Internal Conditions

"You must remember that there are sections in China where people aren't interested in the fighting, and. for that matter, don't even know that there has been a revolution. I don't doubt that there are thousands of people who do not even know the Emperor has been overthrown. You see, the large majority of Chinamen aren't interested in self-government-- have no conception of the idea. So long as things move along smoothly and taxes aren't heavy, they don't care who rules." So says a returning traveler from Shanghai. It is true that the Government of China at Peking does as much good as a drop of oil on a stormy sea. It tries to exert its calming influence over the whole 3,913,560 square miles of Chinese territory, but the angry waves of resistance caused by the warlike Tuchuns rapidly dispel the feeble efforts of a still more feeble Government. The Tuchuns--military governors --are literally heads of warring factions. The estimated number of armed men is roughly 1,000,000, who are scattered over the vast face of China and among an estimated population of 320,650,000. General Wu, believed by many to be the real hope of China, is a militarist, but his aim is to destroy militarism. This aim is shared by the President, Li Yuan-Hung, but obscure forces make it impossible for Wu and the President to join together against the other Tuchuns. In the South, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen is ostensibly trying to lead a movement to effect the reunification of China. There is one other party that deserves attention and that is the Chang-Tso party, who want a return to the old monarchy. Their political machinations are like the wind, they are felt but not seen.