Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 71, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 March 1912 — SUN YAT SEN’S LIFE [ARTICLE]

SUN YAT SEN’S LIFE

Chief of Republic Has Had an Adventurous Career. Went to Hawaiian School—Proficient In English, History and Literature —Narrow Escapes From Capture. Honolulu, H. I.—The “young Chinese party” in Hawaii is represented by 95 per cent of the population of Hawaiian both Chinese and 75 per cent of those whose birthplace is somewhere in China. Is it to be wondered at that progressiveness has had such a hold the president of the new republic was brought into the world? Dr. Sun Yat Sen was born in Kula, Island of Maui, November 24, 1870, and was taken to China by his parents when about four years of age, remaining there until he was ten years old. In 1906 he crossed the Pacific to the mainland and was admitted to the United States as a Chinese student and traveler on a certificate procured by him in China. After touring the United States and Europe he returned to Hawaii, making Honolulu his home. What remained of his family resided at the old homestead on Maui until about four years ago, when the price on the head of the doctor reached an exorbitant figure. Then they decided to take passage, from Honolulu to Japan, where they arrived safely. While in Honolulu and on the voyage to Japan agents of the dowager empress hovered dangerously close to the family, apparently with a 'dew to kidnaping the members and holding them as hostages against the revolutionary doctor. Chicago may not be aware of a census of Chinese taken in Hawaii! shortly after annexation. At the time registers of the birth of Chinese in the islands were made and certificates given. It opened the way to graft, and was a source of income to many attorneys, for the Chinese would pay any price for a certificate which showed their children to have been born

here, and which gave them the franchise. Also, holders of these certificates could get by the argus-eyed inspector of customs and immigration agents on the Pacific coast A certificate was a valuable asset and rare, Indeed, was the Chinese who was not willing to tempt an official to issue one on the payment of much fine gold. Those of the Chinese securing the coveted paper who .were old enough took the oath of allegiance to the United States. Dr. Sun Yat Sen was one of them. That he had once offered a certificate from the Chinese government was not considered a renunciation of his citizenship. His Chinese certificate, Issued by the Imperial government, was looked upon! as a proof of residence which carried with it the right to travel throughout the empire. Two years later, when the doctor was in China, the Chinese minister in Paris cabled his government that the much wanted man was traveling between Hanoi and Yunan and should be arrested'. Again the doctor escaped. In 1900 he personally led a little band of 600 rebels In a revolt which had for.its object the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of a government on western ideals. His force was defeated by 4,000 imperialists sent against it. Later two towns fell before his little force of revolutionists. At night he remarked that the Manchu dynasty was surely weakening and that Chinese would rise and drive the Manchus out of China. He hoped to see erected a republican form of government Events transpiring in the empire during the past few weeks confirm the prophecy of the doctor, for the army and the navy turn now to the revolutionists as friends, not enemies.