El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-01-24


its broader outlines at least, an in
spiration to every poor boy, be he ocei~
dental or oriental Yuan Shin K'@i
rose to power, both under the Man
chus and in the new republic, as =
r~-~h soldier and not aleng the
nowery paths of the prescribed Han
lin scholarship. 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 Kai, poor, relatively IN
lettered, barely within the pale Of
fetal respectab.Iity because of his
calling, rose to greatness, conqueri1S
not only deeprOOted custom, but de-
feats and disgraces which would have
overwhelmed any ordinary man.
Fought In Korea.
Yuan Shih Kai was born to poor
parents in Honan province in 1858. By
taking the bachelors degree in the
classics he barely qualified Tor future
recognition, and then became military
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
quieting way OF doing things with
startling dispatch and uncomfortable
firmness. At the early age of 80, or
in 1890, he was commander of the
troops and resident-general of Korea.
Four years later came the disastrous
war with Japan over Korea. It was
at once the unmaking and the making
of the great Yuan Shin Kai.
He was blamed for not conciliating
the japanese and was accused of de-
ceiving Ii Hung Chang as to the true
state of affairs in Korea He was re-
called, reduced to a minor post in OBJ
scure WenchoW, and forgotten. But
the smashing Victories of the Japanese
trained troops over his own-lusty
heroes armed with poisoned arrows,
hideOus sounding gongs and stink-pOts
showed him that China must be
modernized or go under. He was not
the first Chinese to learn this lesson,
but he was the first to lay it down as
a rule to be followed day and night,
with the convenient exceptions Whsl
it best serves even a moderniZed
Chinese's interest to be wholly Chinese.
Started Reform Movement.
Pondering over this great truth in
bucolic Wenchow led Yuan to get in
touch with, and gain the friendship
of, Kang Yu-Wei, the noted Cantonese
agitator. In 1897, or whereabouts, Kang
Yentured north to Pekin, capital of the
empire and stronghold Of the ManchGs.
In a single interview he so won the
confidence Of emperor Huang Hsu that
he was permitted to outline program
for the reformation Of the country
Yuan Shin K'ai a private audience with
the emperor, just as his majesty was
on the brink Of that famous Hun
bred Days of Reform" Yuan pledged
himself to the cause and the emperor
put him on the official eligible list.
He was made expectant vice president
OF a board and given command of a
disorganizzed army corps.
So Yuan Shin K'ai owed the restora-
ton of his fortunes to a radical re-
q
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
well drilled troops. He was fair and
honest with the men, and Stunned the
fat contracts for rotten military sup
plies. His foreign instructors swOre
by him
Selected to Kill Servant.
In the meantime emperor Huang Hsu
was issuing reform edicts at a rate
that thoroughly aroused the empress
and by murder eliminate her most
DoWager Tzi An. The emperor decided
that it was necessary to imprison her
faithful and powerful supporter
Jung Lu, viceroy Of Chilli, her child
hood friend, once a lieutenant Of the
palace guard when she was merely
cOncubine of the second grade IN the
household of the then emperor.
The delicate task Of taking Jung
LUIS life was given to Yuan. He was
agreeable and bowed from his majesty s
presence with these words on his lips:
Your servant will endeavor to recon-
pense the imperial favor even though
his merit be as 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"
Revealed Plot to Victim.
But Jung Lu was not killed when Yuan
reached Tientsin- Several months be-
fore, while in the very heat of his pro-
GreSSiVeneSS, Yuan had taken the Oath
of Brotherhood" with this same viceroy
Jung Lu, arch enemy of progress.
Smothering his pious vow of a few days
before, Yuan revealed the plot to his
intended victim who promptly nOti-
fled Tzi An. Then both officials modestly
effaced themselves for few days. Tzi
An Immediately summoned her guards
and rushing to the royal palace, had
the emperor seized. One or two in
Inmates of the young ruler were de-
capitated but Kang Tu-Wei escaped.
The reign of reform was over.
Saved Foreigners From Boxers.
For this high treason Yuan Shih Kai
was rewarded with 10 years of high
power. Almost at once he was made
governor of the province Of Shantuns,
where the Germans hold the port of
KiaO Chou. Two years later the Box
ers gripped the country, but by mas
terly Fabian tactics he was able to
foreigners in his province, and at the
same time retaining the confidence OF
the empress dowager, who soon saw
he had been right. Later he was pro-
NOTED to the very lucrative viceroyalty
Of Chilli Jung Lu having become
commander-in-chief of the imperial
guard and a member Of the grand coun-
Gil Finally Yuan reached the very
pinnacle Of favor by being given a
seat in the grand council and the presi-
dency of the Wal WI Pu, then China's
foreign service and al-governing do
nestle board.
In all of these important positions
Yuan Shih Kai continued to build
good roads, make cities sanitary, es-
tablish stable credit, drill troops, en-
force law and order, protect foreigners
and encourage modern education and
Christian schools. Foreigners hailed
him China's Strong Man. Tientsin,
where he lived as viceroy of Chill, is
the cleanest, most sanitary and health
ful city in all of China, not excepting
Shanghai, where the foreigners have
been in control over 80 years. He was
In the full flush of his glory, feared
and respected by millions Even Man
chu princes of the blood did his bid
ding Apparently the double dealing
OF 1898 had been forgiven and for
gotten. Then came his downfall
Removed From High Office
The aged empress Dowager Tzi An
ana emperor Huang Hsu, whom Yuan
had betrayed. died within q hours Of
each other. The widow of the emperor