El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-11-29

" 7 ASHINGTON, D C., Nov. 70
w I want to tell you something
about Yuan Shin Kai, who has
just been reelected president Of the
Chinese republic. He is the Napoleon,
the Bismarck, the Ii Hung Chang of
the 400, 100000 who make up the China
of today. He is greater and more pow
erful than Ii ever was, and wrapped
up in him is the Immediate future OF
that mighty country. have been
travelling in the footsteps OF NuaA of
and on for the past % years. 1Irst
heard of him when I went to Korea ID
1888. That country was then a king
dom under the protection OF CHINA,
and Yuan Shih Kai had been sent
there by Ii Hung Chang to dictate TO
the king how the country should ne
run He lived at Seoul IN great state,
with hundreds Of retainers about him
ana wives and cOncubines galore.
Drove Japs From Korea.
It was due to Juan that the Japa-
nese were driven out of Korea and
he was really the cause of the first
war between China and Japan, which
resulted in the humiliation of mis- ma
ton A little rebellion had broken out
in Korea and Yuan. contrary 10 The
treaties of 1885, by which each Of the
great powers agreed not &c land troops
in Korea without Informing the other
powers, had Chinese soldiers brought
over to quelI the uprising.
the rebellion There were ENJOYS kneel-
ing out in the street in front Of the
kings palace day after day while
was in Seoul, and later, when I crossed
the country on horseback and bullback,
travelling for several weeks through
the mountains, 1 met everywhere dis
satisfied people and was only safe be-
cause l had special letter of prOJec-
ton which was given me by the king.
4uan was an especial prOtege OF Ii
Hung Chang, and it was through him,
In connection with Ii, that the modern
army Of China was organized. When
the war with Japan closed, he was for
a time sent into retirement but long
before the Boxer troubles ne had come
again to the front and had been mace
VicerOy of Shantung. He was a special
1ayorite Of the empress dowager and
mad won her gratitude by his treachery
TO the young emperor. When the en-
perOr Kwang Su began to introduce
foreign civilization in connection with
kang Yu Wei, ne took Yuan into his
confluence and gave him so many Of
fees that he became known as Yuan,
the refOrmer." He was allowed to drill
and equip modern soldiers and he was
really at the head Of the best troops
in China.
Is Ordered to Kill DOvager Empress.
In the meantime the old empress
doWager, who had nominally retired
from the government. was debating to
the young emperor how he should do
and kang WI Wei and the emperor
concluded to put her out of the way
Yuan Shin Kai was selected as the tool
Tor this purpose, and while he kneIt on
MS knees before the emperor in the
palace, his majesty commanded him TO (
move his army to Tientsin and there
XIII the vicerOy, Yung Lu. After that
he was to come on to PeI1in and sur
round the palace and kill the empress
1OWaSer- This was a big contract. and 1
uan said he would have to have sealed /
Instructions before he would under
axe It These orders the emperor re-
FUSED TO give IhereupOn Yuan Shin ]
Aal apparently consented and left Pc
4ln, the emperor expecting he would 4
10 the lob.
After considering the matter for p
lOurSY \ uan concluded that the lob {
was too dangerous. and he went 10 4
Ilentsin and laid the whole plot be-
tore 4ung Lu. Yung Lu took a few
soldiers and went on a special train /
post haste to Pekin. He marched ont
10 the summer palace where the en-
press doWager was then living and ]
aid the situation before her At her
'rders ne then came to Pekin and en-
cred the palace. He captured the en- (
)eror and confined him in a building I
IN little island in the palace grounds.
4 Gay later the empress dOWager came /
Jack She dethrOned the emperor, and |
rom that time until her death she was Z
upreme When she died the emDerOr /
uddenly took sick, and it is supposed |
nat ne was poisoned by her orders |
2OIne say ne was killed by. Yuan Shfh [
Aal Tor fear of his revenge should he I
gain be on the throne.
IN TINS way Yuan and Yung Iu really
aYed the empress doWager-s life, and /
[ IS no wonder that she was grateful. |
[ was as a kind Of thank offering to
ung Lu that she had his grandson, the
lUtle Pu VI, elevated to the throne. and /
{ was not her fault that the bow is
lot emperor today. She also gave
.uah Shih kai many high offices and I
noWered him with commissions of one !
ind or other.
When the Empress DOwager Died.
L was IN China at the time that the
IMPRESS dowager died, and Yuan was
hen the vicerOy or Chilli, and was
he greatest man in the empire outside |
he government. He had introduced |
MODERN schools and industrial estab-
ShmenIs- He was reOrganiZing the I
rmy and institUting all sorts Of re-
)rms
After the empress dOwager's death |
e had much to do with the govern
lent under the baby emperor. until the /
lanchus and others who were bossing I
ne administration concluded he was /
citing too powerful, and they sent /
I'm into retirement on the ground that 1 4
is legs were too sore for him to per |
)rm his duties Then the last great i
evolution came on, and Yuan again 4
)rang to the front The empire was ! 4
and the republic arose.
Rules Vast Number of People.
This, very briefly, is the outline OF i
le career Of a republican president
no IS the ruler OF four or five times
many people as woodrow Wilson. | 4