREAK-UP OF CHINA.
[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."]
Ste, —In your able article in the Si ectator. of May 20th on Lord Charles Beresford's recent book, " The Break-up of China," you say :—" It is possible, though not, we admit, likely, that aline after an internal explosion may reform herself as did Japan. In that case we are safe." In view of recent events in that country, I think internal reform both possible and likely. At the close of the war with Japan a reform party was formed in China. The need for large and radical changes was felt by most thinking men. The reform move- ment, begun in Pekin, spread rapidly throughout the country, especially among the younger literati, officials, and gentry. Newspapers were started in many of the great centres of popu- lation for the advocacy of reform, some of which had a very large circulation. Last year there were no fewer than seventy such papers all edited and published by Chinese. The movement spread even to such anti-foreign places as Hunan, and some of the leading men of that conservative province became prominent advocates of reform. Within three years from the close of the Japanese War, the reform party had become numerous and powerful. It included most of the younger and more thoughtful men among the upper classes, a con- siderable number of the rank-and-file of the Mandarins, and a few of the highest officials in the Empire, and it had at its head the Emperor himself. The Emperor beyond, all doubt is a convinced and ardent reformer. The long and splendid series of reform edicts, about forty in all, which he issued last year is abundant proof of that. In a letter to his 'adviser, Kang Yu-wei, written just six days before the coup d'etat, the Emperor says : "Unless we adopt Western methods it is im- possible to save our Empire." The reform edicts of the Emperor were well received by the people generally, and were hailed with enthusiasm by the younger men. They were defeated and rendered abortive by the opposition of the Empress-Dowager alone.
What specially roused her hostility was the proposed reform of the Mandarinate, the most essential of all reforms in China. The Empress-Dowager has always claimed and exercised the right of appointing all the civil and military officials through- out the Empire above the rank of Intendant of Circuit. This right she refused either to give up or to exercise under the advice of the Emperor. There was a sharp struggle between her and the Emperor on this vital point, which ended, as we all know, in the triumph of the Empress-Dowager, and the coup d'itat. With all the higher offices of State filled by her own nominees, it was of course easy for her to, triumph. She made that triumph doubly sure by raising the cry of the " Dynasty in danger," which rallied all the Manchus to her standard.
But the Emperor, though overborne by the Empress- Doivager, holds firmly to his reform purpose and bides his' time. You, Sir, rightly say "that if China can reform herself,. we are safe." Would •it not, therefore, be a 'short and sure cut out of our troubles in China for England to 'give the Chinese Emperor her moral support in his' work, of reform Could not England point out to the Chinese Government the grave peril in which China stands at present, and recommend the Emperor to resume the great work of reform begun last year. In taking such a step we should have the sympathy and support of the United States and Japan, and possibly .of Germany also. The Empress•Dowager, who is the chief obstacle to reform, would yield to a representation of this kind.
Ramsgate, June
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