The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-08-24

over 10000 Chinese In the hawaiian Is
lands and OF these at least $1,000 are
members of the reform society, the Bow
Wong Wui. sworn to strike for the res
toration of Kwang Hsu, the deposed
Emperor. and for the overthrow of the
Dowager Empress. They have been
particularly active of late, in fact. have
taken an aggressive attitude that be-
lies Kipling's lines,
"For east is east. and west is west,
And never the twain shall meet"
For they have demonstrated the eX-
istence of western spirit that had
never been suspected.
A Honolulu journal was led to re-
mark:
"Who says the Chinese are unpro-
gressive? Certainly the Chinese of the
Hawaiian Islands are. and take to the
western mans methods as quick as n
duck takes to water. If in Peking there
was a leaven of people such as the
leading Chinese here, there would be
far less chance for complications with
western powers than there Is now.
1T is a remarkable thing for Chinese
residents in Hawaii to ask the Ameri-
can diplomatic agents at the European
courts to lay their plans before those
governments The Chinese of Hawaii
have demonstrated very clearly that
they can be keen political thinkers. ana
that they can talk politics alongside
any one. They have also made a move
which is unique in character and which
may have political results in the fu-
lure.
THE REFORM MOVEMENT.
some time ago there went to Hawaii
Leung Chi-tso. a young reformer and
supporter of the Emperor. The Ha-
:. waiian Chinese. under the guidance of
the young reformer. took a solemn
oath to give their time. their money
and, IL necessary, their blood to the
welfare of their land.
Leung uttered a warning against the
attempt to partition China. He de-
clared that of the 400. 900. 900 of people
in China at least nine tenths would
Join the Boxer movement If such an
attempt were made. Leung knows his
own people, and has been devoting
himself to their Improvement and ad-
vancement, and as patriot he desires
TO see a regenerated China, but he Is
quite unwilling to see conquered
China.
His efforts have been directed to up
lifting China and her people into the
position of one Of the great powers of
the earth, and assimilating her with
western civilization and western
thought. His methods are educational.
Leung's propaganda fiourished SO
well that a mass iieeting of Chinese
recently held in Honolulu adopted res
olutions asking the powers to remove
the Empress Dowager and restore the
young Emperor to power.
A committee of seven was appointed
to prepare copies of the resolution to
be forwarded to Washington, and to
American Ministers at all European
capitals.
Rev. Edward II. Thwing, who spent
eight years as missionary In South
China, and who is now engaged In
work among the Chinese, was among
those at the meeting. He says that
one of the things that struck him was
the cheering and the patriotic refer
ences to the Chinese flag. He says that
he has seldom heard Chinese cheer In
enthusiasm before. or heard them ex-
press sentiments regarding their flag
such as western nations hold toward
theirs.
REPRIsALS IN CHINA.
Meanwhile the enthusiasm and activ-
tty of the Chinese reformers We're made
known to her majesty, the Empress
Dowager. and her majesty not having
her rebellious subjects at hand to pun
ish. did the next best thing. punished
their relatives in China. 1t is a pecu-
liarity of the Chinese judicial system
and Is designed to keep whole families
straight and loyal. Yang Wei Pin,
Chinese Consul General to Hawaii. was
accused of sending the names of the |
refurmers to the Chinese Government. |
When confronted with the charge he
admitted 1t. He did send to the Chi
nese Government the names OF the
members of the Bow Wong Wui of
Hawaii. He did brand the local re-
formers. and adherents OF the society
for the restoration of the Emperor.
Kwang- Hsu, to the throne OF China.
He declared. however. that the Bow
Wongs betrayed themselves. He said:
YANG'S STATEMENT.
when the Bow Wong Wui was or
ganized here i warned all of the Chi
nese to keep out OF 1t. / told ,hem
that they would be marked men: that
they would earn the stern dislike OF
China. and that they would suffer II
they became members OF the reform
society. Shortly after this, however.
the Bow Wong. which had been organ
lied, sent their circulars broadcast
over America, and even to many places
In China. These circulars gave the |
names OF the various officers OF the |
society.
1.-The Chinese government communi- |
Gated with Minister WI and asked IL
II was true. as stated In the circulars. |
that the Bow Wong had been organized |
In Honolulu. He turned TO me for in |
formation upon this point, and In jan
nary j received communication upon |
the subject from him. He requested |
me to provide him with the names OF
the ofi1cers and members OF the society, |
and also to keep him posted regarding |
the progress of the organization. I
had no choice In the matter, as II was
an official communication, SO that / at |
once provided him with the informa-
tiOn he sought.
BOW woNGs DENoUNcE YANG.
The Bow Wongs at Honolulu are Bit
ter against the Consul General Nawa