Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-03

gressive and advanced ideas as Yuan. lie
| has never been out of China except on a
| not highly important commission to
| Japan.
Ma Tung has held many prominent
posts in the service of his country. lie
| has been grand secretary since January.
1906 and from 1905 to 1906 he was presi-
dent of the board of foreign affairs. lie
has been also president of tho board OF
revenue member of the finance commit
tee and commanding general of the gen
darmerie
Ma Tung it is believed in Washington.
is not of sufficiently high caliber to dom-
nate the grand council was Yuan Shi-
kai. who was regarded the power be-
hind the throne The prediction is heard
that the deposed leader will be recalled to
power before long.
Nearly Lost His Head.
Ma Tung, however. has been promi-
nent figure in Chinese affairs for years.
So prominent was he just before the
Boxer outbreak that he came near losing
his head, and actually was put out OF
office.
About fifty-six years old Ma Tung is
a Manchu. a people intensely jealous of
the achievements of Yang Shi-kai a Chi
naman proper. 1t was as minister OF
the foreign board to which position he
was appoint ed in June. 1900, that lie was
accused of having been more or less re-
sponsible for stirring up the feellns
against foreigners which finally resulted
in the Boxer uprising.
After the Boxers had aSsaSSinated the
Japanese chancellor at Pekng, during
the Boxer difficulties, Ma Tung headed
| the embassy that was sent to Japan to
express the regrets of the imperial Chi
! neSe government.
When the foreign office was reorsanized
| after the Boxer trouble Ma Tung was
| left out of the councils. 1t was not long
after. February, 1902, that he WAS made
| a vice DreSid Mt Of the FOREIGN "'""
there being controller general, two presl
| denlS anu TWO VIJr preoIucII,S: An i'"'.
| he became d president, having as his
associate in that high office WI Ting
fang at present Chinese minister al
Washington.
This position of president he occupies
today, his duties member of the
grand council which correspond to the
American cabinet, not conflicting.
Made Grand Secretary.
Ma Tung is also the general commander
of the Picking police. In 1906 he had con-
ferred upon him the office of grand sec
rotary of the imperial government, a
purely honorary position in the empire
When the advisory council was appointed
to recommend reform. in 1907, Ma Tune
d
| Yuan Shf-Kai.
Yuan Shi-Kai. the great viceroy of Chi
| Ii province. was one of the most in
fuential and powerful statesmen In the
Chinese empire. He has been called the
| strongest man in China since LII Hung
Chang.
He is thoroughly practical. and brought
business methods to the administration OF
the empire. He worked assiduously for
| the advancement of the middle kingdom
1T ,fot,rr- ord haf W.
| capable of accomplishing just as much
as had Japan.
He inspired a national patriotism which
! is today doing much to sweep away
middle-age superstition and rebuild the
empire. lie has been a member of the
grand council since 1907, and in that
year he relinquished the post of Viceroy
! of Chilli but il was in this office that
he gained the greatest renown.
Reorganization of Army.
| Yuan Shi-kai organized an army in
China that was the wonder and amaze
ment of foreign military critics. He
succeeded In obliterating all the popular
and caste objections TO military service,
so that the sons of the nobility today are
| proud to appear in uniform.
| He substituted modern textbooks for
ancient classics. He compelled the aboli-
| ton of torture. He transformed Pek1ng
| from the flthiest city in the world into
Il metropolis, well-paved and cleanly kept
that compares favorably with many cities
of Europe and America 1t Is an undoubt-
| ed fact that Yuan Shi-kai encouraged
and represented the most progressive
ideas in the central government.
| AT the time of the deaths of the Emperor
and Dowager Empress of China, Yuan
Shi-kai was accused OF having poisoned
his majesty. This allegation was con-
| tanned in a dispatch received from Shang-
hal at the New York branch of the Chi
nese Reform Association.
1t was declared at the Mott street head
quarters of the association, that demands
would be made on Prince Chun, the new
| regent, to depose Yuan Shi-kai from
power and do away with him" 1t was
declared further that Prince Chun's fail
| ure to act upon these requests would
| make the prince himself the object of the
associations attacks.