The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1912-05-10

| was why ittttihbSi that
Chowfa Maha vajiravuth succeed
ed to the throne of the land of the
white elephant, and now news
comes of revolutionary move
ment which has for its purpose his
abdication and the establishment OF
a republic in Slam. II is said that the
Malays OF the south and the Laotians
present discomfort. but II is possible
that the natives are being used mere
ly as instruments in bringing about
the change In Slams government, that
the real inspiration comes from the
thanking Europeans. Today Siam is
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 Vajiravuth is said TO have pro-
voked i'll will by the adoption of an
anti-foreign policy, but this seems I'M
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 Monaghan inhabitants Of
Siam has caused anxiety in the past
and probably provides now fruitful
soil for an hgltator.
Siam exists today as an independent
kingdom principally because OF the
course pursued by the late King Chu-
ualongkorn l.. who did every thing in
his power to elevate his people to a
modern stardard. and the burden OF
this policy now rests upon the shout
ders OF young man whose European
education has fitted him to carry on
the task undertaken by his father
back In 1865 In fact. II was with this
idea In mind that the 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 shRns Of the north.
Centuries back they started to fight
their way to the coast. following the
sacred Mennm southwark toward the
sea. Capital after capital was built
and abandoned as step by step they
halted and then moved forward again.
| This went ON until the foreboars OF
the present nation reached Bangkok
and established themselves short
way of from that long sought sea,
The years Of battling and toll gave
way to a life of ease and Incidence.
and the humid heat Of the lowlands
snpped the martial yigor OF that noun.
/ tan race.
Both tho court and the official life
generally lapsed into an easy going
luxury Denied salary. ofiiIaldom
fiourished by virtue Of graft. Such
was the situation when King Chula.
longkorn 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. lie 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
the vacated cells. King chulalong
kurns path Of progress was not an
easy one. and his achievements would
probably have been quite impossible
without the aid OF capable foreign
councillors,
The kingdom Of Siam numbers
population OF probably ten millions. n
not more. and of these only about one.
third are Slnmoao. The country IL
rich IN natural resources. Apart from
It's rice fields. IL ivory ita fuhioa md
It's nnpphirea, its tsnkwood forests are
source Of incalcnlnble wealth The
Introduction Of the telegraph, tho tele.
phone. electric lights. railways and
other commercial improvements has
already worked wonders In revolution.
hing the spirit Of Slam. In helping
the native TO reap more hbundantiy
from that rich soil American farming
implements have been potent For
veara. American typowrltcru with Sian.
ono characters have clicked away In,
dnstriously helping to promote tho
buaineas correspondence Of the coun.
Try. aud American facilities and meth
DDS In other directions have helped
along tho rcyltalising Of the nation
bangkok. tho capital, lies ON the
Mcnam THE Mother Of Waters" an
the natives put fifteen miles up
from the Gulf OF Siam Situated out
OF the beaten track Of the tourist
Bangkok has been little visited BY
globe trottoru Apart from this.
physical conditions have helped To
keep tho sightseeing foreigner away.
he outlying Sar at tho rivers mouth