The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-10-29
le Empress Dowager AND Regent of the
Empire.

There are important reasons why the
cent fighting between France and
lina at Foo-Chow, Keeling and in
,nquin, should be more interesting to
American people than foreign diff
lties ordinarily are. The chief of
ese reasons are that we have large
lde with China, which is injured by
hostilities and our minister to Pekln-
understood to be active in the en-
avor to bring about the return of
ace between the two countries, acting
this capacity at the request of China.
1882 the total Of commerce between
United States and the fiowery
ngdom amounted to nearly seventeen
illion dollars. Our government is
itching the progress of events with the
xiety natural to power possessing
ch substantial interest in peace be-
ieen the parties now at bloody var
hce, and some of the largest vessels in
r navy are on duty in Chinese waters.
Everything new relating to China be-
2 important to our readers at the
esent time, we present them with
,rtrait Of the lady who is at the head
the government Of that country. The
mpress DoWagera and Regents
& elfian M glHat Abilll ssgIgenr for the
eAud time IlA II vears OF
a asIsl lle NV naperor
bait III t,ia zen Years of
4slhe las1s d III 1 peror, ss ung-chi,
led at eighteen years old, January 22d,
76. During his reign the imperial
tdy pictured above was Regent and
hen he died unexpectedly, she and
rince Ch'um, father of the present
tmperor, pulsuaded the two prime
minister's to make Tsait'ien Emperor by
cclamation, giving her the Regency
.lntil the lad shall be twenty years old,
Yhen she shall become his adviser.
succession in China is determined by
he ruling sovereign, who appoints his
uccessors from among the members OF
lis family of younger generation than
lis own. T'ung-chi was cut off sudden
y by death before he had made his
and the willy female
diplomat who is our subject, so played
ler cards that she made herself Regent
'nce more. She is assisted in the gov
by Prince Ch'um, who is said
o be in favor of fighting France to the
litter end. The undecided character Of
Chinese diplomacy appears in the neg
citations with France. LII Hung Chang
he most eminent of the celestial states
nen, is an enlightened man acquainted
With western ideas and power, and is
lesirous of peace without the sacrifice of
he self-respect of his country. His
counsels will unquestionably
De given in support of the offices under
taken by the American minister, Mr..
John Russell Young.
The present Emperor is the ninth in
Of the Tartar dynasty of
rs'ing, which succeeded the native dyn-
'sty in the year 1914. During about
i've hundred years previously the tribe
# Tarters who superseded native author
ty, had gradually strengthened them
selves. Their incursions begin in 113O,
With the occupation of the northern
provinces of China.
So far as antiquated ideas teach, the
Emperor Of China is the most august
person under heaven, or, what is the
same thing in China, he is the only
person qualified to adore heaven, and is
he fountain of all earthly power, rank,
lonor and privilege. Events of the last
have done something to
Knock arrogant self-coneeit out of the
Chinese, particularly those interested in
the government and trade of the EN-
pire, but the enlightenment of China is
very partial, and the obsnnacy of its
marvellous. This will be
broken down in time, however, and the
influence of the United Statesis great if |
not paramount in assisting 4 change |
which is very desirable. The myriads |
Of Cinnamon who return to theilnative |
country after having lived herr for a
good number of years, will do something
Ia the way Of convincing the millions at |
home that there are somewhere md |
something outside of the Celestial Rn-
pire.