Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-19
TONG LEADS IN CHINA
Especial Ambassador a Re-
former of Great Ability.
SUGGESTED CONSTITUTION
Will Study Methods Here to Better
Conditions at Home.
SELFISH TARIFF REVISIONISTS
Look After Their Own Interest, Not
the Country's-Mormon
Troubles in Tahiti.
SELFISH TARIFF REvIS10NIsT'
BY WILLIAM F.. CURTIS.

b1 NJ f. tChIIS
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
The special ambassador who has come
to Washington to express the apprecia-
ton of the Chinese government because
the United States has waived it's claims to
the Boxer indemnity has made a pro-
found impression upon every one who has
had the honor of making his acuuaint-
ance. He is rated as the ahIest repre-
tentative of his race We Lave seen in
Washington since the visit of Ii Hung
Chang. Mr.. Tong speaks English per-
fectly. He was one of the first group of
boys that was brought to this country to
be educated by Yung Wing. and spent
several years at Andover. at Hartford
and az Yale University Ever since his
return to China he has occupied I'M
rortant and. of late. prominent positions
in the government. and has been one ot
the foremost leaders oc the progressive
element
MI. Tong Leader OF Reform.
1t was Mr.. Tong who first suggested to
the late empress dowager the necessity
of a modification in the form OF govern
ment of China, and at her request pre-
pared a memorial to the throne. praying
systemsof representative government i'll
the different provinces. He prepared the
plan. described in this correspondence a
few weeks ago, which hey majesty adopt
ed in spite of the urgent Inconsistencies
of members of the imperial family and
many venerable mandarins at the court
Since that time Mr.. Tong has naturally
been regarded as the leader of the reform
movement. and, at the same time. he has
been the champion of the policy of
for f1,n Nv hot ,1,t-ac
is meant the education of native talent in
the United States and European coun-
tries to perform the official duties that
will he required under the new regime,
and to train others to assist in the task
of regeneration. 1t means that railway
and mining concessions and other great
enterprises for the development of the
material resources of the empire shall he
reserved for the Chinese rather than given
to foreigners. Mr. Tong believes the
own problems under the direction of their
own countrymen. and. therefore. never
loses an opportunity TO impress upon his
people the importance of preserving their
own self-respect and defending their dig
nifty and rights as nation.
What China Is Doing.
To accomplish the plans he has laid out
for China. Mr.. Tong has arranged TO send
100 young men to the United States every
year to he educated in different branches
of science-agriculture. engineering. chem
istry, electricity, railway construction,
mining. etc. we'll as in the science of
government. And at the same time
system of modern schools is being estab-
lished throughout the empire as rapidly
as teachers can be obtained. Under
edict of the late empress doWaSer uni
versity has been established i'll every
province: preparatory schools have been
opened at convenient locations: secondary
schools are now to be found in all of the
cities and free primary education will
soon be furnished TO every class of the
Chinese population.
Mr. Tong recently performed A very i'm
portant and delicate diplomatic mission
for his government in such a manner as
TO command the approval of his SOW
ereign and fellow countrymen- The re-
mote and primitive portion of central
Asia called Thibet has been universally
regarded as a part of China, but the
Grand Llama, the mead of the Buddhist
faith at Lhassa. the capital has detied
the authorities at Picking. and has re-
fused TO acknowledge allegiance.
Settled Difficulty in Thibet.
When Lord Curzon was viceroy of In
dia a military expedition under Col.
Younghusband of the British army was
sent to Lhassa to punish the Thibetans
for obstructing the highway of trade he
tween India and their territory. Befor.
this invasion took place Lord Curzon
found it eXpedient To obtain the permits
sion of China and invited the emperor to
send pentipotentiary from Picking to
arrange conditions. Mr.. Tong was Sc
lected because of his learning. his diplo-
matte skill and his knowledge Of Eng
lish. The conference lasted several
weeks, and resulted in the recognition
by the British government of tn" author
ity of the Chinese emperor over Thibet
on the one hand. and in the granting by
him of permission TO the authorities of
India to cross Thibetan territory and ad-
minister such chastisement as they con-
sidered necessary 10 the offenders. The
Grand Llama fed from Lhassa. to a
monastery IN Mongolia on tie borders of
Siberia ard remained there until recent
". when i,e was brought to Picking 10 of
fer lis allegiance Ia the Chinese emperor
VIII Study Methods Here.
E:."n lie wae appointed: 10 his present
mission Nj Tong governor OF the
promise 81 Mustien. which was Tn" bat
, lIefcid 81 the Russo japanese WAT and
has succeeded III performing The difficult
task OF restoring order and relivlng IN
GGstry In thai distracted region.
IL expects - remain in this country
for several months. studying the methods
of administration OF II" federal. state
.
+ cbinpanied by large staff of assistants
and secretaries. who will be assigned to
different subjects and different localities
to carry oil Investigations and make re-
ports that will be of value to the Chinese
as they gradually adopted modern forms
of administration and in the development
of their agricultural. mineral and forest
resources; i'm the construction and man
agement OF railways: in building roads
and Introducing other modern improve
ments into the empire.
Owing TO the period of mourning fol-
! lowing the death of the late emperor
and empress doWager, Mr.. Tong and his
associates cannot accept the hospita lir y
that would otherwise be extended to them
/ by the officials and citizens of Wash
| inston. Therefore their visit will be con-
! fined entirely to official business.
| Mormon Troubles in Tahiti.
| 1t will be remembered by those who
| are familiar with the history Of the Nor
mon Church that q certain portion OF