The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1913-02-03
2-The Growth of Revolutionary Spirit

One might ask me how the revolu
ton of China is effected, and how d,
Chinese people proceed to bring abou
this great change. The movemen
seems startling even to Chinese them
selves. 1t breaks the record of al
revolutions the world ever had, boil
in speed and in efficiency. The fac
tors affecting the revolution are nu
merous. The spirit grows in stages
I might venture to answer this ques
ton after the manner of well-recog-
nized authority at home. Our students
studying abroad in the United States
and other countries of the world began
to realize 80 years ago that justice and
the welfare of country can be bet
ter promoted by a form of govern
ment other than despotic monarchy;
and the great example set by George
Washington and others of his kind
was altogether inspiring How did
they introduce this gospel at home,
then? They would be conspirators if
they attempted to do it.
| Then began a period of publication
of revolutionary literature conveyed
| by post to schools, guilds, societies,
and other public places. Such litera-
ture was, of course, condemned by the
Manchu government, conservative gen
tries and schoolmasters whose knowl-
edge never went far beyond their hor-
lion. But fortunately some fragments
did enter into the brains of our home
boys and new growths were effected.
What next, then? They must start to
work it out after they knew it.
1t was totally impossible. The Man
churian garrison soldiers were sta
toned in every province and in i'm
portant cities. A slight suspicion
would lead ones whole family to de-
struction. Our reformers must find
first some better places where they
could discuss plans and work.
After a while Japan was found tn be
the nest of our political reformers.
Many arrests were even made there
and the conspirators had their heads
cut off. In order to gain strength the
reform party must be financially
strong. There was no resource of
money. Our reformers were M rely
young students. They had no ri.h
purse; many of them committed sui
eide just because they were disheart
ened by their failure to carry out !. Al,
honorable purpose. Among those -,
sacrificed themselves was my intimate
friend, Chan-Fu-Pu who, dl.. ing his
trip from Japan to China on a commits
sion from the party, plunged himself
the very depth of the Pacific ocnar.
and never appeared again. A letter
was accordingly found in his cebin,
with the patriotic expression that he
would rather die than see he coun-
try go to ruin. Chan-F'a-Pu means
literally, in Chinese, would not flo i
he was therefore left to The mercy of
the sea monsters. This marked per-
iod of martyrs in our revolutionary
history.
1t was not until the coming to the
front of our greatest leader in this
d.. Sun Yet Sen, that
the reform party was better financed. |
DR.: Sun with his eloquence was able |
10 raise funds every where. Wherever |
he went there was a treasury with |
him. His emotional and spiritual adj
dresses made the past seem present
and distance near Never did anybody
hear him without being moved
With inc improved financial con
Ton the reform party &C uld afford 10
Juy ranks from the Mapchu an
ment and put some of its l. fmbers
nto civil and military Offices. Their
object was to get near to Manchu
princes and put some of them to
Heath, SO that the effect on TIL res
If the princes might be to better the
'ules and better the country. Dyna
mite explosions, secret pluts and
,omb outrages marked period of ter
or to Manchu princes and high Off
,ials. What was its effect?
A constitutional government, under
/ limited monarchy, was granted to
is; and q royal commission of high {
Ganchu and Chinese dignitaries was i
ppointeG to tour Europe and Ameri-
a for the purpose of adopting new
orm of government for the peculiar {
leeds of China. The royal commits {
year and returned. Hence a blend
toner's junketed on the continent for
ng of German and Japanese systems s
f government was recommended, with c
he divine right of sovereign; but, in A
lew of the half-hearted and easy L
ding program, millions were wholly Y
Instead of quieting the n
eople the concession of the throne
lcreased unrest and emboldened the t.
rdent advocates of better things. "
Little revolt was organized from
me to time which, in spite of it's Il
lilure to overthrow the dynasty, had n
reat influence upon the minds of the b
sople. Our newspaper sympathizers e
ACTED the horror throughout the W
,,1ntrv and orr rnfOrmnrc wora found ~,