Ir must not be thought that the present unhappy condition at Peking is due to the rashness of the Reform Party. A superficial glance -at the circumstances of the coup would seem to lead to the conclusion that they were responsible for it, but a more careful study of the whole case shows that the Reformers were unwillingly forced to make a bold move as a desperate attempt to preserve their own lives and conserve the cause of reform. Every effort made by them had been negatived by some appointment of the Empress-Dowager. K'ang Vu-wei had been shelved by his appointment to the editorship of the Chinese Progress, which was made the official organ of the government but was to be published at Shanghai. Liang Ch'i-chao was gazetted as the chief of the Translation Bureau which it had been arranged to open in the capital. As soon, however, as Liang was given the appointment, the location of the Bu-roan was changed to Shanghai. These appointments were meant to give face' to the Emperor by praising his favourites and giving them honourable positions, while at the same time general warning would be given that their presence was not desired at Peking. There can be no doubt that these appointments, though made in the name of the Emperor, were forced upon him much against his will.. He wanted these men near him and Special watch was kept of all the movements of himself and his asso-clates, and they were given to know that they were marked men. All leading appointments were filled by those who could be trusted to oppose the Emperor in his new course of favouring these men.. The suspicion of rebellious intentions was cast uy them, and it was freely given out that they were in collusion with their notorious fellow-provincial Dr. Sun Yat-sen, who is known to be a rebel. Their teachings were said to be heretical and subversive of good government and nothing was left undone to tarnish their reputations and to nullify their influence. The appointment of Jung Lu as Viceroy of Chibli and Commander-in-chief of the Peiyang forces threatened them with overthrow, and nothing was left for them but to plan to make away with him. As long as he was able to surround Peking and fill the palace at any moment With his troops who would carry out the will of the party opposed to the Emperor, the reformers were helpless and the Em-. peror was in danger. They were obliged either to abandon their efforts in cowardly despair, or to make a courageous attempt at the risk of their own lives to save their country. They were acting on the defence, but could not refuse or neglect to take some action without being guilty of betraying their holy cause of reforming China. They desired to conduct their campaign along the peaceful lines of educating public opinion, but they were not allowed to carry out their intention. As a last resort they chose a method which would only sacrifice one life—that of Jung Lu—and cause the retirement of.one person, the Empress-Dowager. In the arena of public reform this method would be justly considered mild and humane, and there can be no doubt that it would have been welcomed by the people. Had the coup succeeded hence he retained them. even after K' ang and his friends would have been their appointments had been an-praised for their wisdom. Their crime noun This was an open defiance lay only in their failure. of his opponents in the Imperial The struggle between the two family and greatly incensed them.
Emperor was working for reform along tries was for different objects. The It drew forth a second edict in the name of the Emperor, asking why the lines suggested by his favourite K'ang Vu-wei had not left Peking to advisers, with the hope of retrieving take up his assigned duties at Shanghai and ordering him to do so at once. jin an era of prosperity. "He reali the name of his country and bringing
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.