The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-08-07
REFORM PARTY CIRCULAR.
Letter From Its Leader to Chinese
in America.

New York. Aug. 6--The New York
branch of the Chinese Empire Reform As
ISOLATION is gradually gaining ground In
Chinatown. They have received a letter
from khoo Seek Wan. chief Of the reform
party In Singapore. 1t comes through the
San Francisco branch OF the association
and bears the date of June 26. A transla-
tion of part Of the letter reads as follows:
MY Dear Brothers: am very glad that
you have started society in America with
the object of saving his Majesty, Kwang
Hsu and to introduce all advanced civilized
idaps into the Chinese nation. This lauda-
BILE act Is much admired by me. Our En-
pire, as you are aware. IS not Il small one
and the number of our people Is very great
indeed. Still. at the present time. we are
being treated with contempt by all the rest
Of the world and are not accounted equal
to other great nations. Lately many large
concessions Of land have been made to for
eign Powers. and dare say that. although
the wholesale partition has been barely
commenced. I fear China will soon follow
In the wake of Poland and India. One was
swallowed by Russia and the other by Eng
land.
SHOULD this continue for any length of
time we will soon be without Government.
without homes. although We might have
vast riches and a powerful Empire. AS 1t
Is, our people are treated like animals serv
ing their master. You have seen the great
citizens of foreign countries, my dear broth
ers. and I am sure you have learned great
deal of Western history. For instance, you
have learned that neither England. Ger
many. America, France nor Japan was
powerful in the beginning and how they be-
came powerful. Always the work of Il few
clever men, who. in the beginning. took 1t
upon themselves to educate the people to Il
point where they could understand the
meaning of good government. Taking our
present condition into consideration. it were
probably better that we make our Emperor
absolute ruler until our people know more
Of the laws Of government.
Many of our frierds advised US to ap
peal to the friendly Powers. such as Eng
land and America. This is good advice, but
1t does not exactly agree with the old fam
lily law. I consider this to be our affair. an
affair between ourselves and our Emperor
and it is our duty to act for ourselves. For
eign Powers have nothing to do with It,
Besides. the time Is not yet ripe for for
eign intervention. IF We are ever to ask
their help. we must do SO only after we
have struck for liberty. when, If they up
prove our principles. we may depend upon
it they will offer their assistance.
You are aware my dear brothers, of the
great amount of good We have already ac-
complished. Our Emperor would long ago
have been murdered by the wicked old En-
press Dowager or her confederates If 1t
were not for the great fear CUR protesting
kilograms have engendered To be sure,
kilograms are but bits Of paper. but they
have had a most wonderful effect. I would
also inform you that our joint kilograms
have been much admired and commented
upon by the great Powers.
''I appeal to Confucius, Jesus Christ and
Jehovah and all the prophets, praying that
our association may succeed In Its loyal
work"