, 1880-07-21

towards foreign nations. They lave a
wholesome respect for the superiority of
European armies and %navies, and their own
%inclinations favour the employment of
foreign officers. To a great extent they
have carried their inclinatiOns into acts,
and so far as it lay in their power, they
tempered the traditional Chinese policy
with a considerable amount of practical
worldly wisdom.
But to the Princes of the Blood both the
individuals and their policy have long
been distasteful. Lii Hung Chang, in par
t%icular, has excited their a%ntipathy, be-
cause of his talent and scarcely-concealed
ambition. Moreover, he is of Chinese race,
and, as such, regarded as an interloper by
the great Manchu officials. But he was
too powerful to be lightly upset. His inf1u-
ence among the people was great, and the
garrison of Pe-chi-li would, it was believed
obey his orders sooner than those of the
boy Emperor. SO for years the extreme
marty, under its two leaders, Prince Chun,
the Emperor's father, and his brother,
Prince Ii, has remained in the background,
derived of those positions of power which
they held to be their right. Their very
silence would have been considered omi-
nous, had there been any interest felt i'll
the attitude Of Chinese parties towards
each other. In 1876, however, when the
campaign in Central Asia had not only
been decided upon, but had actually com
menced, these Princes came more prOml-
nently forward in the Imperial Council as
the supporters of Tso Tsung Tang, and his
vigorous measures beyond Kansuh. Whe-
Their from the force of circumstances, or
from jealousy of the growing fame of that
General, Lii Hung Changes views on the
subject of the war underwent q moditica-
ton, and his object became to bring it to a
close as speedily as possible. Had the de-
cisiOn of the question depended upon the
discussions at Pekin, LII Hung Chang
would most likely have carried the day
but the growing reputation and popularity
of Tso Tsung Tang-a Manchu, moreover
enabled the Royal Princes to hold their
own against the great Minister. In this
contest Prince Kung cndeavOured to play
the part OF q trimmer, with the p%rOyerbial
success. Last year, Ii Hung Chang was
sufficiently powerful to send an amDaSSa-
dor to Russia, to settle the difficulty by
negotiation but when, on the return of
that ambassador, the terms of the Treaty
of Livadia became known, the game had
been played into the hands of the active
and aggressive party of the Imperial Prin-
ces. The first step in the transfer of pow
er was made by the arrest Of Chung How,
and an edict was issued decreeing "his
decapitation after the next aSSiZes." The
initiative in this matter was taken by
Princes Chun and LII, acting on a memorial
from TSO Tsung Tang, accusing Chung
How of high treason. This blow at the
supremacy of Ii Hung Chang was followed
up by the appointment of Princes Chun
and Iii to high official posts, with immedi-
ate control of the Administration and
one of their first measures was to send
fresh troops and supplies to Tso TSung
Tang. The programme OF this party is
marked by intense bitterness against for
eignerS, and q chauviniSt spirit which
must prove provocative of trouble, if not
of war. Matters remained very much in
this state during the earlier part of this
year, and Lii Hung Chang for the moment
has LETT the field in the possession of his
opponents. Since then, events have
moved fast. Tso Tsung Tang, encouraged
by the triumph of his supporters at Pekin,
and reinforced by fresh troops, has, there
is every reason to believe, commenced
hostiities on the Kuldja frontier. Should
this new campaign close with any similar
Succes SIS to that of his previous undertake
lngs, he will become the arbiter of the EN-
pres destiny, and his victories must seal
the fate of Ii Hung Chang.
In the meanwhile, Lii Hung Chang is
very far from ~resigning himself to fate.
He propitiated the good will of the repre-
sentatives of the foreign Powers by the
strenuous efforts he made to save Chung
How, and his latest move is one that