292
THE LIANGKIANG AND KWANG
VICEROYSHIPS.
(Daily Press, 14th October.)
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
of recent
19
[October 21, 1902.
KURI, the new Governor of Chekiang, representations from “reformers " of quite another possible choice, is without military a different type, who deprecate any con- training, and therefore unsuitable for sonection whatever with KANG YU.wxi and critical a command as that at Nanking. SUN YAT SEN and under the name of the It may naturally be regarded as a favour-Unless CHANG CHIH-TUNG is retained in League of Patriots guarantee that when able sign of improyed government in China the position in which he is now acting, the their movement is matured it will be truly that the death of H.E. LIU KUNG-VI has appointment of WEI KUNG-TAO appears formidable. This League (dating naturally been followed by official eulogies of a practically forced. It seems possible that from the time of the MINGs) claims the striking character and by temporary ap. the evacuation of Shanghai by its foreign | adhesion of officials, scholars, native pointments of a satisfactory nature. A garrison, which it was arranged with the Christians and others in the Treaty Ports Decree of the Empress Dowager creates late Lui KUNG YI should take place on the and in the interior of China, as well as the late Viceroy a Baron of the Empire," 1st proximo, is being delayed until the abroad. Of the nature of its propaganda the title to be handed to his posterity, and quiet of the Yangtsze Valley is guaranteed we have no information. If it is intended also makes him Grand Preceptor of the by a definite appointment to Nanking. to raise yet another rebellion we fear that Heir Apparent. A grant of Tls. 3,000 is Otherwise it is difficult to imagine why the its assertion of patriotism is at least open further ordered to be given for funeral delay is necessary.
to question. A general upheaval in the expenses, and also an Imperial sacrifice,
Southern Provinces in the near future which the Tartar [General of Nanking is
(Daily Press, 16th October).
threatens to doom the existence of China commanded to perform on behalf of the The importance of the appointment which
as an Empire, for it could not fail to involve Emperor. The posthumous designation of has to be made to the vacant Viceroyalty several foreign Powers and it is obvious Chung Cheng-Loyal and Sincere-is given at Canton is not likely to be under that the patience of the Powers was tried him, which is to be inscribed on a tablet estimated by those who have watched
very nearly to its limits during the crisis and placed in the temple of Faithful and the events
years in South of 1900. Well-wishers of China must look Good Ministers in Peking. When his China. We have always deprecated the forward with the gravest apprehension to remains are taken to his native city for absurdly exaggerated stories published in the possibility of widespread disturbances in burial the authorities along the route are some of our contemporaries with regard to commanded to place themselves at the what they styled the Southern Rebellion. any portion of the Empire, and true patriots must equally see that it is not by fire and service of the family of the deceased states-
As will be remembered, it had finally to be sword that their country must be reformed. man. Viceroy CHANG CHIH-TUNG is also admitted even by those who had been pro- There is indeed a great deal of inconsistency commanded to find out how many sous and mint in describing crushing Imperial shown by many of the so-called reformers grandsons the late Viceroy had, so that due defeats and sensational captures of cities by in China. The late H.E. TAO Mu was an Imperial favour may be bestowed on them the rebels that the troubles in the Two able and enlightened Viceroy, with much in recognition of the loyal services of their Kwang provinces at the end of 1901 and
sympathy for reform and with the courage late parent and grandsire. Such are the beginning of 1902 were hardly more than of his opinions; yet during his term of office posthumous rewards of LIU KUNG-YI. As part of the normal condition of this turbuat Canton he had constantly to contend not has already been announced, H.E. CHANG leut section of the Chinese Empire. The only with avowed pirates and brigands but CHIH-TUNG has been temporarily appointed home Press was of course flooded with vivid also with the followers of KANG YU-WEI, to hold his late colleague's place, while descriptions of non-existent rebel victories, who like him professed their anxiety for the post at Wuchang is filled by the but, accepting the principle, we suppose, of reform. Under the rule of a tyrannical and transference from the governorship of Er China semper aliquid falsi, manifested conservative Viceroy, a genuine revolt on Hupeh of that excellent Manchu official no surprise on learning that it had been the part of the progressive party might TUAN FANG, whose conduct in Shensi in deceived. We do not, however, contend command the respect of foreigners. As 1900 saved the lives of many foreigners,
that the situation in the Canton Viceroyalty, matters have stood, it is impossible not to These appointments have given general and more particularly in Kwangsi, was to think that some of the reformers have satisfaction and, as we have said, seem to be regarded lightly at any time during the seriously compromised their cause. show an improvement in the governmental last two years. A province in a perpetual earnestly to be hoped that such associations mind. It would be unwise to build too state of disturbance, even if the semblance
as the League of Patriots will pause te con- much upon them, but they give promise of of authority is maintained, is a constant sider whether it is consistent with their a continuance of enlightened rule in the source of danger to its neighbourhood. desires to risk the independence of China Yangisze provinces According to the Hongkong's peculiar position makes it es- in a desperate attempt to force from the North-China Daily News, it is not con- pecially sensitive to the effects produced by Central Government changes which all the sidered likely by the Chinese in Shanghai disorder on the mainland. Hence trust-
Western Powers and Japan are striving to that CHANG CHIH-TUNG will remain long at worthy information as to the progress of bring about by gradual education. They Nanking, where a Hunanese Viceroy is affairs in the Kwang provinces is very should remember the disastrous effects of almost essential, and the fancied candidate, valuable to us; unfortunately it is almost H.M. KWANG HSU's effort to convert China as our Shanghai correspondent telegraphed impossible to procure. Our Canton corres. by instantaneous process into a modern on the 8th instaut, is H.E. WEI KUNG-TAO, pondent corroborates the reports of the
country. It is not by much violent pro- Viceroy of Yunnan and Kweichau pro-northern native papers that the condition
cesses that China can be changed. The vinces. This official was not among those of Kwangsi is getting graver than it was
very violence defeats its objects. Unless whose names were mentioned by the dying before. A Shanghai vernacular journal's wiser counsels prevail among the Reform LrU KUNG-YI, but he has undoubtedly southern representative sees the hand of party, the result will be not to help the strong qualifications for the post, if he is KANG YU-WEI in the Kwangsi troubles and country on the road to progress but to not very well known to foreigners. Aanticipates his success in Kwangtung, disintegrate it entirely, in which case China Huuanese by birth, he served under the
may become enlightened but will certainly Marquis Tso in the suppression of the
not be free any longer. Japan suffered not Kansu Mohammedan rebellion and the
a little when she made up her mind to recapture of Chinese Turkestan. It is a rumours
make Western civilisation her model. China, with the eyes of all the Powers greedily fixed upon her, cannot hope to escape as lightly
distinct item in his favour that he was a
deadly enemy of TUNG FU-HSIANG. The North-China Daily News further points out that WEI is actually the head of the Siang Army, of whom he has 15,000 men now in Yunnan. His appointment to the Liang- kiang would appear to be a guarantee of peace. Onr Shanghai contemporary dis- cussing the possible caudidates for the post at Nanking, says in conclusion :---- -“If a mau hailing from some other province "than Huuan expects to hold the seals of "the Liangkiang Viceroyalty for more than one year, he would have to exterminate "the Kolao Hui society first, and that means also the 200,000 or so braves' of "the Siang Army, which would bring about "such a sanguinary upheaval of the Chinese Empire that loss of independence would probably be the result. NIEH CHIн
"
of
"
C
|
Yuunan, and Kweichau. We have been too much threatened with the bogey of KANG YU-WEI to pay attention to all the
to of plots attributed him. Nevertheless we believe that the Chinese both here and in Cauton are convinced that KANG is at work at the present, moment. He and his colleague SUN YAT-SEN have made great capital out of the word
Reform," but it cannot be said that their methods have succeeded in retaining for them much sympathy among foreigners, anxious though the latter may be to see China reformed. In the first place, it is hardly to be expected that a movement which at least tolerates the adhesion of so many bad characters as have posed as rebels in Kwangtung and Kwangsi will commend itself to those whose interests are boun with the maintenance of peace in those pro- vinces. Nor do the mass of educated Chinese who desire reform for their country look on KANG Yu-wer and his party with much
ourselves pleasure. We have
received
|
as Japan.
It is
The Singapore Free Press hears, on very good authority, from Bangkok that a movement is afoot to oust the British officers employed in
the Siamese Customs, and replace them by
Frenchmen.
A Canton despitch to Shanghai states that owing to the Peking Government having been informed that the prosoribed Reformer, Kang Yu-wei, is the chief author and instigator of the Kwangsi "rebellion," and that he is reported to be fully occupied in organising a similar great up
rising is Kwangtung and the Yun-Kuei Frovinces, secret orders have been issued to the Viceroys and Governors of the Two Kwang and Yan-Kuei provinces to use every endeavour to capture Kang Yu-wei, who is believed to be at present in Canton.
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