THE ASEATIC REVIEW - Aug. 15, 1917 CH” U CH; N: A CHÊNESE HERCHNE * By LiONEL Gil ES, Mi.A., D.Litt. The revolution that changed the face of China in 1911 was only the culminating wave of a movement which had grown steadily in volume for several years, and was heralded by a number of sporadic outbreaks the significance of which was not altogether apparent at the time. The real awakening of China may be said to date from the disastrous war with Japan in 1834, which was soon followed by territorial agression on the part of the great European Powers. The Reform Edicts of Kuang Hsu seemed to open a door to the new aspirations of the Chinese people, but all hopes were dashed by the return of the Empress-Dowager to power. The “Boxer" expiosion of 1900 was directed at first against the throne, and it was only by consummate craft on the part of the Manchu Government that it was turned into a war of extermination against the foreigner. When China emerged, broken and breathiess from the unequal fray, Saddled with a curshing indemnity, bankrupt and discredited as a civilized nation, she realized the extent to which she had been hood winked by her rulers. The anti-foreign animus gradually died away, for the Chinese knew that the real ememy they had to reckon with was within their gates. It became the aim of every patriot to shake off Manchu incubus,
- A paper read before the China Society at Caxton Hall. Westminster, Mrs. Archibaid Little in the chair.
