Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1900-07-30

review of the attitude of the Chinese
reformers in the present cmbroglio:
From the moment the real character /
and magnitude Of the present agitation /
in North China began to be vaguely !
appreciated. those acquainted with the 4
recent political history of China began
to anxiously contemplate the POSSIBLE |
ty OF the opportunity being taken adj
vantage of by the hot headed reformcrs
in the South, who. 1t has been under
stood, despite the cruel check inflicted
upon their activity by the reactionary
coup d'etat OF 1898, have steadily In
creased both in numbers and In IN
nuence. In fact their actiyity-if we
can credit some reports persistently
circulated in Hongkong and Shanghai
seems to have even taken the pract-
cal form of smuggling in arms and am
munition in considerable quantities.
We are inclined to doubt the correct
ness of these reports, as we pointed out
some months ago. BE this as II may,
there can be little doubt that the acti-
witty of the reform party has been
much in evidence in the southern parts
of China during the past year or so.
The well known leader Kang luwei has
been in constant and secret communi-
cation with his friends at home. while
the latter have certainly not been re-
miss in disseminating the ideas OF re-
form among their countrymen. Under
these circumstances, 1t was but na.u,
raj to fear that those pledged to the IN
PRODUCTION OF new order of things
might seize the present unique oppor-
tunity for making some rash attempts
for the consummation of their object
But fortunately for China and no less
fortunately for the reformers them
selves, they have thus far done moth
| ing to warrant fears such as those in
| Dictated above
Whether this Is the result of wise
counsel or practical incapacity on their
part, II is difficult to say; but what
ever may be the. true cause. their at.i-
| tude OF quietude is one of the few salts
factory features of the present situa-
ton in China. Sympathizing as we
have always done with the aims and
motives of these reformers we have
nevertheless contemplated, and still
contemplate the possibility of such at
tempts on their part at this juncture
with anxiety and even dismay, for In
the present condition Of their prepare
tons II is easy to see that such at
tempts would have little chance of sue
cess but would only end in making the
confusion worse COMPOUNDED to the last
ing injury Of their country's most vital
interests. The most patriotic and
practical course for them to pursue at
the present juncture will be to desist
from precipitate action Of an extreme
nature and endeavor, so far as 1t lies
in their power, to support and
strengthen that combination Of tha
more enlightened section Of the Chi
nese and Manchu statesmen which, as
we recently pointed out in these col
umns, appears to be steadily assuming
a definite form in opposition to the
fanatical reactionaries now dominant
in the North.
According to the last statement from
the Nippon's Shanghai correspondent
who appears to be in touch with wha
Is going on in reform circles, 1t Seems
that the ACCESSIBILITY Of giving support
to the Chino Manchu combination II
question has not altogether been los
sight of by the leaders Of the reform
movement. They are, however, said L
believe that the hope for the success o
such combinations has been rendered
extremely slender by the recent turr
of events in Picking. In view of the re
peated rumors of the death of the En-
peror and other important parsonage
opposed to the ruling faction in IN
capital the reform leaders believe thu
the inevitable result of the present ira
gedy will be the disappearance from
life or at all events from the politica
stage of both the contending Manch,
parties in the North.
Firmly convinced of this view of tn
, situation some of the leading reform
ers are said to have recently approaC
ed in succession the Viceroys at WI
$ chang and Marking, with the object G
inducing them to break away from n
North and set about establishing
separate government In the South
Their proposal, as may have been eS
pected, was firmly rejected by Chan
Chitung, who Is said to have declare
that his official responsibility woul
not permit him to do anything beyon
his plain duty Of protecting the peopl,
10th native and foreign, under him an
maintaining order in his provinces
No less firm was the attitude of Ii
Kun-yi whose loyalty to the Manch
dynasty would not allow him to fol
, sake It so long as 1t was in existence.
D Finding 1t thus useless to place an
reliance upon either of these Viceroy
for the initiation Of any decided move
. mant Of the kind Soma NJ tho rpforI