The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-10-08
From the Southern Presbyterian.
THE AUDIENCE QUESTION,

| portaht question WHICH mas agitateu tn'
minds of the foreigners resident in the Eas
for long time. Those who have the peru
sal of the dailies out here, which are neces
sarily meagre in the news line, have seen the
subject constantly referred to. What the
result would be has hitherto been uncertain
The Emperor of China, or as he is styled,
the Son of Heaven, the one appointed by
heavens will to rule over this the great
central kingdom of the world. has been q
being shrouded in mystery. No mortal eye,
except of course his few attendants, was suf.
fered to behold him. He was, as it were, ex-
alted to be God among his people. The
symbols of royalty were reverenced every
where throughout the Empire. His name
no subject was allowed to- pronounce or to
write. Upon his throne of more than a
score and half of centuries he has sat and
ruled, not only the eighteen provinces of
China proper, but all of her outlying tribu-
taries. The dynasties have changed, but
the Government has ever remained the
same. The effect of this invisibility has
been to exalt his majesty and make him a
being of inscrutable glory. If he went out
upon the streets the places of business were
closed and the people hid themselves. His
time was spent mostly in his Palace and
palatial grounds, but if in the course of an
age he took journey, all the roads were
prepared and only objects that were pleasing
met his eye.
To go back few years. After the re-
newal of the treaties with China by the
foreign powers in 1858, the English Minis
ter, with one or two men ofwar, went up
Tientsin on his way to Pekin, when they
were suddenly attacked by some concealed
forts and the vessels almost dismantled. This
was considered great victory by the Chi
nese. A year or two afterwards, eight or ten
thousand English and French troops landed
at TientSin, the nearest port, marched up to
Pekin, and took the city; the French burn
ing the summer palace and carrying off loads
of plunder. The Emperor fled beyond the
great wall into Manchuria, where he soon
after died. During the minority of his son
the Tsung-le-yamen was established, where
the uncle of the present Emperor, Prince
Kung, treated with the foreign ambassadors.
Early in the present year, Dong-z ascend
ed the throne at the age of seventeen. The
treaties with the foreign powers were about
expiring and are to be renewed. The min
listers expressed desire to see the Emperor
as they did at other capitals. For long
time this was refused. Afterwards it was
said, "oh yes, you may come in, but the En-.
peror will select the interpreters for you,
and you must make seven prostrations before
the son of heaven, striking your foreheads
upon the ground" This of course they
would not do.
Thus for months the negotiations went on.
The position of these ministers at Pekin
has had little touch of the ridiculous
Here were the ambassadors of all the great
powers of the world, knocking at the palace
gate of him who considers all the outside
barbarians as tributaries, but who in reality
is the head of the weakest government under
the sun, without army, without navy, and
whose throne brigade of foreign troops could
shake, and asking, May 1t please yOur Majss.
ty, we wOuld like to see yOu! The great mon
arch upon the dragon-throne smiled with con-
tempt.
1t began to look as if he would not grant
the request, and that he must be made to.
Quite recently an ambassador from Japan ar
rived, and after waiting awhile, informed the
Emperor he must see him within a specified
time or he would leave. Japan has till re-
Gently been considered a tributary of China,
but now the Middle Kingdom considers her
the only sympathizer in this Westsrnizmg of
the East, and so the request was granted
As he found out from international law,
which has been translated at Pekin by DR..
Martin, that special ambassador ranked
above a resident minister, on the day ap
pointed he first saw the Emperor. After
wards the five ministers, with an interpreter,
entered. The Emperor was seated tailor
fashion on throne; Prince Kung kneeling
beside him and rows of officials ranged
around the hail. The ministers read con-
gratulatory address, placed their official pa
pers upon the table and retired. Prince
Kung interpreted for the Emperor, who is a
Manchu Tartar. The French minister re.
mained to present paper about the Tentsin
affair. This was all.
There has yet been no publication of the
fact in the Pekin Gazette, which is daily
paper of a !, OOOyear standing and the official
organ; the original copy is said to be printed
on silk. The Chinese no doubt think that
the outside barbarians all sent their repre-
sentatives topay tribute to the great Wang'te
AS to the result of this, one can only
speculate, but to mind not determined to
see things in gloomy light, the state of af-
fairs at the imperial capital is most hopeful.
The Emperor has broken through the Gus
toms of cycles of ages. He is young. He
has caught sight of these foreigners and