The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-01-24

The~lifc story of Yuan Shih k'ai, the
first president of China, is, in It's
broader outlines at least, IN inspira-
zion to every poor boy, be he occi-
dental or oriental. Yuan shin kal
rose to power, both under the Manchus
and in the new republic, as a roush
soldier and not along the floWery
paths of the prescribed Hanlin schol-
arship. With the Chinese. high and
low. the scholar always has stood first:
the soldier almost last. only the actor
and the barber ranking lower in their
inflexible social system. Yet Yuan
Shin k'ai. poor, relatively unlettered
barely within the pale of official re-
speciality because of his Calling
rose to greatness, conquering not only
deep-rooted custom, but defeats and
disgraces which would have over
whelmed any ordinary man.
Yuan Shin K'ai was born to poor
parents in HOnan province in lA5S.
BY taking the bachelors degree III the
classics he barely qualified for future
recognition, and then became a ui!i-
tary subaltern. He is next heard of
in Korea. then a dependency of China.
Legend hath it that his superiors sent
him there because he had a very dis
quoting way Of doing things with
startling dispatch and uncomfortable
| firmness. At the early age of 30, or If
1890, he was commander of the troops
and resident general of Korea. -Four
years later came the disastrous VIZ
with Japan Eer Korea. 1t was at once
tIl ,,r,alf,1r and tho MAKING nf tho
| great Yuan Shin K'ai.
He was blamed for not conriljatinE
the Japanese, and was accused Of Ue-
ceiving Ii Hung Chang as "a the true
state of affairs in Korea. He was re-
called, reduced to a minor post in OBJ
scure WenchoW. and forgotten. Bat
the smashing victories of the Japa~
nese trained troops over his oWn-
lusty heroes armed with poisoned ar
rows, hideous sounding gongs Il Il
stink pots-showed him that China
must be moderniZed or go under. lie
was not the first Chinese to learn this
lesson, but he was the first to lay t
down as a rule to be followed day AMI
night, with the convenient exceptions
When it best serVes even a modernt4a1
Chinese's interest to be wholly Chi
ncSe.
Pondering over this great truth in
bucoIic WenchoW led yuan to get in
touch with, and gain the friendship %,
Kang Eu-Wei, the noted Chinese agj-
tatOr. In 1897, or Whereabouts, Rang
vcrtured north to pekin, capital of tic
empire and stronghold of the Manchns.
In a single interview he 50 won thnI
confidence of Emperor Huang Hsu
that he was permitted to outline a Il
program for the reformation of the
country. Early in 1898 kang Yu-Wei
secured for Yuan Shin Kai a private
audience with the emperor, just as his
majesty was on the brink of that
famous "~hundred-dav reform" Yuan
pledged himself to the cause, and the
emperor put him on the official eligi-
bic list. He was made expectant vice
I president of a board and given com
mand of a ~disorganized army corps.
So Yuan Shin k'ai owed the restora-
ton of his fortunes to a radical re-
form and his own oath to fight for a
better day in China. At first he
wrought well and was called Yuan the
reformer. Beginning with a few SOL
diers he soon had about 10000 fairly
drilled troops. He was fair and hons
est with his men, and stunned fat
contracts for military supplies. His.
foreign instructors SWorc by him.
In the meantime Emperor Hsu was
issuing reform ediCts at a rate that
thoroughly aroused the Empress Do
wager Til An. The emperor decided
that it was necessary to inprisOn her.
and by murder eliminate her most
faithful and powerful supporter-Jung
Lu, viceroy of Chihli, her childhood
friend, one a lieutenant Of the palace
guard when she was merely a conbu
hine of the second grade In the house,
hold of the then emperor.
The delicate task of taking Jung
LUIS life was given to Yuan. He was
agreeable, and bowed from his ma
iesty's presence with these words on
his lips. Your servan will endeavor
to rcCompense the imperial favor even
though his merit be as a drop Of water
in the ocean or a grain of sand in the
desert; he will faithfully perform the
service of a dog or a horse while there
remains breath Of life in his body"
But Jung Lu was not killed when
Yuan reached Tientsin. Several.
months before, while i'll the very heat
Of his progrcssiVcnoSs, Yuan had
taken tho oath Of Brotherhood with
his same Niccroy Jung Lu, arch
enemy Of progress. S~mothering his
pious vow of Il few days before, Yuan
revealed the plot to his intended vic
tim who prOmptIV notified TZi An.