El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-06-01
By
Frederic
J. HaSkin


I emperor Two years later. the empress
dOWager then become violently reac-
! tlonary, converted a small antl-dynastfc
agitation into general anti-foreign
! uprising known the Boxer rebellion
Powers Taught Lesson.
with black-hearted and barbaric
] treachery she ordered the murder of ali
! foreigners in China and besieged the
/ accredited representatives of the friend
3 ly nations of the world in tha legation
| building in her capital Tine allied
4, troops Of the powers invaded China,
/ marched to Picking, relieved the Iega-
/ tons, drove the empress and her court
into exile and put an end once and for
all to the Chinese doctrine of imperial
supremacy.
1t was not until white soldiers vio-
lated the sanctity of the Forbidden City
that China realized the truth that it
cannot remain isolated from the world,
even If it would.
Then came another era Of reform In
! ike the first, when China thought to
keep off the world by the ownership of
few naval vessels, and equally unlike
the second when the young emperor
thought to upset the foundations Of
three thousand years by writing his
edict this third reform movement
seemingly was based upon the expert
ence of Japan.
NeHc1 PROMISED by Emperor
A constitutional form of government
was promised by the throne. steps were
taken for the gradual and practical
education Of the people for the duties
and responsibilities of citizenship in a
constitutional nation, schemes for rail
way building on large scale were an
nounced, modern army was organized
ana placed in command of a progressive
soldier, newspapers were established all
ire
ton was extended and the telegraph
system greatly increased. Increased IA
clhties for communication had the de-
sired effect of creating, for the first
time, public opinion on national ques-
lions The empress dowager retained
her power, but so far as could be seen
she really was converted to cOnserva-
tive reform program.
Prominent Officials Degraded.
Something less than TWO years ago |
the empress dOwager and the puppet !
emperor died almost simultaneously \ |
BABY was placed on the throne and the !
orother OF the late emperor was made |
prince regent Almost the first act |
the prince regent was 10 dismiss and /
degrade Yuan Shih-kai, the commander
OF the army and, according to the for
elgn point Of view, the ablest and mostii
progressive man in China
Twelve months later he dismissed and
degraded Tuan Fang, viceroy of the
province of Pe-chihI, who ranked sec
ond only 10 Yuan Shih-kai in ability and
progressiveness. Tuan Fang had been
a successful vicerOy in the Yangste val
ley before he was promoted to Pc chilli
He had travelled all over the world. and |
was familiar with western institutions |
at first hand He occupied a place in
the government Of commanding fnflu-
ence and was regarded as the captain
Of the progressive forces.
Moving Pictures Cause Trouble
He permitted a moving picture
camera TO be stationed where it could
make pictures of the funeral procession
or the empress dOWager For that
preach OF etiquette he was degraded
md sent into retirement. Yuan Shin
zai was dismissed, ostensibly. because /
lie had rheumatism in his leg. These
Ire the contradictory things which make
[ difficult to believe in the progress
II true reform in China
During the same year when these two
great leaders We're dismissed. two other
mighty men in Chinese affairs were re- {
moved by death One was grand coun-
e.lor Chang Chih-tUng, the grand old |
nan Of China, head of the railway de- i
elopment and financial affairs OF the
mpire- The other was grand secretary
un Chia-nai. one of the ablest scholars
onnected with the government. The c
Elimination of these four men left the t
government largely in the hands of men j
whom foreigners are unable to form ]
ny very definite opinions S
Prince Regent a Reformer Y
Apparently the young prince regent
himself the actual ruler of the en- II
ire 1t is yet too soon 10 judge of his b
oility, but IT seems certain that he is n
ommitted 10 true reform. His great
ST weakness lies in the fact that he is Il
Manchu and not a Chinese If the a
resent anti-dynastic agitation should n
esult in open rebellion, there Is grave il
eason TO fear that the princes sense <
self preservation would cause him In Il
ecome a reactionary.
Grating Officials Dismissed. b
Meanwhile administrative reforms are lie
eng introduced, grating officials are 81
eng dismissed from high offices. ar 81
lngements are being made for rapid "a
dustr1al development. and the prelfn- I 10
lary steps in constitutional reform
i've been taken with apparent success. Sc
he very fact that China is being del 4 =
sed with progressive reforms poured | th
BON the people from Picking, is largely U
spOnsi5le for the agitation and unrest m
China today a,
China always has been Topsy-Turvy W
nd, and now it is reversing the expert de
ice Of western nations where re-
rms have been forced upon the throne Ia
the people, and is engaged in COM t.
ling the people to accept reforms for tt
llch they have not asked. and the ma Re
re of which they do not understand. Iis
American Inter I %