Dewey County advocate. [volume] (Timber Lake, S.D.) 1910-1913, 1912-05-17

y55S9N EETee;=::@:::;:::::::::;:::s':::::::
Aa q as.s5 KING ;1z1zUzK2dTIz2H e
ut was only last December that
Chewfa Maha vajiravuth succeed
ed to the throne Of the land Of the
wlAte elephant. and now news
IN comes Of q revolutionary move
ment which has for its purpose his
abdicafion and the establishment Of
. republic in Slam. It il said that the
Nalap Of the south and the Laotians
q the north are ct the bottom OF the
present discomfort, but 1t 10 possible
that the natives are being used mere
" As instruments in bringing about
the change in Slams government, that
the real inspiration comes from the
Ranking Europeans. Today Siam =
the one surviving independent king
dom IN southern Asia, and in the light
Of recent events England's encroach-
ment on the west and French aggres-
sion on the east are suggestive OF
Slams peril.
King Va1iravuth Is said to have pro
voked Ill will by the adoption OF an
Anti4oreign policy, but this seems un-
likely when one recalls his education
in England and the debt which his ia
Their owed and acknowledged to his
European and foreign advisers. The
unrest in China and its influence
among the Mongolian Inhabitants Of
Slam has caused anxiety In the past
and probably provides now Z fruitful
soil for an agitator.
Siam exists today as IN Independent
kingdom principally because Of the
course pursued by the late King Chu-
ualongkorn l.. who did everything IN
his power to elevate his people to q
modern stardard. and the burden OF
this policy now rests upon the shout
dsrs Of young man whose European
education has fitted him to carry on
the task undertaken BY his father
hack IN 1868. In fact, It was with this
Idea in mind that tho late king sent
the crown prince to England In his
youth.
Descendants Of Hardy Race.
The siamese people are the descend
ants Of the hardy Shans Of the north.
Centuries back they started to light
their way to The coast, following the
sacred Menam southwark toward the
sea. Capital after capital was built
and abandoned as step by step they
hated and then moved forward again.
This went ON until the forebears of
tho present nation reached Bangkok
and established themselves . short
way OF from that long sought sea-
The years Of batting and toll gave
way to a Life Of ease and Incidence.
and the humid heat Of the lowlands
sapped the martial vigor Of that noun
tan race.
Both the court and the official life
generally lapsed into an easy-going
luxury. Denied a salary. ofiiAldom
hourished by virtue Of graft. Such
was the situation when King Chula-
lcngkorn !. came to the throne forty
odd years ago.
He recognized the need Of radical
reforms, and had force of character
enough to override the ancient prac-
tees. He stripped the governors Of
provinces Of most Of their feudal
power. Claims long standing were
settled. and thousands Of prisoners
held untried in jail were brought to
bar. while guilty judges were sent to
~ vacated cells. King Chulalong-
korn's path of progress was not an
easy one, and his achievements would
have been quite impossible
without the aid Of capable foreign
The kingdom Of Siam numbers q
population Of probably ten millions, II
not more. and Of these only about one
third are Siamese. The country Is
rich in natural resources. Apart from
IT. rico fields, its ivory. its rubies md
IT. sapphires, its teakwood forests are
= source Of incalculable wealth. The
Of the telegraph. the tele-
phone, electric lights. railways and
other commercial improvements has
worked wonders in revolution
lEing the spirit Of Siam. In helping
The native to reap more abundantly
from that rich soil American farming
have been potent For
vears, American typewriters with SIAM
ESQ characters have clicked away in
lustriously helping to promote the
business correspondence OF the coun-
Try; and American facilities and meth
DDS in other directions have helped
along the revitalizing Of the nation.
Bangkok, the capital. lies on the
Mother Of Waters" az
the natives put it-dfteen miles up
irem the Gulf Of Siam Situated out
of tho boaten track Of the tourist.
Bangkok has been little visited by
lobe tSot&sss. Apart from this.
DAylslsal conditions have helped to
lDsp the Sightseeing foreigner away.
~ sutlying bar . the rivers mouth