What Xi can learn from Deng

China's president, newly empowered, should heed some lessons of history

China’s 19th Party Congress is drawing to a close with General Secretary Xi Jinping’s power affirmed and enhanced. Xi’s three-hour speech on China’s “new era” was greeted with rapturous applause by delegates in the Great Hall of the People. The rest of the population had the chance to clap along on a new video game. His name will be included in the Party constitution, alongside Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. On Wednesday, the new line-up of the Politburo Standing Committee will very likely see his loyal advisors elevated to the top ranks of the leadership.

Xi is now China’s most