Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-08-23
CHINESE JUNTA IN AMERICA.
Reform Party Adherents in This Coun-
try.


The growth of the revolutionary
junta in the United States and Canada
dates from the time of Kong 70 Wais
mysterious journey to London, after
Kwang Hsu was deposed. What its
membership is cannot be ascertained,
but it is estimated TO be more than
one-third of the entire Chinese popu-
lation OF the two countries. In San
Francisco alone, where there are sup
posed to be between 10000 and 10000
Chinese residents, the adherents of the
junta are said to number 10000. Five
hundred out of the 600 in Seattle claim
allegiance to Kwang Hsu as against
the empress dowager, and even larger
proportion is claimed in Vancouver.
Small juntas are reported in Salt Lake
City, Denver, Omaha, Chicago, s..
Louis and other large cities. Also still
smaller bodies are listed in such west
ern towns as Walla Walla, Butte,
Helena, Billings, Bozeman, Livingston
and other places where the Chinese
laundryman hangs out his single or
the Chinese cook or laborer works in
the mines or on the railroads.
New impulses are constantly being
added to the American branches by the
arrival and departure of important
members of the junta from its oriental
headquarters. These members appear
and disappear upon missions, the ma
ture of which is not made known, but
which take them to foreign countries
and bring them back with confidence
extremely suggestive of important po-
| litical negotiations. One OF the rea-
sons for believing, although the facts
cannot be entirely substantiated, that
the reformers are not without assur-
ances of support from some of the
greater world powers is the fact that
Kong Yo Wal, the founder of the party,
was carried from Pekin by a British
war ship at the time Of the emporer's
deposition, and almost Immediately
afteTward he made his mysterious
journey to London. Upon his return
the rumor was broadly published, and
has not since been strenuously contra
dicted, and that he was backed by i'm
portant political influences in Great
Britain. Prior to the assumption of
power by the empress dowager, Japan
was doing all that friendly nation
could do to aid the Celestial empire
into such army, navy and social reform
as would strengthen it against foreign
aggressions. When the empress dow
ager went to the throne these efforts
were almost entirely checked. 1t is
presumed, therefore, that Japan's SYM
pathy at least lies with the reformers.
That it will be difficult for the United
States to avoid an imbroglio with
China may be surmised from the eff
forts of the junta in San Francisco to
secure the cooperation of several
young Americans in California who
foresee in the proposed revolution a
chance for personal adventure and dis
tinction. Proposals were made to
these young men to become active
agents, if not real leaders, in filibuster-
ing and even in the final act OF rebel
lion. According to statements recently
published, student at Stanford uni
versity, Harry Lea by name, has been
taken into confidence of the inner cir
Gle of the Chinese reform party and
expects to be one Of the factors in
plotting the ultimate military move
ments against the existing dynasty.
Lea has attended several meetings OF
the prominent revolutionary Cinnamon
of the Gate city, has made speeches
which have created enthusiasm and
otherwise taken practical hold Of the
propaganda. The Chinese consul-gen-
eral at San Francisco has made formal
protest to Washington against LEAFS
action. Similarly in Hawaii local
order of the Pc Wong Woey enlisted
the avowed support Of many OF the
white residents of the community.
The position Ii Hung Chang has
taken toward the Chinese reform party
would be interesting information for
| those who remember Gen. Grants dec
laration that Ii Hung Chang was not
only the greatest Chinaman, but the
greatest statesman alive. and for those
who have seen the little memorial tree
and bronze tablet placed by the astute
Celestial at Grants tomb at Riverside
New York In the light Of recent
open letter by a reformer, it seems that
Ii Hung Chang has by no means been
consistent in his attitude toward this
movement. Leung Chi-tso one OF the
leading refoTmers, for whose head the
empress dowager has offered a reward
Of S65, 900, states that Ii Hung Chang
was assisting him in the work OF re-
form only a year and a half ago, and
sent a message promising him support
Leung Chi-tso says that after he had
escaped from Pekin to Yokohama
message from Ii Hung Chang was
brought to him by Marquis Itot. This
message reads:-
Look upon your exile as an oppor-
tunity to study the customs Of the
west, in preparation for the glorious
career Of service to your country that
awaits you when China calls back the
sons she is now sending to ignomlnious
exile"
gfpea fhfe firna 4 Hung Chang has