The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-16
MN. KAN 10 arEr or CHINA.
The Career of the Young Reformer VINO
Met with Almost Fatal Success.

HeN win Almost fntnl SUCCESS.
From ne Chicago Record.
Kan Iu Mel. who. according to the cable
grams, is accused OF a conspiracy against the
life Of the Emperor Of China. is a remarkable
man. a sort Of meteor In Chinese politics. He
comes from Canton. but was educated in Hong
Kong, and is thoroughly Europeanized.
Having remarkable literary attainments. he
passed the highest examinations required by
the Government. and was appointed secretary 10
the Board OF Public Works. which has charge OF
railroad concessions and similar matters OF
administration. so that no has been In the
centre OF the row between Russia and England.
and his sympathies and influences have been
exercised in behalf OF the latter country. This
accounts for his escape and protection upon a
British man-of-war and for the fact that his
effects are. at the British Legation at Pekln.
wS 19S H Of t ths S ! %In against T. sWESsE Ssn Ham Snd
was director OF public works. Is that he as
sisted Kan TO escape the vengeance of Ii Hung
Chang and other Russian partisans.
China a year or two ago Kan Yu Mel stepped to
Mr.. Reid, a.Presbyterian missionary, organized
a club and started the first newspaper ever
They called il chinese FroorSSs and advo.
Gated reforms and the adoption OF modern
Ideas. including the right Of petition and the
In some way or other Mr.. Kan succeeded in
III lIOuEh lIit htCluSlOl lndt buTEOulub
the. Emperor and obtained admission to his
Malesty's, presence at all times, much to the
yative old princes. He became a sort OF tutor
to the Emperor in the study Of modern affairs.
Il was he who read to him the life Of Peter the
him the Emperor became familiar With
tRst d GEfn9D should Of not tt'RBs Be ls snd beR hfsG'v IS
nearest neighbor in the march, Of progress.
The Life and Deeds Of Peter tho Great" and
THE Reform alton Of Japan Since the ,Restora;
then e to i him M twice. in ords re to n fSst en- t RsR G conl
tents upon his memoir The result was that
Mr.. Kan's visits to the palace were often pro-
longed to eight hours at a time. and OF course
this excited the curiosity and jealousy OF other
mnndarinssii s ,neronoo xr,,u u., ,,,,o
series Of remarkable edicts which, created q q
sensation. One of them granted the right of
p Vided that "!t the ' boSrd Of i' ce eseFsV viii b %Ie Iter
PEI de erssnntin WITH q the bIs n SH S;ssty duty 1T OF reeeiyin y
not in office. or men Of the people. persons
hitherto not allowed to address the throne in
roys or governors. The Board Of Censors is
warned not to put obstacles in the way. Of. peo-
pie who wish to ommunicat with his Majesty.
for only through such courses can the Emperor
learn the exact state of affairs throughout the
empire"
luton and could not be tolerated by the princes
and mandarins at court Hence Mr.; Kan be-
amy WHY -uIiboluiul' IAo w DtI-
suaded the Emperor, to sign an. edlct recognIz-
ing the freedom Of the press, which was issued
are granted the special privilege Of writing
on political subjects in order to enlighten those
in authority apd tear of the veil which hides
This. indeed" continued the edict. "ia the pri-
mary reason for the institution of newspapers
His Majesty also called. upon newspaper
editors and contributors not to hold back
AVOID topics which have heretofore been for
hidden through fear Of giving offence TO ger
jesty's earnest desire to eniiehten his Ministers
and the masses"
Only those who know the condition Of China
can realize che sensation which this edict Gre
the empire outside the treaty ports. and any
had his head cut off. while an attempt to COM
municate with the Emperor was the most
Mr.. Kan is also credited with having secured
an edict for the establishment of a free.school
system and a number OF universities for in
struction in modern sciences. and also the
edict issued last spring requiring candidates
for office to be examined as to their knowledge
of modern affairs instead OF the ancient
Weng TunG 10, for a quarter of a century
KunG, had been the Emperor's tutor and had
more influence with him than any one else ex-
cept the Empress DowaGer. He was the leader
resist the influence Of young Mr.. Kan. but met
with n terrible disaster. He was stripped
VI hIS oIlCIS- anu nv lis " re-
kin and forbidden ever to enter the gates OF
the city again. Several others who attempted
to counteract the influence OF the young Cam
ton reformer met with n similar fate. and 1t is
believed that he. with the assistance of Chang
faction hsa aO at e sma o Wsre m nesP6esib Gf f fof t fr,t ren
cent degradation Of Lii Hung Chang.
Mr.. Kan believed that English influence was
the difference in their form OF Government and
the conditions, of their people. He believed.
also. that Russia was manPuverinR to annex a
large portion OF the Chinese territory, while
Great Britain only cared for the, trade. Having
fish colony. his sympathies were naturally
with the British Government, and ho was
doubtless in communication with the British
Minister at Pekin.
1t is scarcely probable that he would attempt
to assassinate the Emperor. but il would he
natural for his enemies to make this charge in
orde- to get rid Of him. According TO the de-
spatches this, morning. he received a tip from;
the Emperor himself and got away before they
could nrrest him. evidently with the assistance
of the British Minister.