Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-14
ADVANCE OF CHINA
Constitutional Government in
a Few Years Possible.
INFLUENCE OF RUSSIA
COMMISSION APPOINTED TO
VISIT FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
It Will Observe the Methods and
Forms in Use-Empress Dowager's
Confidence in Tuan Fong.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald
That China may have a constitutional
government ard a parliament within the
next few years is not only possible but
highly probable; and the present Crisis III
Russia will hurry the movement along.
Mr. Fleming D. Cheshire who has re-
Gently left Washington to open the con-
sulate of the United States at Mukden, ana
who has been in the consular and olpio-
matte service In China for nearly thirty
years, told me the other day that her I'M
nerial majesty the empress dowager had
evidently determined to follow the exam
ple of the Emperor of Japan, and volun-
tarily give her subjects constitution ana
a legislature, without waiting for them to
use the measures now in motion in the Rus
sian empire. She realizes that China Is
awakening; that the spirit of progress has
possessed her people, and that the throne
and the preservation of her dynasty. as
we'll as the welfare of her people, require
her to keep up with the procession;
Wise woman that she is. she has evidently
determined to lead II.
Confidence in Tuan Fong.
She has recently appointed hlsh conn
mission to visit japan, the United states
and the principal countries of Europe Tor
the purpose of studying the various sys-
TENS of parliamentary government, and has
appointed as a member Of that commission
Mr.. Tuan Fong, recently governor Of HUI
nan province, who has been one OF the most
active and determined reform leaders III
the empire. During the Boxer troubles he
defied the imperial power, stood by the
foreigners and took missionaries into ms
own house. He has been outspoken In MS
criticisms of the conservative members OF
ba
ton and graft among the officials at Pek-
ing, and has made himself one OF the most
conspicuous advocates of the reorganization
of the government and the abandonment
of the antiquated methods In vogue among
officials throughout the empire. He mas
been one of the leaders of the modern edu-
cation movement has established up-to-
date schools everywhere in his province and
has sent not less than five hundred young
men, at the expense of the government,
to be educated in Japan, the United States
and countries of Europe, in order that they
may be prepared to introduce foreign IDEAS
and methods among their people when the
time comes.
In forming the commission which Is to
recommend changes in the system OF ad-
mlnistration the dowager empress could not
have selected a more progressive, courage
Gus or conscientious man than Tuan Fong,
and Mr.. Cheshire says that before the de-
parture of the commission she called him
to the throne to express her confidence In
his loyalty, patriotism and Judgment. She
complimented him in highest terms for the
reforms he has introduced in his own prov
ince and expressed hope that he would
assist her in extending them through the
entire kingdom. She told him that the
intelligent manner in which he had point
ed out the defects In the existing sys-
tenn Of government and the suggestions he
had made in the way of reform convinced
her that he was more important than any
of his collea CUES on the commission to carry
out the purpose for which 1t had been APP
pointed She said with characteristic
frankness that Hsu Shh-chang was the
only other member of the commission who
appreciated fully the necessity of reforms IN
the Chinese government. although the other
members were very good men. She said
that the emperor and herself, however, de-
pended upon Tuan Fong for the success of
the mission, and whether the empire should
be granted a constitution and a parlia-
mentary government or not, would depend
upon his recommendations when he return
ed from his Investigations. She said also
that the only reason she had not appointed
him the head Of the commission was because
of his junior rank and because he has no
imperial blood in his veins.
Tuan Foug is Manchu of good family
about forty five years Old with an excellent
Chinese education, but he has never been
outside of his own country. He has &C.
has been governor of Kang-su province
well as Human, and for more than a year
was acting Viceroy at Marking on the
death of Ii Hsiang-hui-one of the most
important positions in the empire. He is
accompanied by two private secretaries
Mr.. Kao and Mr.. Wei-both of whom were
educated in Europe and speak French per-
fectly. Mr. Kao until recently has been the
private secretary of the viceroy at Can
ton.