To the judicially minded student, surveying the long perspective of history and seeing that China has attempted or passed through almost every form of government known to man, while still preserving the body social two or three things seem plain: (1) that China is an anvil that will wear out, by passive resistance, every hammer that beats it (andJapanese know this far better than Occidentals) ; (2) that it makes far less difference to her millions what the frame of government may be, while the social bond is so strong and local freedom, as heretofore, is maintained; and (3) that so long as China's classic literature endures, pure despotism cannot exist and the spirit of liberty will survive all native dictators or foreign con querors.
In local matters, the Chinese are as well fitted for republican government as are any other people, but how to generate sufficient power at the centre is still a problem. One may summarize the needs of China as (1) a strong central government; (2) a separate and honest judiciary; (3) a uniform currency; (4 development of her natural resources; (5 elementary education; (6) public works; (7 absolute freedom in religion; (8) philanthropic reform.
Bibliography.— Boulger,
liams, 'The Middle Kingdom' and 'History of China); Williamson, (Journeys in North China) • Wilson, (Travels and Investigations in the Middle Kingdom' ; Wu-Ting-Fang, (For eigners in China' ; Yule,