The herald., 1896-12-06
Aims to Erect a Republic in
China
Ii HUNG'S NECK IN DANGER
In Proportion to Information He Did
Not Get
Chinese Progressive Society Aims to
Depose the Emperor and Start a
Republic on American Lines.
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
LONDON, Dec. 5.-Sun Vat Sen, the
Chinese doctor who was kidnapped by
officials of the Chinese legation here and
who was subsequently released on the
demand of the Marquis of Salisbury, has
published an article here, in which he
says the value of Ii Hung Chang's head
will be determined by the value of the
information he has taken to China anent
the doings and power of the Chinese
abroad.
Sun Vat Sen says he was the leader of
the conspiracy at Canton in October,
1895 to establish a constitution for
China The society which he belonged
to was the Hing Chung Woey tong,
meaning Chinese progressive society.
He says it has a powerful organization
in America with a center in San Fran
cisco and headquarters in New York.
Sun Vat Sen further states the American
chief is Walter Fong, the first Chinese
graduate at Stanford Ct, and that his
principal colleagues are graduates of
Yale, Harvard and other universities.
The article includes a letter dated Chi
cago from Kong Ching Foo, who claims
the movement in the United States is in
good shape Many attempts to COM
pass Sun Vat Sens death are predicted.
A POWELFUL FACTION.
NEW YORK, Dec. 5-Inquiries among
the Chinese in this city by representa-
tive of the Associated Press establish
the fact that Hing Chung Woey,'
which in plain English means Chinese
progressive society" has large and in
creasing membership both in this coun-
try and China.
Prominent Chinese, when first ap-
preached, We're very reticent, but when
they were assured their names would
lot be made public, they consented to
talk about the matter. Several of them
acknowledged that there was such So
ciety in existence, but none of them
would say that he was member AS to
the purport of the organization it was
generally conceded that the Chinese
subjects were dissatisfied with the rul-
ing emperor and they were cognizant
of no other way to overthrow the en-
perors power than by secret means.
None of those questioned would ac
knowledge that headquarters of the So
ciety existed in this country, but one
or two inadvertently spoke of leaders
in San Francisco and New York. One
of the best known Chinese merchants
in this city said the movement was for
the overthrow of the present govern
ment in China and the substitution of a
Republican form of government. He
said the organization was more success
| full in point of numbers of enthusiasts
| than the most sanguine of the leaders
had looked for and he claimed that in
the United States alone, its adherents
could be numbered with six figures.
One more bold than the others volun-
teered this statement:
II cannot" he said, disclose any
thing with reference to the work of the
organization but when the time comes
to strike a blow for the overthrow of
the present dynasty and the formation
of a republic GA American lines, the
system of government now existing in
China will receive a severe shock, and
think we viii win. Were 1 in China my
head would pay the penalty for these
words But | think l have said enough
just now to give you an idea of how far
reaching our societys work has gone
Like all secret bodies. we have to be
reticent and while our work is being
carried on with a great deal of secrecy,
we have no fear as to its ultimate sue
cess"
head to be determined by the value of