China under the Warlords, Part II
Gradually the Chinese Nationalists prevailed over the provincial war-lords, but meanwhile, writes Henry McAleavy, the fatal breach occurred with the Communists.
Ruthless as the ambition of Yuan Shih-k’ai was, there is no doubt that he hoped to lead China along the road to modernization, according to his lights, and in consequence he did not lack respectable supporters, who fancied they might enjoy influence and prestige under another Empire, with laws and government accommodating traditional principles to the needs of the time.
Foreigners, too, knew and approved of his plans. One of his advisers was The Times correspondent, Morrison. An American political theorist, Professor Goodnow, made an even deeper impression when, speaking as a citizen of the greatest of republics, he assured Yuan and his council that China was incorrigibly unrepublican by nature and that obstinacy in adhering to such an unsuitable form of government would only turn the country into another Mexico.
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