CONCLUSION 207 



totally unable to check their follies or curb their rebellious 

 ardour. 



It is impossible to estimate how much the famous work 

 called the Chuen Hioh Pien} written by the late Chang Chih 

 Tung, when Viceroy of Liang Hu (Hupeh and Hunan provinces), 

 has influenced recent events in China. Since 1900 many of 

 the things advocated in this book have been put into practice, 

 especially the matter of schools for Western learning, army 

 reform, and newspapers. But the moral teachings the Viceroy 

 enunciated so earnestly have been set at naught, and re- 

 publicanism, which he so emphatically denounced, has been 

 brought into being. China for the Chinese was the patriotic 

 vision of this grand old man of China, but perhaps the fates 

 were kind in removing him from this sphere before he had 

 time to see his vision so passionately taken up as a slogan and 

 pressed so hastily forward. 



It was fortunate for China that at least one practical 

 statesman remained to take up the reins of government in 

 the hour of need. Yuan Shih Kai is very human, but he has 

 best right to be acclaimed the saviour of China. If his health 

 and strength remain he may, in a few years, weld the country 

 into a solid nation. If loyally supported by those who seek 

 their country's good he can utilize all that is useful and worthy 

 in the schemes of the more visionary ultra-progressive reformers, 

 and render it of practical value. That his hands will be forced 

 at times is certain, but granted time Yuan Shih Kai will succeed 

 in bringing order out of chaos and place the Government of 

 China on a sound basis. At present his position may be likened 

 to that of a skilled driver who has had the reins of a runaway 

 team thrust into his hands from those of an incompetent 

 person. In time he will get his countrymen down to a common- 

 sense trot, and then aU danger will be past. If allowed by the 

 passionate rush of events to exercise the rights of his office 

 Yuan Shih Kai will be able to surround himself with advisers 

 Chinese and Foreign, whose interests will be none other than 

 the welfare of China. 



The pressing need of the moment is, of course, funds to carry 



^ Translated into English, under the title Learn, by the Rev. S. I. Wood- 

 bridge. 



