Evening star., 1913-10-19

shih Kai was the "open secret" II Dr.
Sun Vat Sen should come to America
and bring with him DIR. WI Ting fang %
explain the inside history OF that period
IL would prove intensely interesting In
this moment when lectures are in vogue
Dr. Sun Vat Sen and Dr. WI Ting-fang's
joint appearance on the lecture platform
woulc cast Representative Hobson's
rerfs,neratfvc fees far TO the rear ana
amass good-sixed fund for the demo-
cratic China. the dream Of the Chinese
patriots.
In January. laic. Dr. sun Yat Sen is-
sued q solemn manifesto to ali the powers
at the same time that he announced his
cabinet. Among other things he wrote:
We must appeal to the people OF the
civilized world in general and the people
or the United States for sympathy and
support both moral and national. because
You tAmericans) are Christian nation.
because We intend TO model our new gov
ernment after yours and above all be-
cause You are the champion OF liberty
and democracy. We hope we may find
many 1.afayettes among you"
January 1e 1912. IL may be recalled. DIR.
WI Ttng-fang, minister OF foreign afairs
for the government at Nanking. communi-
Gated to foreign governments the follow
ing note:
The Manchu government at Pekiug
having entered into negotiations with tho
republic of China for the purpose OF ab =
dicating its entire sovereign rights, pow
ers and privileges, We fervently pray
for recognition I'm order to avoid a disas-
trous interregnum."
The Manchu was now in q fix. In the
emergency he recalled Yuan from exile
and appointed him premier Yuan. guided
oy the Machiavellic hand OF Tang, ad-
vised remuneration" which meant alb
dication. Tang sweetened the pill, how
ever. with the proviso that Pu-Yi. tho
! infant emperor should be retained as thu
religious head" Of China. The empress
accepted.
Tang suggested that inasmuch as tho
| empress held the keys to the Manchu
treasure stored in the vaults of the For
hidden City, and that finances being low
! Yuan should ask her for money The
empress gave Yuan S2.ooo.o00 gold and
furthermore. on Tang's suggestion, ap-
pointed Yuan ''reconstructor of the re-
public
The empress, with little Pu-Yi. bade tho
premier and his secretary a fearful adieu
and set out for Jehol. the palace north or
PekinE, where the far-seeing Manchu had
provided, two and half centuries before,
Tor SUCH an emergency.
as
lie Chinese revolution mad marched
quickly. In December. 1911, fourteen
provinces out of eighteen
Speedy in China proper aligned
rLo~ themselves in revolt led by
an army and generals from
che clouds This army had no money. no
commissariat, but il had ideals Wash
ington. Napoleon and Lafayette, and for
the rest the hatred OF .Gs years of the
Manchu.
A correspondent OF those DAYS, writing
from Peking, pictured Yuan rs "A
Chinese Talleyrand'' whose "cross plays
were brilliant" But the correspondent.
perhaps doubtful of Yuan's real qualities.
wrote: The OLD Emperor Kwsng-
hsu, who had made him his chief ad-
wiser, cursed him with his last breath
as traitor and the cause Of all his mis-
fortune. Yuan has pursued a tortuous
course through the tortuous waters of
Chinese politics ever since. Yuan's career
| would make the plot for a meiodrdma
were IL not too sensational and improb-
able for the stage.
Yuan betrayed Kwang-hsu-he BETRAYED
kang Yu Wei, the reformer and philos-
opher, and betrayed Sun Vat Sen. Now
Dr. sun Vat Sen was absolutely without
ambition. an enthusiast, an ideaiist he
FOUND himself to bis surprise the head OF
nation of four hundred million souls
Was he prepared to direct the affairs of
nation? At the crucial moment his vic
torions army of 10000 men was asking
to be led to Pekins. Why would he not
lead them? No one. I repeat. but DIR. Sun
Vat Sen and DR.. Wu Ting-fang can tell
us. If is almost incredible TO believe
that man who for years had labored at
the risk of his life to bring China TO this
situation had not the heart to complete
the work. The North China Daily News
writes.
"The edict OF abdication was not pub
lished until February II. 1912 On the same
day Yuan Sbih Kai telegraphed TO Nank:ng,
signifying his adherence to the republic
and one day later DIR. Sun Yat Sen for
maily addressed q note of his resignation
to the Marking assembly.
There can be no question that DIR. sun
deserves the highest credit for his skill
ard sincerity in controlling the character
istics OF the assembly. Again and again
the cry was raised for an advance on
Peking, ard large numbers Of troops
estimated at nearly 10000 were massed
at Nankng and Pukou, osiensibly for
that purpose. Sincerely desrous of peace
and realizing that to this end certain
measure of confidence IN Yuan Shih kai
was essential. DR.. Sun threw the whole
weight of his personality into the scaie
for moderation, with saving TO [ e coun-
try OF much unnecessary friction, if not
actual bloodshed
DIR. Sun Vat Sen Is a Christian and f. g.
not impossible that being a man of peace
his q hris an soul
Why DR.. Sun shrank before the great
1r,:4,,J eiiusion of blood, even
WltnufeW. nassacres. which were
almost certain to mark the arr val OF his
victorious army at Peking. Such indeed,
is the appreciation OF the editor Of the
North China Daily News.
President Yuan Shih IAai, il should be
said in this connection, is a Confucionist.
or rather Shamanist. whose creed is tho
worship of the dragons. recent note
reports that movement Is on foot TO
restore the ancient faith OF China. The
reaction IS all the more serious that IL
Is led by enc of china's learned young
men who will undoubtedly be supported
bv Yuan Shih kal.
But 10 comp. etc tie note concerning the
events of 1912, Yuan Shih Kai was elected
February 20 of that year provincial pres
ident Of China. Yuan was elected with
the proyiso that he should come to NAH
king ana take the oath of allegiance. and
Until winch time DR.. Sun and the cabinet
would retain Office. February 20 Ii Yuan
hung OF Wuchang was eiected vice pres
ideIit.
While: Yuan hesitated to obey the sum
mons, Pelxing became the theater of wild
disorder among Yuan's soldie-y. A vast
amount OF property was destroyed and II
waa camp1np rllY1aof- in PeillnE that uall