New-York tribune., 1909-01-03

Washington. Jan. Though the news Of the
downfall of Yuan Shih Kai not entirely
expected in official circles here. it received
with regret, for the State Department has keen
recollection Of the great services rendered BY Yuan
Shih kai 10 every Christian nation IN bringing about
communication by secret means with the foreign
ers beseged in the compound at Picking during the
Boxer uprising. AT that time Yuan Shih hai
Taota OF Shanghai, and did nor hesitate to use all
Of his great power TO secure news from the COM
pound which gave the first assurance to the out
side world that the diplomats, their families and
attaches were holding their within the lesa-
ton precincts. It this Information which Yuan
Shin Kai conveyed through the American Consul
General at Shanghai to Mr. Hay that encouraged
the European governments to join with America
in the renarka BILE allied march TO Peking resulting
in the liberation OF the legationeTs.
For some time there has been reason to suspect
that Yuan Shh KaI not closely in touch with
the new administration in China. There mad been
charges affecting his official integrity. but these
had come to nausht long the old Empress
Dowager lived, for she had unlimited confidence IN
Yuan Shih Kai.
Yuan Shih Rai, the great Viceroy OF Chill prov
,rce Is one Of the most influential and power
fr,I statesmen in the Chinese Empire. He has been
called the strongest man in China. and infinitely
more powerful than WAS Ii Hung Chang. lie IS
rhoroughly practical man. and brought business
methods TO the administration OF the empire lie
worked assiduously for the advancement or the
middle kingdom and his motto was: China is
capable OF accomplishing just as much as has
Japan He inspired a national patriotism "i''
IS to-day doing much TO sweep away Mlddie a%N
e,,narstiffou and rebuild the empire. lie mas be'fi
. member OF the Grand Council since l97 and
in that year he relnquished the post c. N!oeF'<
Of Chilli but It was in this office tha' lie gained
the greatest renown
yuan Shfh Faf organized an army in China that
WAS the wonder OF foreign military critics "ho
considered the conditions under which ne worked
He succeeded in obIiterating all the popular ana
ste objections 20 military service so that lle
cons NJ the nobility to-day proud 20 appear
- ,,,for,, He substituted modern textbooks fer
ancient classics he compelled the abortion ~
torture and transformed Pekins from me "i''I
est city in the world into metropolis wen paF7n
a,5 c,eanly kept that compares faVoraoIy WIN
r,.ry cities Of Europe and America. 1t IS an un-
doubted fact that Yuan Shh kai encouraged ana
represented the most progressive lueaS III "le ce
trail government ~
TTa vas Director General Trade and InteTna-
-to-,oI Relations in Corea and Judicial ComInis-
sinner Of Chill in 1887. In 1888 he was appointed
n tie vice-presidency Of an army corps Soh'Io'
hoard and in 1899 to the vce-presidency OF TIE
poord IF Works In the year he was mace
.., C-o,-er,or General Of Chill. In December
% 1qo1 he was appointed Junior guardian OF o'e
heir apparent: in 1902, consulting minister 10 me
council OF government; in l%@' presiue"' u "7
army reorganization council
A. tbe time of the deaths OF the Emperor anu
r-r,-rass Toyvager OF China Yuan Shih hal WAS
accused of having poisoned his maJestE- i''S d.
legation was contained in dlspalch recel'e u " "
ct,rgba, AT the New York branch OF the 'hliese
90, Association. The communication was sdld
70 be as follows:
yran shih Kai poisoned the Emperor ii'"Se
rabla TO Peking 10 attack MN.
II WAS declared at the Mott street headquarters
~ +ha association that identical dispatches mao
leen sent to branches OF the reform association IN
IN eections Of the world. and that demands would
no made on Prince Chun, the new Regent 70 DE
nose Yuan Shii1 Kai from power and do away win
In, " II was declared further that Prince Chuns
..u,re 70 act upon these requests would make the
r,pca himself the object Of the associations at
tAcks -,
Na-tung. the successor Of uan Shih raj mas Held
=. .,,z,ortaDt posts in the service Of his coun-
-. He has been Grand Secretary since January.
7qns a~d from 1865 1906 he was president OF the
r2oard If Foreign Affairs. He has been also Pres!-
dent Of the Board of Revenue, member of the
Finance Committee and commanding general of tie
g.rdarr,erie He is a nntive OF Manchu:ia and
provincial graduate.