New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-02
THE PEAL TROUBLE IN CHINA.

For many years past popular superstition
has prevailed in China to the effect that young
Kwangsu, the regnng Emperor, would be the
last OF the Mandolin dynasty, and according to
the recent dispatches received from Shanghai, it
would appear as if matters were tending toward
The fuflment of tho belief For the revolution
Try outbreaks which are now raging not alone
IN the north but also in the south, the east,
the west and the centre OF China, are essen
TALLY OF an anti-dynastic character. The hos
tility toward the foreigners, and the masSacres
of Christians, are merely secondary consdeIa-
tons in the movement, and due partly to
desire to embroil the Emperor with the West
ern Powers, and partly to the blow to national
pride caused by the young monarchs concessions
to the "foreign devils" in connection with the
international controversy on the subject OF dpo-
matte audiences and other disputes of an anaO-
gous character.
During the two hundred and fifty years which
have elapsed since the native dynasty of Ming
was overthrow by the Mandolin or Tartar in
vaders, whose chief assembled the Dragon Throne
under the title of Emperor Shunchih, and found
ed the Using dynasty to which the present mon
arch belongs, the national characteristics OF the
cOnquerng race have undergone radical change.
They have become effete, have lost their mil
itary training and instincts and to a certain ex-
tent have become merged into the native Chinese
population. The latter, however, despises them
for the nfeiioriy of their aptitude for trade and
industry, and to-day the prestige of the Mandchus
has entirely disappeared. They are no longer
feared and are incapable Of retaining their posi-
ton as the principal basis and support upon which
rests the present alien dynasty.
Realizing the weakness of the latter, and the
fact that the degenerate MandchuS constitute
mere handful of 100000, the 400, 900, 900
of native and aboriginal Chinese believe that the
moment has come to suppant the obnoxious
Tartar rule by an Emperor of their own race
Among those who seem predestined by popular
sentiment for the Imperial dignity is Chang Che
Tung, Viceroy of HOullwang and the leader of
the Reactionary and Retrograde party. In open
opposition to the authorities at Pekin where his
great rival, Ii Hung Chang, the Vicetoy of the
metropolitan Province of PtcheIi, is the moving
spirit he has grouped around him all the dis
affected His name has become watchWord
for the malcontents, among the most bitter and
desperate of whom are the 100, 100000 natives
engaged in the tea industry, which has been
almost ruined by Indian and Cingaese competi-
ton.
The fact that the insurrectiOnary forces now
marching on Pesin should have been raised and
organized in MandchuIia and not in China prop
er, is explained by the fact that after the Mand-
chu invaders swooped down upon China two
hundred and fifty years ago and overran inc
Empe their lands which they left vacant were
gradually colOnized, and in course Of time dense
ly settled by native Chinese of an adventurous
and lawless character Up to within few
years ago these settlers avaled themselves OF
the exemption from taxation formerly enjoyed
by the Mandchus TO eyade making any con-
tributions toward the Imperial revenue. Re
Gently, however, an attempt has been made by
the Central Government at Pekin to form the
ancient Mandchuria into three new Provinces,
and not only to subject the population thereof
to the same rule, but also to the same fiscal
obligations as the population of the other Prov
inces of the Empire. 1t was the efforts on the
part of the Government to bring about this that
led to the rise of the Chinese settlers in Mand-
churia who are now marching on Pekn.