THE REFORM MOVEMENT IN CHINA.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 128, 26 November 1898, Page 6

THE REFORM MO VEMENT IN CHINA.

INTERVIEW WITH KANG YU WEI. The Overland China Mail of Blh Oct. contains an interview with Kang Yu Wei, .the refugee leader of the Chinese reform party. For a native who does not speak any Western language Kung has imbibed a wonderful amount of ideas. The impression left on ihe interviewer was ohat he had a firmer grasp of the situation than the majority of his compatriots. Ho made it -clear that he received no assistance from the British in his flight ,and the first intimation he received that he . was under the protection of the British flag was when at Shanghai the Consul recognised him and transferred him from the steamer Chung King to Her Majesty's ship Esk. He commenced the interviewby thanking the British Minister and people for the protection afforded him. The news that his brother was decapitated and that the Emperor was reported to have' been murdered, unnerved him, and made him disinclined previously to see anyone or discuss the events leading to his flight from Pekin. Speaking of the Empress Dowager, he said she was uneducated and conservative. He charges her with appropriating a considerable portion of two sums <of thirty , million taels each for creating a navy and building railways. The Dowager ■was reluctant to give any real power to the Emperor, and she refused to carry out schemes regarding many railways. She thought only of personal gratification. She conducts business through a sham eunuch, who has practically more power than any of the Ministers. Nothing could be done without bribing him first. All the Viceroys have obtained their positions through bribing this man, ■who is immensely wealthy. Li Hung Chang was not to be compared with him. Replying to a question as to the rise of the reform party at Pekin, Kang Yu Wei relates that two officials memorialised the Emperor two years ago, advising him Io get power into his own hands.' These two officials were dismissed, but after the occupation of Kiao-Chou Bay by the Germans the Emperor threatened io abdicate. The Empress Dowager then gave in to him to a certain extent. Kang's first conference with the Tsung-li-Yamen took place in January last, ;»t which \\fy suggested reforms, but the majority were against his proposals, which included a prtoperly - constituted judicial system. This Kang held to nn the most important change, on which other reforms rested. Unfortunately the Emperor was pushing other reform's before preparing the way for them. Al the instance of the Emperor subsequently he submitted his proposals in the form of a memorial, in which the Emperor was advised to follow in the steps of Japan or Peter the Grea.t. Other suggestions were to have the laws and their administration revised, and to have open communication with a department through which the Throne ooi*ld be memorialised. He advised the Emperor to select young, intelligent men, imbued with Western ideas, to assist to regenerate the Empire, irrespective of whether they were lowly born or of high degree. He further advised the establishment of 12 new departments, with institutions throughout the provinces for the purposes of administration ; and he pointed, out that by changes in the taxation system seven hundred million taels coi_td be raised annually, which would rfmder it an easy matter to establish a nri,vy and naval colleges, build railways, etc. • With the.se suggestions the Emperor was highly pleased, and he reco\nmended the Yamen to consider the proposals. On 16th June la?jt Kang had an audience with the Emperor. He described the personal appoar-oince of His Majesty. During this interview, in urging reforms, Kang instanced, the poor condition of China since the, war with Japan ,■ compared the losses of China with those of France during the last war with Germany, and asked how France had bee'a able to recuperate so rapidly, while Chinai na had done practically nothing. The Emperor asked the reason. Kang replied that procjamati ons abolishing 'corrupt methods, and instituting reforms, would enable the cou-atry to recover ground it had lost. He directed attention to the Empire of Japan, and showed what difficulties that country had to overcome before it could reform. He suggested that failing to obtain a sufficie/jt number of China natives to give effect to the reforms, foreigners -- particularly Englishmen and Americans — shoald be employed. Kang pressed for reforms, and used many apt illustrations to carry home his arguments, t T ae Emperor the. while expressing himself sympathetically, reasoning everything out carefully, and saying it was a pity his Ministers did not realise that foreigni gn countries -were highly civilised, -and not like the insignificant States of for ,ncr times. , ] [n June last Kang advised the Era- ' pci •or to form an alliance with Britain, but since then until he left Peliin he trad no oihw audience with the Emperor. The first signs of trouble nvos^ when the Emperor issued an edict d ;c *n»>ssing two Presidents and four Vic r - - Jfresitf.ents. fiubsequep tly Kang received a hint, from the Emprror to go away. In a message to Kang, the Emperor expressed a fear that lte would not be able to protect his throne, stating that before lo«g he hoped Kang would be able to assi;jt him to reorganise the Empire, and fait everything on a proper basis, and he rxmcluded with the words, " This is my earnest wish." After Kang received the message he endeavoured to see the American and British Ministers, but; both were away. Kang believes that if Sir Claude Maodonald had been at the* British Legation measures wcmkl have been devised to meet the crisis. He then relates his journey from Pekin and in reply to a question as to what he. intended to do. said the Emperor instructed him to go abroad nnd procure assistance. Kang's intention is to approach England in the first instance. Englar.d twice saved Turkey, once at the sacrifie of 20,000 men, and a largo sum of money. He thinks England will «\oir)e to the assistance of China and th/j Emperor now. If England does iifii take steps now, Russian influence \ri'j predominate throughout the whole of C,hina. Kang *Lonluded the interview by averring his self - disinterestedness, and that he refused to accept anything from tne Emper or until he had been instrumental in s-aving the 400,000,000 people of Chiy.a. I