Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-19

memorial He was given permission to sit
by the emperor's side and talk with him
like any other person, being, 1t Is said the
only man who ever enjoyed that privilege.
The result of the conference was the prep
aration of a program of reforms and kang
was instructed to prepare series OF ed1cts,
which were afterward proclaimed by the
emperor at intervals of few weeks, COM
pletely recognizing the administration and
methods of the government. The reforms
continued for seven or eight months. Kang
was appointed secretary to the grand coun-
Gil and was given almost autocratic au-
thority to carry them out. In the mean
time he published the Progress newspaper,
which was edited by disciple, LANG Chi
Chao, an accomplished literary man, who
Is now supposed to be in Yokohama. A
price of $4,000 has been set on his head.
With the assistance of Mr. Reed, Mr..
Richard and other missionaries and for
came sort of university. where the sup
porters of the reforms and the progressive
element gathered for discussion and mutual
encoura cement.
1t is generally supposed that during that
eventful winter of 1Sy9-19OO Mr. kang had
frequent and prolonged conferences with
the emperor, but he assures me that he
never saw his majesty but once in his life
which was on the occasion of the all-night
interview, but communicated with him in
writing almost daily for several months
Keeping him informed promptly of the
progress of the reforms and public senti-
ment concerning them.
The Emperor Deposed.
If the wheels of progress had moved a
little more slowly; If the apostles of re-
form had been little more deliberate; If
the element of practical common sense had
been introduced, and If the zeal of the re-
formers had been tempered with discretion
the consequences might have been different
but their acts were SO revolutionary their
movements so rapid and the changes so
radical that they overreached themselves
The ancient and venerable mandarins who
were turned out of office and degraded
united their forces and appealed to the en-
press dowager, who sent to Tien-Tsin for
the viceroy, Jung-Lu, her nephew who
was also commander-in-chiefo of the army
They prepared the celebrated coup d'etat
by Which the emperor was deposed the
empress assumed authority, the reforms
were revoked. the old order of things was
restored. and the reformers were executed
and imprisoned Kang was one of the
few who escaped.
He told me that one morning he was as
tonished to see In the official gazette an
edict signed by the emperor commanding
him to go to Shanghai by the first steamer
and start newspaper similar to the Prog
ress He says that he knew from this that
something was wrong, because the idea of
starting newspaper ia Shanghai had never
been discussed or even suggested. He has
never received an explanation The same
morning he received a. note from the en-
IL.
written with his majest's own hand. saw
Ing that he was im the power of enemies.
J that his aunt, the empress was enraeed at
him; that he was not allowed to see any
of his friends and that his life was threat
ened. He commanded kang to confer with
the ministers fromo thet United States and
England and ask them 40 interfere to save
and protect him. The second note. also in
the emperor's writing, was even more
urgent, and begged Kang without a mo-
ment's delay to confer. with Mr.. Coneer and
Sir Claude MacdopafdA and devise some
means to rescue him from the Vengeance
of his aunt At the same time he warned
Kang that the latter'si fife was In danger
and that he must fsave the city at once
Hangs Escape to Hongkong.
Kang went to the American legation and
the British legation and could find nobody
Both the ministers and their secretaries
were in the country. Nor could he find Mr.
Reid, who also had left the city for the
heated term, but he succeeded in finding
Mr. Richard to whom he showed the en-
perors notes, and the latter promised to
communicate Immediately with the British
legation. Kang thinks that IL Mr. Conger
and Sir Claude Macdonald had been in
Peking and If they had acted promptly in
the emperor's behalf, the crisis would have
been averted and all the subsequent trouble
prevented but he was poWerless and
obeying his majesty's instructions. he left
Picking the next morning at clock. with
out the knowledge of any one but his
brother succeeded In catching a steamer at
10 o. clock the same day at Tien-Tsn. was
met at Shanghai by the British consul, who