The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-02-11
CHINESE REFORM
HAS PROGRESSED
Constitutional Party Will CeIe-
brate the Adoption of
New Name.

Chinese New Years Day will mark
an important event in the history of the
Chinese Empire Reform Association of
China, and all its branches throughout
the world. 1t is the day selected for
the changing of its present name Chi
nese Empire Reform Association of
China) to- Empire Constitutional
Party of China" The event will be
celebrated with great honor in China
and in all the cities throughout the
world where the branches of the asso-
citation have been established. In Ho-
nolulu, the local association will cell
citrate the day with parade through
the principal streets and with speech
making by it's members and friends,
at the Association Hall.
The significance of the event is great,
for it marks the formation of a ma
tionaI party in CHINA party which
will work for the advancement of the
great Empire. 1t will undoubtedly be
of interest TO some to know the origin
and brief history of the Chinese EN-
pirs Reform Association, which will on
New Years Day become Empire
Constitutional Party OF China
Nine years ago, eight progressive and
highly educated Chinese, officials. the
most prominent of whom were Leung
Chi Tso and Hong Yau Wal, saw great
defects in the Chinese system of gov
ernment-defects which prevented
China from advancing to the front
rank among nations-came forward to
advocate the reformation of the Chi
nese government. They succeeded in
influencing our Emperor to adopt the
reforms which they advocated. Even
tually they were given the power to
carry out their reforms. number of
ministers and viceroys of provinces
favored the movement, for they saw
that the reforms would be most bene-
fetal to China and her people. So the
patriotic reformers, with great en-
couragements from the Emperor, zeal
ously carried out the reforms. But
woe was China, for the movement was
short-lived. The reformers. after three
months of earnest work, met the
strong opposition from the Empress
Dowager, who was influenced by con-
sentative. worthless, ignorant, but
powerful officials to antagonize the
movement. These vile officials came
forward to oppose the reform move
ment from a selfish, unpatriotic, and
ambitious motive. They urged the
Empress Dowager to seize the power of
the Emperor and make herself ruler,
and stop the reforms. She did as
she was advised. AS soon as she had
seized the reins of government from
the Emperor. she began her infamous
campaign against the movement of the
patriotic reformers. But fortunately,
before she could cause any destruction,
intelligence of their peril was hror
to the reformers from the Emperor
Hong You Wal and Leung Chi Tso,
Immediately left the capital for Shang-
hal, but the remaining number OF re-
formers refused to depart. They de-
clared that they had determined to
give themselves up for the service OF
China for her betterment and adj
vancement. and that If her ruler chose
to prosecute them, they would rather
die than flee from their mother coun-
try. These are the martyrs OF the re-
formation; and these are the patriots
of our home land. May their memory
be kept, and may their names be pre-
served In the annals of China! They
had helped in planting the seed OF re-
formation, and by the careful atten-
ton of their surviving co-workers, the
seed has grown to a tree and is now
beginning to bear fruit
Let us turn to trace the movements
of the two surviving reformers. They
had escaped from the executioner's ak,
and become exiles of their country.
Were they disheartened then?" some
will ask. No, Their defeat only serv
cd to stimulate them to resume their
noble work Of reformation with greater
determination and energy. Another
question might now arise in the minds
of some, ''Since they were exiles,
among whom could they work to effect
reformation in China?" This is the
plan Of carrying on their work. They
travelled through the principal coun-
tries of the world. where Chinese are
found, advocating reformation of
China. In all the countries, to which
they had been, they had the sincere
sympathy and support of their fellow
countrymen. to whom they had pointed
out that the advancement of China
depended on the reformation OF her
system of government-to change it, an
absolute Monarchy to Constitutional
government.
Having now enlisted the support of
their countrymen, the reformers set to
work to organize in large cities OF
principal countries, their supporters
into associations having for It's object
the promotion of reformation in China.
These associations came to be known
throughout the world as the Chinese
Empire Reform Associations.
With these associations firmly or
ganized, the reforrners turned their at
tention to the enlightenment of the great
masses of people in China. concerning
the conditions of their mother country
They recognized the fact that the press
is the most potent factor In influencing
public opinion and in the general edu-
cation of the masses of the people. who,
for the most part, were ignorant OF the
conditions of their own country. the
reformers accordingly esta olished
newspapers in treaty ports in China
and abroad. In the course of but nine
years they had established eleven
newspapers. the largest and most In
fiuential Of which is the Eastern