Page:The Truth about China and Japan - Weale - 1919.djvu/120

 parallel case exists in any other part of the world. Turkey is sometimes quoted as a similar instance—but the differences between China and Turkey are greater than the points of resemblance. Turkey comprises a mixture of races; the Chinese are absolutely homogeneous. The rule of the Ottoman Turks was based on military conquest; the Manchus, who were their prototypes, were summarily ousted seven years ago and for many a day prior to their actual collapse had not much more power than the errant descendants of Genghiz [sic] Khan. Then Turkey is so close to Europe that her problem in an European issue: China is so far distant that she is remote even to India. Turkey pretended to reform, and then surrendered to the Young Turks, who were virtually Young Germans. The Tu-chün, or military governors in China and their henchmen, may perhaps be held the equivalent of this truculent breed; yet even these semi-ignorant leaders pay homage to the literary traditions of the race, worship formality, and declare that they represent a transitional stage which will soon give way to a new brotherhood.

For the time being, however, what we have to-day, particularly in Peking, pending the settlement, is rule by velleities—i.e. by volition