Peking to Lhasa : vol.1 / Page 351 (Color Image)

0351	Peking to Lhasa : vol.1

THE PRESENT SITUATION IN CHINA 267

possibly could only be brought into subjection by

a boycott of its exports.

As my recent experiences are connected with

Szechwan, I feel that this Province requires the

most delicate handling ; the feeling of restlessness

may pass away with the struggle of contending

factions and the rise of the strong man to

power. There is always, however, the danger of

some imprudent action by a foreigner diverting

the unrest to a movement against the white

man, and causing a trouble which no one can

foresee.

As regards the all-important question of the

state of the students in the model Province of

Shensi, I formed a poor opinion of the model

governor as a man, because he truckled to the

students and allowed them to invade his yamen

and force him to comply with their demands

under fear of threats of a general strike. On the

other hand, I realised his sterling merits, as a kind

grandmotherly being, for his kindly wishes for

the welfare of the people, for the excellence of the

platonic vapourings which he caused to be posted

on many of the houses throughout the Province,

for his good intentions, and for some minor useful

reforms. On the other hand, in the otherwise

lawless and divided Province of Shensi, Ch'en

Shu-fan (the late Tu-Chun) took a strong hand in

keeping the students in subjection, notwithstand-

ing all the difficulties of his position. Though

probably his past life has not merited for him the

hope of beatification after death, nevertheless he

struck me, from the accounts of qualified foreigners

who had met him, as being essentially a strong man

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