The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-06-29
HIS LIFE WORK FOR China
Kang Yu Wei an Exile From
His Native Country.
FOR REFORM METHODS.

cils of the Empcror---Rcform
Associations.
Kang Yu Wei was born forty
eight years ago in the Province of
Xwang--tung, District of Nam-hai,
near the city of Canton, says the
New York Mail. AS he grew up he
mbibed ideas about civilization and
sovernment vastly different from
Chinese youth. He showed this IN
MS first public work, which was as
president of the Canton University.
During the time he was president Of
this university he repeatedly memo
rallied the imperial throne, urging
the necessity of introducing proper
governmental methods in China.
This was between fifteen and
twenty years ago. About that time
Kang Yu Wei prophesied, in book
published by him, the approach of
the JapaneseC Chinese war and the
disastrous results to China that
would follow that conflict includ-
ing the loss of Korea.
The war with Japan broke out
while Kang Yu Wei was president
VI inc university Vi canton, II re-
suited in those disasters he had pre-
dicted. Prior to this time the EN-
PRESS Dowager had been in complete
control of the empire of China. but
the disastrous results of the war
with Japan caused her to decide to
relinquish her power to the young
Emperor, so that he would have to
shoulder the blame consequent upon
the humiliations heaped upon
China.
No sooner was the Emperor per-
mitted to take advantage of the pre-
negatives of his rank than he sum
moned Kang Yu Wei to Pekin. By
q that act the Emperor showed a de-
sire to be progressive, and Kang Yu
Wei determined to take the fullest
possible advantage Of his oppor-
tunity.
He took prominent rank in the
councils OF the Emperor, and In
1898, for a period of about 100
days, he was the virtual Prime Min
lister of the Empire. During these
100 days there were issued by the
Emperor, upon the recommendation
of Kang Yu Wei, reform edicts
which were designed to change
China from an Oriental to an Occi-
dental nation.
Before sufficient time had elapsed
enable the reform laws to be car
led out, the reactionaries, under
lie leadership o. the Empress Dow
ger, seized the Emperor. On the
ame date, September %, 1898, all
T the Emperor's reform minister's
of state and other persons to the
number Of ffty-three were captured.
Only two Of the persons wanted by
the Empress Dowagcr and her party
escaped. One was Kang Yu Wei
end other his pupil, LANG Kai Chau.
The Emperor was taken, a pris-
oner, into the aO-caled Purple Pa
lace, and was there forced to issue
an edict in which he stated that, ow-
ing to i'll health, he was obliged to
lelinquish the reins of government,
and asked the Empress DOwager to
again assume the responsibilities
she had laid down two years before.
I his edict was forced from the En-
peror, as is generally recognized
throughout the empire to-day
Since that day Kang Yu Wei has
been fugitive from his native LAID,
with price upon his head. He
managed to get aboard the British
steamer Ballarat, which was only
saved from being sunk by the Chi
nese feet by the timely arrival of
several British battleships, Kang Yu
Wei escaped to Vancouver, and i'm
mediately began organizing the Po-
wongwhui, or, literally translated,
Protect the Emperor Society,""
which Is known throughout the
world as the Chinese Empire Re-
form Association. Until about a
year ago, he lived under British pro-
lection in various oriental colonies
OF King Edward, including India,
Penang, Straits Settlements and
Hong Kong. About the beginning
of last year Kang Yu Wei went to
Europe and spent year there, trav-
cling in all the continental coun-
tries and Great Britain.
The chief reason why my friend
was not successful in his efforts to
moderpize and uplift his fellow
countrymen is that he did not have
an armed force to support him.
Kang Yu Wei is a great believer in
railroads.
Railroads are one of the princi-
pay necessities of China, in the
opinion of Kang Yu Wei, because
the Middle Kingdom is a country of
vast extent and at the same ime of
enormous population. without fa-
cilities for communication there can
be no homogeneous and compact ma
tion such as Chinese reformers be-
lieve is necessary to protect their
country from the aggression of for
eign powers, as well as from inter-
nal enemies.
In order to accomplish his re-
forms Kang Yu Wei will have to
overcome the following obstacles: