New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-18

POLITICAL PROGRESS IN THE ORIENT
Recent advices from China and Japan con-
tain important news affecting the future Of
those two empires. The young Emperor of
China is now acknowledged to have attained
his majority, and has signalized his accession
to the throne by taking unto himself wife,
and by proclaiming liberal amnesty to
offenders This Son of Heaven, as the rulers
of China have been styled from time imme-
morial has been kept in leading-strings for
many years, in order to evade the dreaded
question of foreign audiences. Chinese no.
tons of etiquette, always something arrogant
and cOnceited, forbid that their Emperor
shall receive any representatives OF
foreign power except they come as supplants
or bearers of tribute This method of approach
is not for moment to be thought OF by Eu-
ropean nations, whatever might be the instruc-
tons of our own somewhat demOralized State
Department to its representatives in China.
Foreigners have professed TO believe that the
Emperor is really older than represented by
the Chinese diplomats. and that he has been
purposely kept off the throne by the cunning
Prince Regent and Empress Dowager. in or
der to postpone the evil day of reOpening
the audience question, which caused much
trouble during the reign of Hien-fuen,
the last preceding Emperor. The death
of Tseng- kwo-fan, Viceroy OF Nankin,
and long at the head of the Department for
Foreign Affairs, is also an event OF consldera-
BILE political importance in China. Tseng-kwo-
fan was shrewd and foxy politician, and
most determined enemy of foreigners. lie was
responsible for much of the obstructive
policy Of the Empire, and was darkly charged
with completely in the Tien-Tsin massacre,
though this accusation was, most likely, UNI
just.
In japan considerable excitement has been
occasiOned by the discovery OF additional par
ticuars of the late conspiracy to kill or alb
duct the Mikado. AS was suspected at
the time, this plot was in the interest OF the
anti-foreign party, who expected to get pos
session of the Mikados person, carry him off
to the ancient capital of the empire, KiotO,
and thence dictate new policy to the
country. Happily, this catastrophe was
averted There is some prospect that existing
discontents will be largely Modified by the
assumption of the debts OF the despolled
Daimios by the Imperial Government. Mango
the ex-princes enjoyed enormous incomes, and
the sudden suspension of their financial
powers has caused much distress in certain
districts of the Empire, which the proposed
arrangement will allay. The Mikado or Tenno
has abolished all edicts against Christianity
which have been in force for three centuries.
The great, infammable, and poOrly-built City
of YedO has been once more stricken by ire;
but the calamity, which has rendered 10000
nersons homeless may be of substantial bene-
fit to the city, as it will give foreigners the
long-sought opportunity to enter in and take
possession they will rebuild the now vacant
spaces. Under certain restrictions this prlvl-
lege, which is a great concession, has been al
ready granted. Taken altogether, therefore,
the drift of intelligence from the Orient is
highly favorable to the progress of Western
civilization.