Fub-hsiang becoming Tuchun of Kansu was genera] throughout the province. He is well known here as he was Brigadier-General heve for many years and during his years of office proved himself to be a wise, prudent, capable, energetic servant of the Crown. Though a Moslem, throughout his sojourn here not. once did he make any difference between Moslem and Chinese, nor did he gather about him a large retinue of Moslems. The Chinese holding offices in the yamen on his arrival were not changed nor were the Chinese soldiers replaced by Moslem soldiers. Troubles which arose during his term of office, which the civil officials lacked ability to settle, were amicably and justly _set-tied by him. The difficulties which arose in dealing with the Dalai Lama during his protracted stay at Kumbum Lamasery, 50 li from this city, when His Highness treated the Emperor's Ambassador with contempt, were satisfactorily set-tied by the genial, courteous gentlemanly General. No one has a bad word to say about him. Nevertheless they are opposed to his being made Tuchun of the province.
-Fear or THe Mostems.
He is a Moslem—that is the secret of all the opposition; and the people have suffered so much from the Moslems that they dread the Mos-leg having so much power, lest they rebel' again. At present besides General Ma Fuh-hsiang there are three other Moslem Generals in the province; General Ma Lin at Kanchow, General Ma Sen-ie at Hangchow, and General Ma Ki, at Sining. In the eyes of the Chinese to appoint General Ma Fuh-hsiang to be Tuchun is to hand over the province to Moslems, and thus get back to the days of Tung Chi, Those of us who know the General have no fears about his joining hands with the other Generals to seize Kansu, but the Chinese have suffered so much that they are not prepared to run any risks. The Government would be wise if they appointed him to the position held by General Ma An-liang, having his headquarters at—Hochow. There, at the centre of Moslem influence, where troubles brew and fanaticism reigns, he could keep a strong check on his fellow religionists and curb the outbursts fanaticism among the various sects.
We are sorry he has gone cut of jthe province, but the same good qualities which have endeared him to the people wherever he goes by his strong desire for peace and to avert calamities falling upon the people of his own province have been manifested once more, by his waiving his right to take up his position as Tuchun by force when he saw it meant serious fighting, and suffering for the people.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.