The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-09

begun to tighten his meSheS around
the country and was skilful1y laying
his plans for the overthrow of the
republic which he had sworn to pro-
tect. l think that it was very unfor-
tunate that one of our own fellow
citizens, Professor Goodnow should
have played into his hands by his
unfortunate verdict as to the style of
government which he thought the
country needed It would have been
we'll if he had toured the country and
taken time to get some real idea of
what the people thought before he ex-
pressed himself.
Any how Yuan set diligently to work
to accomplish his end and the election
which resulted in the declaration of
the people that they desired a mon
archy was as pretty a piece of political
intrigue as was ever pulled off in the
world. 1t did seem, however, as tho
he had accomplished his purpose and
he was just about to put the crown
on his head when the little cloud of
revolution broke out in far off Yum
nan last December.
Was Strategic Action.
The new stamps had been printed
and were in the hands of the post
offices of the country and all the other
preparations had been made for
launching the new dynasty. 1t seemed
IKE foolshness for the little weak
province of Yunnan to raise its head
in revolt and yet after all it was STRAIT
egg of the very finest sort. Yunnan
is so far off that the forces of the
central government had to face long
and arduous marches before they
could even reach the rebels On the
other hand the Yunnanese troops were
good fighters and were well equipped
and in good training. They struck
hard and fast and the revolution
spread like a prairie fire. When it
was too late Yuan perceived his mis-
take and then there came his sudden
death which was almost as a deliver
ance from heaven.
This whole page in the political his
tory of China is one of the -intensest
interest and we are only Just at its
very beginning. People are inclined
to get out of patience and say that
they do not know what they are doing
but 1t will be well for them to have pa
IN the situation robs US of our very
best Chinese secretary, Mr. c. T.
| Wang, who had succeeded Brockman
as the general secretary of the Ma
tional Committee. Under the republic
| Wang had been the vice presiden of
the senate and now that the National
Assembly is recalled to convene in
| September he must re-aSsume his
| place of leadership and so he has been
| compelled to resign his position with
| the association.
Intend to Hold Canton.
/ CO1QDi1-
Gated by reason of a brave but I'M
scrupulous governor named General
| Lung. He is surrounded by troops
who have sworn their personal al
legiance to him, and he is protected
| by well-armed forts. His troops have
been defeated in the field and have
now retired on Canton, which he pro-
| poses to defend to the last. The for
| elgn consulS are trying to patch UP
some sort of a peace which will bridge
/ hn cit
| government can get matters straight
| ened out and take charge of the
situation. Unfortunately, Lung has
made himself so unpopular that his
enemies have sworn to get him if pos
| s1ble, and they do not want to wait
l hope, however, that the consuls may
| be successful in arranging for a peace
fuI adjustment, otherwise we shall
have hell with all of the horrors
that Sherman saw let loose on the
| streets.
We have just completed our as
Soc1at1on building, and as soon as mat
tiers settle down SO that people can at
tend to normal matters once more, we
shall proceed with the opening of the
building.
I think I probably told you in my
| letter last year that we have a new
| home which has been erected for us
by the International committee. 1t
| is very comfortable, indeed, and
makes our living out here a very diff
| ferent thing to what it was when we
! first came Our home is a little dis
lance outside of the city on a small
| hill, and we reach it by a river trip of
about twenty minutes We are build
| ing up a little settlement there, and
| when we get our roads and water sys-
tenn we shall be better off than we
were in Topeka.
/ 1 have just spent two very pleasant
| days in Manila. 1t is changing and
| improving very rapidly Since I was
last there four years ago, two Y NJ. c.
A. buildings have been built for the
| benefit of the FiHpinos, one for the
working boys of the city and another
for the students. The American Y. is
also still a very popular place of re-
sort. I saw a large class of the lead
ing business men of the city hard at
work on the gym. floor, having the
| time of their lives, just like a great
| crowd of boys.