CHINAS AWAKENING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 28 September 1907, Page 4

CHINAS AWAKENING

Of liite mighty progrea? lias bora made by the "Bo Wong Woocy," or Chinese Empire Reform Association, in China. The founders and leaders of this groat organisation are his Excellency Kong Yu Wai and his Excellency Leong Kai Chew. The first-named was a former Prime Minister of the Chinese Empire, and is regarded as the foremost reformer and educator of the empire, while the latter was a former secretary of the Tsimg iA Ynmen in Fckin, and is acknowledged to be the greatest sage and writer in China to-day. Both were flic chief advisers of the Emperor Kwong Su dining the brief hold of the reins of government in 18U8, when the I)o\Va«ci'Empress put a stop to the inarch of reform by taking over the powers of government, and causing all reformers who could be caught to be beheaded. Kong \u Wai and Leong Kai Chew succeeded in getting away through the cmnm-aiicc of the ISritish Con-til. The aims of the association are to make China ''a mighty world Power, to be recognised by oilier Powers as such, but remain a nation ol peace, as at present; to extend and on large its commercial relations wkholhei great nations; to educate its common people by the introduction of free schools, patterned after the Westerworld; to reorganise and strengthen il.> military forces, not as n menace to tht world's peace, but simply as a guaran tee that her desire for the progrcssivi <ra is backed by ollicient natioiia strength.'' The association has no" be.'ii in existence about seven years, an in China alone has over |(l,0HO,ti(«l mem

bci>. and over 200.01111,1100 adherents, composed of merchant-, professional. I and the upper and oflicial cla-cs—-among Hi.' latl»r loin"- a latye number of xi.-erois and ..'over'noi's of provim In addition io this l.ran.-lies are ,■ | ; ,1,lislied ill every pari of ihe world, those in Australasia being pai'lc uhirly -Ivo-ig 1 in point of membership auTl linances. ' "How far is it from here to (lie m-it ■ town.'' asked a man in a molor-car. ! -It's four rocky hills, two deep gullies. f --.-1.1 nineteen ' policcm n v.iih" stopwatches,'-' replied the un-10-daLo rustic,