The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-08-17
poxER upRlsINo ExpLAtNEp.
Speech Delivered BY the chinsse Re-
former Last Night.


and Ninth last night TO listen to the
address delivered by the young Chin
ese rtformer. Long Kai Tin.
The origin Of the troubles now dis
turbIng the celestial empire and the
causes for the dowager empress taking
the reins Of government from the empe-
ror were fully explained by the speak
er In the following speech;
"our country has population Of
over four hundred million souls, Ia the
largest empire in the world. rich in
mineral and vegetable resources and
should be the strongest country in the
world. yet It Is the weakest. All this
Is caused by the Manchurian govern
ment. II holds the country like It
holds It's own properly. very close. For
the last two or three thousand years,
we who were subjects Of this govern
ment have been held as prisoners.
My brethren, we now stand upon
American ground. as United States
citizens. This government treats It's
people well and you can see for your
selves how happy they are. They have
much freedom. much liberty. This gov
eminent makes good laws. George
Washington. who Is called the father Of
this country was a good man. His mot
to was freedom first
We must think Of ourselves. Of our
emperor, Kwang Hsu and see what he
has done for US. After the Tonquln
war with France our government
raised 30,OOO,OOO taels for the building
OF navy. The dowager empress used
this fund for beautlfylng her park.
called Ye Wah Yusn. As a result the
navy department has 20 funds. That
is the reason we lost the war with Jap
an. During the war the dowager en-
press cried every day. How can we
stand against Japan and pretended to
be very much grieved. yet the very day
that she received a message from Ii
Hung Chang that peace had been de-
clared and that we were whipped. she
opened the theatres and had good
time. When the cause OF our defeat
was looked into II was found that all
Of the shells used in 'he war were filled
with sand and peas, and many OF them
would not ft the guns. The arms were
all bought by son Of Ii Hung Chang,
known as Ii King Kong.
our emperor has been on the throne
since he was four years old yet the
iowager empress held the reins Of gov
srnment. She treated him very cruelty.
Soon after the close Of the war with
Japan, he requested the empress not
10 open the theatres. She became an
cry with him and ordered his carriage
10 be broken. compelling him to walk
10 his palace. 4 distance Of over twelve
miles.
Two years ago last March. when the
iowager empress leased Khan Chow
o the German government. the emperor
vent to the dowager empress and por-
ested against II in the following
words: You should not cut up the
country in this manner by leasing 1t
% the foreign powers. You give me
10 power. am emperor in name only.
4 am not given power. do not care
@ sit on the throne
''She saw that he was not to be
blinded any more 50 she gave him the
,ower he asked for. As soon as he
gain had power he sent for his old
professor and told him that he intend
d to reform the country and wished
ome advice regarding the manner in
which to begin.
yong Tin WI did not feel compe-
ent TO advise him but recommended
<an 70 Wal. who was sent for imme-
lately. Kan Yo Wal gave him much
.Ood advice regarding the reform sys-
EN- and the manner in which to go
bout in establishing friendly relations
With the powers. When he had finished
lis talk with the emperor the emperor
aid to him. I am sorry did not know
'ou earlier. If l had, l do not think
We would have ever lost Formosa. You
must help me in the plans you recon-
mend. If we fail in this reformation
IN willing TO die. will be ashamed
O face my people.
During a visit from Prince Henry,
ur emperor gave him a seat by his
ide instead of remaining on the throne
bove him. This caused a minister
famed Kong VI to become angry. He
'rotested with the emperor, but was
old to leave the palace at once. Kong |
II is now with the dowager empress
IS one of her advisers.
THE very first thing the emperor
Id when he was given power was to is
ue an edict to the people telling them
o establish newspapers in all portions
I the country so that the people would
eau nOTS anu ledIh ilOIS ISsdtulhb
he outside world. He also ordered |
hat public schools be established where |
he English as well as the Chinese Ian
mage would be taught. He abolished |
he duty collected between provinces |
nd commanded the treasury depart
lent to send him a monthly statement |
T income and expenditures. The army |
nd navy were established on the same |
asis as those of the large powers.
Il have read the histories Of all the |
reat nations and find that the people |
( these countries never gained their |
reedom as easily as we did ours, and |
was all acquired because our emperor
aw the errors Of those who had pre-
eded him and set about to remedy |
matters.
zone of the old ministers remarked |
= 4ba o,,,pa,oy. tDo not rive tha naonla |