Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-12-10
Fourteen of the Eighteen Prov
inces Are Engaged in
Struggle.
Refermers Are Careful to Re-
spect Treaties With other
Powers.
WAS STARTED MANY YEARS Ago

The revolution in China, which
broke out suddenly last October,
though unexpected was not unpre-
pared. The Reformist movement,
which is at the bottom of the revolu-
tion, was started years ago. The
action of Juei-Tcheng, the Viceroy
OF Hupeh and Human, in having
three members of the Reformists
executed hastened the rebellion
These unfortunate men were arrested
while holding a secret meeting and
soon afterward were decapitated.
AS soon as the news of the execution
spread, the Ke-min-tang (Reform-
ists) called their followers to arms,
attacked and burned the tribunals
and slaughtered the Mandarins and
Manchus who could not escape. A
great number of regular troops and
their officers instead of fighting
against the insurrectionists Joined
them.
When the Viceroy heard of the
desertion of his troops no alternative
was left to him but to abandon his
capital to the rebels and take refuge
on a Chinese gunboat. U-Chang fell
into the power OF the Revolutionists,
and soon afterward the neighboring
prefecture, Han-yang, was also con-
quered by them. They took posses
sion of the arsenal. in which they
found a great number of cannons
and guns and large supply of am
munition. The workingmen and the
mechanics, being kindly treated by
the Revolutionists, entered their
employ. Over 100000 taels
($1,400,O00) belonging to the i'm
perial fund fell into their hands.
Emboldened by this success, they
soon entered Han-kow, where they
az once took possession of the rail-
road station.
The revolution is very popular,
and IL is evident that discomfort must
have been general throughout China,
since the rebellion rapidly spread
throughout fourteen of the eighteen
provinces Of the empire. The rebels
pledged themselves to molest no one
outside of the Government, officials
and the Manchus. whom they intend
to replace by Chinese. TheiR motto
Is "China for Cinnamon" "The
greatest enemies OF the country are"
they say, "first the Tartars, the real
parasites of China, who levy tribute
upon the land and do nothing in re-
turn for it; and second, the Man
darins, whose only idea seems to be
the spoilation of the people. All
privileges are granted to the Tar
tars, who never knew how 20 protect
China, and still less how to render
K strong and prosperous. The Gov
ernment has always either put off or
discouraged all measures that would
be of advantage to the people,"
The accusations, voiced repeatedly
by the press of the country, prepared
the way for the revolution. They
found an easy echo in the minds of
the multitude of disgruntled people,
and secured the sympathy OF China
for the Reformists. On the other
hand, the flood and the famine that
ruined many sections OF the country
this year could not fail to increase
the army Of the rebellion. The new
recruits had nothing to lose by their
action and. on the other hand, there
was a prospect that they might bet
ter their circumstances in case of
success. This last contingent of the
army of the revolution may later on
cause much disorder. These men
who enlisted in the army were not
sctuated by patriotic feelings, but
by the expectation Of spoils. The
Reformers realize this danger. Up to
this time they seem to have, 10 a
great extent. kept their promise to
respect the treaties of China with
the other powers. They protect the
residences and interests OF foreigners
and preserve order generally, even II
TO accomplish this end they have to
deal severely with pirates and
brigands.