The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1884-10-25
THE EMPRESS DowAGER
Two Dollars q Year.

TIE EWasHE0S 1OVAdEn
And Regent OF the Celestial Empire.
There are important reasons why the
recent fighting between France and China
OF Foo Chow, Keeling md IN Tonquin,
ahonid be inure interesting to the American
people than foreign difficulties ordinarily
are The chief Of these reasons are that
we have large trade with China, which is
inif1ea BIZ the hostilities, and our Minister
to Pekln Is understood to be active in the
endeavor TO bring about the return of peace
between the two countries, acting in this
capacity ct the request of China. In 1882,
the total Of commerce between the United
States and the Flowery Kingdom amounted
to nearly seventeen million dollars. Our
goyarnment is Watching the progress of
events with the anxiety natural to power
possessing such substantial interest in
peace sbetween the parties now at bloody
vasianoe, and some of the largest vessels in
our navy are Oh duty in Chinese waters.
Every thing new relating ID China being
important to- our readers, Ne present
them With portrait Of the lady who Is at
the head ct the government Of that
country. The Empress nowager and
Regent is woman Of great ability, Regent
for the second time. She Is about fifty
years Of age and the widow of the Emperor
Hien-Fung, who reigned before the imme-
diate predecessor Of the present Emperor,
Tsait'ien, who is only thirteen years of age. |
The last Emperor, T'ung-chi, died at
eighteen years of age, January q, 1875. |
During his reign the imperial lady pictured |
above was Regent and when he died |
unexpectedly, sheand Prince Ch'un. father
OF the present Emperor, persuaded the two!
prime ministers to make Tsait'ien Emperor
by reclamation, giving her the Regency
until the lad shall be twenty years old,
When she will become his adviser. Success
sion in China is determined by the ruling
Sovereign, who appoints his successor from
among the members Of his family of a
younger generation than his own.
T'ung- chi was cut off suddenly by death
before he had made his arrangement, and
the willy female diplomat who is our subject,
SO played her cards that she made herself
Regent once more. She is assisted in the
Government BY Prince Chm. Who i
ins favor OF fighting France to the bitter
end. The undecided character of Chinse |
diplomacy appears in the negotiations with |
france. Ii Hung Chang, the mostI
eminent OF the Celestial statesmen, is an I
enlightened man acquainted with western /
ideas and power, and is desirous of peace |
without the sacrifice of the self-respect of
fPu ~. |
be given in support of the
offices undertaken by the American Minis
ter, Mr.. John Russell Young.
s1hes present. Emperor is the ninth in
succession of the Tarear dynasty of is ing,
which succeeded the native dynasty in the
year 1864. During about FIVE hundred
years previously the tribe of Tartar who
strengthened themselves. Their incursions
began in ll3O, with the occupation of the
northern provinces of China.
so tar as antiquated ideas teach;s the EN-
peror of China is the most august person
under heayen, or, what Is the same thing,
IN Ghlna.s He is the only person qualified to
aoore heaven, and is the fountain of all ,
events OF the last generation, and recently
The force OF French gunnery, have done l
something to knock arrogant self-eOnceit | !!
put OF the Chinese, particularly those inter- !
ssted IN the government and trade of the !
Empire, but the enlightenment of China is '
very PARTIAL, an the obstinacy of
it's conservatism marvellous. This will 7
pc broken down in time, however, and I
he influence OF the United States is great q
: not paramount in assisting change
vhicf Is very desirable. The myriads of
Cinnamon who return to their native eoun- o
ny after having lived here for a good mum
'er OF years, will do something in the way
II convincing the millions at home that +,
here are somewhere and something OUT 81
ide OF the Celestial Empire. g