Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-04-25
SOLITARY AS a GOD.
The Hard Lines Surrounding the Young
Emperor of China.

As yet the doings of the Chinese
have no particular interest outside
their own country. The marriage of
the Emperor is strong proof that
this is the ease An imperial alliance
OF the same kind in the West would
have sent a fiutter through every court
in Europe. No Chancellor or Premier
will disturb himself about the rank or
the relations OF the lady who becomes
the Empress OF China In the
FlOwery Land itself the chOos-
ing of an imperial bride has no
political interest; she comes from
no royal house; princely or even blue
blood is not a necessary qualification.
She has TO be selected from the Eight
Banners" phrase which expresses
the Manchu army OF Pekin. We should
call them the guards, for they are
the personal defenders of the Emperor.
Up till lately the Emperor of China
only knew of the Western nations as
'foreign devils" and the small states
such as the Corea. which are in con-
the Misunderstanding nations" Ambas-
sailors from these states present tribute
as feudatories, and in doing SO appear
before the Emperor on their stomachs,
knocking their heads on the ground
ceremony known as the ''kow-
tow" The Son of Heaven could
not condescend to ask for a companion
to the Dragon Throne" from
any of the rulers of these insignificant
countries. 1t is the Dowager Empress
who chooses the lady who becomes
her successor. The Dowager Empress
in the present case is not the mother
J of the Emperor; she is the mother OF
the late Emperor Tung-chih. During
his minority she and the Empress OF
Hien-fung acted as Regents; on Tung-
chih's death in 1875, when the present
Emperor, then a mere child, was APP
pointed to the throne, the two ladies
again took charge OF the government
as Regents. In 1881 the other
Empress died She was known as
the Eastern Empress" and the
western Empress" continued the re-
gency. On his marriage the Emperor
assumes full powers and the Regent
retires into private life.
The present Emperor was born in
| 1871; he is the son of Prince Chun,
one of the brothers OF the Emperor
Hien-Fung. He is thus full cousin
/ a. tha 1o4o En,,1aua,, T,,nr Cb;b nh =
died in 1875. The latter died child.
less, thus causing break in the direct
succession of the TEACHING, or Great
Pure Dynasty" Tung-Chih left will
appointing the present Emperor "a
succeed him on the throne. His name
before becoming Emperor was Tsai
ten; but on becoming Emperor o.
China a new name is always as
summed, and the new ruler will be
known as Kwang-su which means
can Inheritance Of Glory.
| Vast as may be the Empire
of China, many as may be the
millions he rules over, this young man
| of eighteen must, at least for some
I v
national policy. Documents will BIZ
placed before him. and he with the
dragon Pencil will sign them. Al
Emperor he becomes priest, and viii
have now to Ofticiate in the imperia
temples, the great celebration being
that at the temple OF Heaven. At tn,
Confucial temple he has to address tn,
literati and AN important duty il
Chinese eyes is that of visiting the
tombs of the dynasty, where he offer:
sacrifice and worships his ancestors
These tombs are some distance to this
northwest OF Pekin and hay,
/ to be visited once year b,
the reigning Emperor. II al
Emperor of China should chanc,
TO have natural abilities. he labor
under the greatest disadvantages II
their development. Every action o
his life is affected by the etiquette o
| an elaborate ceremOnial the two hun
bred volumes and the "ofiicials who in
quire into Heaven who interpret thei
meaning must swaddle up his Who'll,
existence as if he we're a mummy. HI
has none of the ordinary intercourse
which other mOrtals have with theil
fellow-creatures, All who approach
him have to do so knocking thei
heads on the ground; on his exalted
throne he is cut of from all those in
fuences which would and do improv,
the heart and mind. His position car
not be better expressed than by re
peating what the Chinese themselvei
say; HE is as solitary as a god. =