The San Francisco call. [volume], September 09, 1900, Image 17

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

Image provided by: University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA

                
yond the belief of those who think
indifference the chiif ingredient in
Chinese make-up.
The story of Kwang Hsu, Emperor
of China, is indeed a rare one. He
dared break the ironclad traditions cf
the royal family. He stands a soli
tary and unique figure in a dynasty
that for four thousand years has
wielded a conservative scepter.
Kwang -Hsu, despite birth and train
ing, in an incredibly short time.be
came an ardent reformer, chancing
even his throne for the cause.
The story of his conversion to re
form has b»en written specially for
The Sunday Call by his friend and
fellow-student, Leung Kai Tin. Tong
Chong, editor of the Chinese reform
paper, rendered the Chiness of Leung
Kai Tin literally into English.
It is a peculiarly interesting pen
picture of the most remarkable Em
peror in the world — Kwang Hsu —
written by one of hi3 most remark
able subjects. Certainly Leung Kai
Tin is THE most remarkable China
man who hes ever visited San Fran*
cisco.
I AM probably the only person who has
ever visited th!s country who has had
the distinction of having had personal
communication with Emperor Kwang
Hsu. The same was accorded me becausf.
I was a pupil of Kang Yu Wei, and ono
of the echolars whom the Emperor gath
ered about him during; hlB six months of
busy reform.
The Emperor to a man of marked in
telligence, but physically anything but ro
bust. In appearance he- Is very .Blender,
with regular features and facial expres
sion 'almost effeminate in its refinement
and a smile of remarkable sweetness.
It has been during his short period of
power, for the first time in 4000 years, that
China has experienced the privilege of an
honest, patriotio ruler; a man without a
desire for his personal self, caring only
for the welfare of his subjects.
I I was exiled with my brother and all
others of the Emperor's supporters who
could be informed in tim«* by that worthy
iruler, who suddenly realized that the
tcraah was coming. Six of our companion*
He Was a Fellow-Student of Emperor Kwang Hsu of China
This and other arguments convinced
Yung Hong Wo and he too became an en
thusiastic reformer, faithfully repeating
to the Emperor every word uttered by
Kang Yu WeL The Emperor appreciated
it all, for this scholar had been his most
faithful and trusted instructor for many
years.
In a. short time the Emperor became a
sound reformer himself, and as a reward
for Kang Yu Wei's wisdom ordered
a royal decree that reform be proclaimed.
This greatly displeased the Dowager, who
managed to secure the dismissal of many
ofllcials who favored the decree for re
form, some of whom were the Emperor's
trusted advisers. This had the effect of
retarding the movement for a time, and
Kang Yu Wei left Peking on a lecture
tour through all the provinces.
At the close of the twenty-third year
of the reign of Kwang Hsu, when the
Germans took possession of Kiaochau
wan, Kansr Yu "Wei immediately re
turned to Peking from Canton and ex
plained the seriousness of the situation,
but he was refused an audience, all offi
cials also refusing to forward his message
to the Emperor.
But he at last found one named Ko Sit,
who whs in thorough sympathy with
Kang Yu Wei, who took It upon himself
to see the Kmperor and ask him to Issue
an order giving Kang Yu Wei a personal
Interview.
The Emperor was about to comply when
Prince Kung went to his Majesty and
begged him not to do so, saying: "Kang
Yu Wei is a man of low rank and there
fore, according to court etiquette, has no
right to appear before the Emperor."
Tho Emperor explained to Prince Kungr
that he wished to consult with Kang Yu
Wei on a matter of great importance.
The Prince said this could be accom
plished through some palace official, -who
might carry both message and answer,
thereby saving the dignity of the court.
The Emperor was compelled to accede to
this, for It was in strict accordance with
an ancient and well-defined law. -
The Emperor was anxious to hear Kane
Yu Wei's message from some one he could
trust, so he requested the president of the
Foreign Office to meet Kang Yu Wei.
which he did. Kang Yu Wei explained to
that high official bis Ideas on the subject,
Leung Kai Tin, though still in his
twenties, is a man of marvelous abil
ity. He is a scholar, not only learned
in the musty philosophy of the Ori
ent, but well versed in the history of
other nations and what has made
their success. He is an eloquent
speaker, and his lectures hare to his
countrymen have stirred them be-
Leung Kai Tin came to the Pacific
Coast to carry the doctrine of reform
to every city and village where his
brother Chinese congregate. In San
Francisco there are an especially
large number of progressive Chinese,
who believe that the light of modern
civilization should penetrate the
gloom of China. Their battle-cry is,
Give back the throne to the young
Emperor Kwang Hsu. They would
have the Empress Dowager divested
of every vestige of power.
Six of the most promising advo
cates of reform were butchered at the
instigation of the Empress Dowager
before they could make their escape,
but Kang Yu Wei, Leung Kai Tin,
Leung Chi Tso and several others
managed to escape.
When the Emperor saw that his
reformers had endangered his own
safety and that of his advisers and
that matters were nearing a crisis he
sent a secret message to Kwang Yu
Wei, informing him of the peril that
was threatening all reformers. He
bade them fiy at once.
fered his services for this delicate
and dangerous task.
were beheaded as coon as the Dowager
seized the reins of Government and hun
dreds of others imprisoned for life.
Twelve years ago when Kang Yu Wei
¦was a teacher at Canton, he spent most
of hl3 time explaining to his pupils how
the great nations, had reached their state
of perfection through gradual reform, in-
Fisting that Japan was made by the same
process.
He taught them that the only way to
succeed was to induce their Government
to reform. As soon as his -theories be
came known to the Government at Peking,
Kang Yu Wei was pronounced insane by
the ofllcials there and a determined effort
was made to suppress him until the Em
peror had reached the twenty-first year of
his reign.
It was during the Chino-Japanese war
that Kang Yu Wei sent a petition
covering hundreds of pages to Emperor
Kwang Hsu; explaining all his ideas and
theories on reform, lie begged his Ma
jesty to lend an ear to his pleadings, in
sisting that China's futuro safety depend
ed solely upon reform.
When the Emperor read the petition he
was pleased beyond measure and at once
ordered hla secretary to make copies of
the instrument, one for the Dowager and
one •each for the Governors and Viceroys
of the various provinces, which resulted
in a terrible Jealousy springing up against
Kmig Yu Wei. Again Kang Yu Wei ad
dressed the Emperor, which the officers
refused to forward.
But Yung Hung Wo. the old teacher of
the Emperor, was so taken by the modern
ideas advanced by Kang Yu Wei that he
began searching for books of modern
times to see if they agreed with the opin
ions of Kang Yu Wei. He was surprised
at the revelation and immediately ex
pressed his great respect for the wisdom
of the reformer — especially his expres
sions on conditions existing in Japan and'
Korea, which he found verified by other
works.
Next he Invited Kane Yu Wei to come
to Peking that he might better explain
his theories and Kang Yu Wei exp'alned
to the Emperor's instructor as soon as he
reached his presence:
"All the powers are threatening each
other. Unless we reform, what standing
can we claim as a nation?" t- «•<>¦..
ENTEB in our midst on© Leung
Kai Tin, erstwhile fellow stu
dent of Emperor Kwang Hsu
of China.
Even to see th« Emperor is a raro
privilege, denied the great majority
of the almond-eyed. The fortunate
Celestial who rubs elbows with his
Uajesty is singularly honored by his
countrymen. But he who breaks
throug-h the sacred inner circle and
lives in daily communication •with
the Emperor of China is almost a di
vinity to the half a thousand million
less fortunate subjects.
Such a dignitary is Leung Kai Tin.
Small wonder that there is a great
nutter in Chinatown over the pres
ence of this most remarkable guest.
The next best thing to gazing at the
Emperor himself is seeing an inti
mate friend of his Majesty.
Leung Kai Tin is the only man,
white or yellow, who has come to us
with the halo of contact with Chinese
royalty distinguishing him.
The young Emperor Kwang Hsu
has been shanghaied and murdered
60 often by the Empress Dowager—
eccording to report — that he has be
come shadowy and unreal to most
minds. He has been killed and res
urrected regularly for many moons,
until the uninitiated have doubted
whether such a person as Kwang Hsu
ever existed.
Leung Kai Tin's presence, in a
measure, is a guarantee to the incred
ulous of the reality of Emperor
Kwang Heti. The Chinese residents
needed no such evidence. While
Kwang Hsu was in power his sweep
ing reforms made his subjects fully
telling him how necessary it^waa to re
form, that the nation could In no other
way establish a standing with the Govern
ments \if the world.
The effect of this message upon the Em
peror was astonishing, lie expressed hla
belief that such noble sentiments could
only come from an honest, faithful and
wise statesman— one who might be trusted
with any undertaking for the nation's
pood. He ordered the president of .the
Koreign Office that In future alt commu
nications from Kang Yu Wei were to be
forwarded to. him without a. moment's
delay.
This gave Kann Yu Wei the opportunity
which he had locked so long and anxious
ly for. He was now in direct communica
tion with the Emperor, with a fair chance
to propound to his Majesty the principles
so dear to his heart and lay bare the re
sults of his life's study. In doing so he
committed but* one serious error. He al
lowed his enthusiasm to get the better of
his judgment, thereby furnishing the
Dowager the only weapon sl.e could use
against him— for he, suggested reforms s^
sweeping that In a country bo conserva
tive as China it was an easy matter to
turn many of- the Emperor's friends
against him. - ¦
At last Yung Hung "Wo managed to in
duce Karig Yu Wei to write a memorial
to the Emperor, with, the result that his
Majesty concluded to make some of the
great changes as suggested by. the re
former. .
Further the Emperor was so taken by
the writings of Kaftg Yu Wei that, de
spite all court etiquette, ho expressed a
desire to meet . the writer personally,
which was most -vigorously opposed, by
Prince Kunpr.. but fortunately the Prince
died soon after.
Then came the "consultation with the
Emperor, resulting in a complete victory
for Kang Yu Wei < and -reform, for the
Emperor agreed with every section^of the
written requests of "the' reformer.
Again and again the Emperor requested
the presence of the reformer, wishing
further advice. Finally. In order to have
him within easy call. -he- : appolnted him
to a position in. the Foreign Office.- - This
caused more -Jealousy -. from Bome of the
Puking officials., ... ........ i
Some time previous to his' meeting with
the Emperor Kang Yu Wei hsd organ
ized a government i protective society,
which was bitterly opposed . by. Censor
"Wong, but the Emperor refused to listen
to the objections of this official, which
very much exaggerated the bitterness
against Kang Yu WeL
Another censor named Mon also sidad
with Wong, doing all in his power to In
jure Kang Yu Wei. with the Emperor.
Ills llajfsty then Informed Kans Yu
Wei that it would be better if they wera
not to meet so frequently, because ths
opposition was becoming dangerous — that
their affairs had better be conducted
through correspondence, for a time at
least.
Kantr Tu "Wei then devoted his tlm» to
the writing of a number of clever books
on the subject of reform. He explained
how Japan had been saved by timely
changes from their old Ideas; how Russia
End Prussia haU been rejuvenated by able
statesmen, and in order to show the result
of Inactivity he drew the attention of
readers to what had occurred to Poland
and India. Both had lost thetr all aa fc
result of their stupidity and Inability to
appreciate a future. .
As it was not considered safe that too
much shf>uii be known by outsiders re-
KArdirtf ti> relations.with Kang Yu We!,
the ¦ JCwjf^or appointed four personal
f.-iend: iu tct r.a letter bearers; two wero
old pupils of the reformer, and all could
be trusted.
Some of the officials became so enraged
over the Emperor's Intimacy with tho re
former that they even requested the flc
struction of Kar.g Yu Wei, my brother
Leunsr Chi Tso. and myself. Instead of
complying ¦with this request he listened to
Kp.nff Yu Wei. and In three months or
flered over twenty rartf.-al changes in the
laws of the empire, among them the com
plete revisal of the criminal and civil
rodfs, all to- be rearranged on tho plan
of these used in civilized nations; estab
lished schools lor. the acquirement of for
eign languages and colleges for military
training; abolished the bow and arrow
training; ordered the followers of th»
eight banners to support themselves In
times of peae*»: established silk and tea
exchanges; abolished the old form of Con
fucian examinations, substituting the cus
toms in vogue In England and America;
encourajred a free press, and gave every
subject permission to address tho throne
regardless of rank or title.
¦ Owtng to the diabolical plots of the Era
press Dowager, Kwang Hsu is now in in
activity. But we are doing our best to
spread the doctrines of reform so that all
Chintse shall see the necessity of a change
from the -old ways. As soon as Kwang Hsu
can be located, and there is no danger that
he has been killed, he will be given hla
throne. Then his reforms will bring about
such changes that China will take h«*
rightful place among nations. •• -*
realize that a new hand was wielding
the royal scepter.
But ever since the usurpation of
power by ths wily Empress Dowager
they have lived in constant dread
that Kwang Hsu would be hurried
to an untimely end..
Leung Kai Tin is reassuring on
this point. The complications In
China, he declares, will stay any mur
derous intentions of ths L"mpres3
Dowager. Moreover, crafty as she is,
she must realize that any such viola
tion of the sacred order of succession
would only completely destroy the
power of the I£anchurian houss.
Leung Xai Tin ovrcs the proud
privilege; of his psrsonal communi
cation -with the Emperor Kwang Hsu
to the fact that he is a pupil of Kang
Yu Wei, greatest of Chinese scholars
and reformers. It "was Kanrj Yu Wei
who first started the reform bee buz
zing in the royal bonnet. The young
Emperor finally lent a listening ear
to the teachings of Hang Yu Wei.
He became a pupil of that great
teacher. This naturally made the
Emperor eager to meet the most
brilliant scholars of Kang Yu Wei.
Among 1 the young men brought into
the royal presence were Leung Chi
Tso and Leung Kai Tin. Leung Xai
Tin was the younger brother, but
equally clever for his years, and an
ardent reformer.
When jsalousy mads It imperative
that the young Emperor have Ies3
frequent counsels with Kang Yu "W«i
it was decided to confine their inter
course to letters and to have thess
missives carried to and fro by some
trusted friend of reform. Leung Kai
Tin wa3 one of those who bravely of-
THE SUNDAY CALL.
17
|p|S K*i Tfruthe Great ReFormeN who
leaped the SmpreSS Do^aS^'s
wi-ath by conn^nS to San Fi-an
ctsco 9 Has soirie important
statements _