Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-06-14
= Celestial Marriage.

lie VCInl;l0n edlct has been issued de-
cl0riu@ that the Emperor Of China is to be
welded, and mandarius Of buttons of every
color PROSTATE themselves and kiss the
gtound before the bulletin of yellow silk
which announces the determination of the
Empress Uowager to invest the cousin OF
the sun with the full dignity of natrimo-
ny and its accompanying powers. Three
DEGREES, i'll face, are required to make
known this august decision. The first
names the bride, AlEte, 4 maiden of illus
triOuS descent E; the second appoints three
assistant spOuSeS, members of the Imperial
haretn; and the third directs the college
of astronomers and board of rites and
ceremonies to select particularly auspic-
iOUs day in October next for the celebra-
ton of the bridal. Ponp aud circumstance
may well herald and accompany such an
event. for it marks the assumption of
hereditary power by 4 rule whose title is
the Son of Heaven, whose dominion is the
Central Kingdom, Who is the god and the
father ct Lis people, the Lord of Myriad
ears, aud. to- whom al potentates of the
outer barbaFism yield constructive ale
glance and approach4his presence, if at all,
only with profound Obeis9Uce. To such it
is fit that The sun, moon and planets, his
near relations, should eXteud their most
favorable CoUntenance onthe impOl tant oc-
casiUa, and the Le-pOO is warned that its
calculations Of opposition and conjunction
most be undertaken with the skill and
care Of COpernicus himself, 20 avoid errors
in this mOmcntous affair. fs4s
1t is, moreover, an event Of unusual sig
niticauce, inasmuch as it marks the acces-
sion of the infant Emperor to the privileges
OF his majority, with which he assumes all
the powers of his rank. BY the Chinese
method of reckoning, which counts a child
one year OF age at the moment of BIRTH
this celestial bridegroom is now seventeen;
but if the Queen-mother has rightly esti-
mated his ability to manage his own do
mestIc affaiIS, there need be no doubt Of
his capacity 20 conduct even the most per-
picking business of State. For there can
be few matters requiring greater force of
than the preservation of peace in
a larem which includes niece as first
wife aud al aunt as subsidiary. 1t also
introduces new element into Chinese
politics, since now for tho first time
can be expected definite decision con-
corning the rights OF foreign nations to
association on an equality, and the admis-
sion OF Ambassadors to the Imperial pres
ance erect, contrary to the custom which
compclS them to approach the yellow
screen on their knees, striking the earth
with their fOreheads. Alute is grand
daughter of 4 minister who hated ''foreign |
devils" with his whole soul and strove with
bis whole strength against the opening of
China to the outside world and if the |
Empress elect has inherited this disposition
and is possessed Of a turn of mind for |
politics, the effect Of her influence may ex-
end far beyond the limits of the Flowery !
Kingdom. Bat we may hope for the best |
rom the happy conjunction of planets |
which theImperial astronomers will secure, |
md proler i'll advance our congratulations |
Ipon the happy event which will so soon |
set every joss-house and pagoda ablaze |
With lanterns, and rend the air of the |
Central Kingdom with the joyous souno of |
longs and bombs and crackers, celebrating |
he accession of new ruler of the CeIes2 |