The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-30

cisn powers. \. soon as the troubles
were settled he came 10 the support
OF the Empress Dowarcr aud took his
place As the strongest and most mo
Eressivc man Of the progressive move
mcnt. which was then inauCuratcd.
WAS in China ~ the tire that The
Empress Dowacei died, aud Yuan was
then the Niccroy of Chihii. and Was
the greatest man in the empire out
side the government He had intro
duccd modern schools and Industrial
establishments lie was rcorganizing
the army and institutins all sorts OF
reforms
After tho Empress DowaScr's death
he had much to do with the govern
mcnt under the baby Emperor. until
the Manchus and others who we're
bossinG the administrations concluded
lie was getting too powerful and they
sent him into retirement, on the
ground that his legs were too gore FOR
him To perform his duties Then tho
last g"ea, revolution came or. and
Yuan again sprang 10 the front The
empire was shattered aud the repub-
lie arose. doubt not he could have
taken an arm" and uottcn possession
of tho throne himself Many thought
lie would do 50. but lie WAS content TO
let china lie q republic. and he is now
its President ana practically it's die
tator
This. very briefly. i, The pltlinc Of
the career OF a republican President.
who is the ruler Of four or I'VE times
, rs many people as Woodrow Wilson.
Ii is only the outline Ills whole
career has been fun of romance. ANA
the story would make q book OF sur
passing interest Yuan Shih Raj was
only thirty-onc wears o!c when rir.;
saw him in Korea. ana be is only nbou,
hiiH-ftrc now. lie started life as a
roor boy. but. like many poor Chinese
hoNs was given enough schooling to
enable MIN TO pass the examinations
ana get into the army. He rose So
rapidly that he Was residcr. general
"l Korea before he reached thrty. ana
Z from then on he has been in the thick
OF Things and making history
During his stay in Korea he was
dictatorial and insulting to nc
Noreans and tho foreigners Tic
Chinese Japanese War made him :, dip
i"nIat. and he is nov one Of the most
conservative Of statesmen. Ito thinks
twice before nc acts and still he is not
afraid 10 make decisions and act
promptly.
was told in Picking how Yuan shih
'r"' p"' COW u rebellion while lac M..;
\iceroy of chilli. rhis was iust ,C-
Ter the RoNer Rebellion. when tho for
eigners sim held Ticntsin Yuan had
moved with his viccrceal court To pao
ilnSin The country was sim filled
WIN the Turmoil! Of tho revolution. ANA
u was n"cessarA That Yuan should
Shc" The foreigners that he could con-
! tfoI. lie sent orucrs to the rebels thai
nc! must sunr'Ii. and upon their re
'uSlnS 10 DO s.. ordered :; regiment of
soldiers to march TO the town wbcr.
the! were. and. if they did not AT once
pun down their arms, 10 slaughter them
en- tiass". The rebels showed night.
ana Yuan Shh kai wiped on, The
to"h' Killing loco Of the peo-
pie III less than one hour
The day after THIS Yuan said 10 mo
american who told me this story:
suppose Your people 1t Tioutsiu
VIII CRITICIZE my action. hut IL the, dc
so YOU may tell them that that is I'm.
"Hy d" business. and That future re.
hcllions viii DO handled like this"
The story of this slaughter vo,,
over North China. and il struck terro,
10 the hearts OF tho Euxcrq II ,lso
convinced the foreigners that yuan
meant business