The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1890-03-01
TROUBLES IN CHINA,
Secret Societies Against the Ruling Man.
chu Tartar Dynasty.

chu Tartar Dynasty.
The Emperor of China and the EN-
press do not agree. The Emperor of
China wishes to prove that he rules;
the Empress-dowager has the same am
bition. The dispute originated in a
love affair. When the Emperor, who is
eighteen years old, came to the throne
he became deeply in love with the
daughter of a Mancha military officer,
the lady being, according to Manchu
tastes, exceedingly beautiful. He also
chose another charming girl to be his
second wife, should occasion arise. The
Empress-dOwager, however, had an ex-
ceedingly plain niece, who she was de-
termined should marry the Emperor;
and, despite the latter's objec.
lions, she succeeded in carrying
out her plan. The Emperor now
hates the Empress and the Empress
doWage1 with hatred of great intensi-
ty. Quarrels are of frequent occurrence.
Whatever the Emperor desires the En-
press-dowager objects to; and, as they
both are thoroughly obstinate and high
spirited, it is feared that the rupture
will lead to crisis of the most serious
nature. The palace and government
officials are divided into two parties
one headed by the Emperor and the i'm
perlal tutor; the other by the Empress
dowager. There are also two parties in
Chlna-one progressive, the other con-
servative. The former wanted certain
railway built, and the Emperor sane
toned it; the latter objected, and the
Emperor withdrew his sanction. The
Emperor is of rather progressive ideas
himself, but the imperial tutor, who
practically rules him, is strongly OPP
posed to any innovations, Western or
otherwise.
The domestic rancor in the palace has
spread throughout all the nation. Secret
societies are to be found everywhere,
and they are sedulously spreading a
spirit OF disloyalty to and discomfort at
their Emperor; for the present ruler of
the Chinese Empire is not Chinese
but Manchu, the Manchu Tartars hav-
ing by force obtained their position and
power. The object of the secret socie-
ties is to overthrow the existing state of
things, and inaugurate an era of pros
perity and enlightenment. The Manchu
dignitaries in the capital are getting
very anxious at the state of affairs, and
do not trust even the highest of the
native officials, many of whom are in
favor of the spirit of change which has
grown up among large section of the
people. The grain crop along portion
OF the Yang-tse-Kiang has failed,
and serious famine over large
area of territory is expected during the
winter. Hunger among dense popula-
ton like the Chinese is direct cause of
disorder. Various outbreaks arising
out of this discomfort have taken place
at several ports, and, though apparently
directed against foreigners, were really
demonstrations stirred up by agitators
against the imperial government at
Pekin. A military camp has been
formed near Shanghai in case of rising.
The Emperor is regarded by the Chi
nese as being unlucky, and they point
to the burning of the Temple of Heaven
as proof thereof. AS, however, She
Emperor insisted that some pet goats
should be allowed to eat the grass with
in the sacred Enclosure, and the EN-
press Dowager objected, there is sus-
picion that the Empress knows more
about the fire than she will admit.
Whether this be so or not, many, both
foreigners and Chinese, think that the
Manchu dynasty is almost at it's end
N. Y. Herald.