Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-13
THE EMPEROR's DILEMMA.
An Event in China Shows That Ma Ju-LunR
Had Enemies as Well rs Friends

An Event In China Shows That Ma Ju-Lung
Had Enemies as Well as Friends.
An amusing and curious transac ton in China,
IN which the emperor took part, is recorded in
three recent issues Of the Pekin Gazette A
short time ago Ma Ju-LunR, at one time COM
mander-in chief in Yunnan, died at his native
place. Many citizens in the province drew MP
an elaborate memorial to the emperor, setting
out the great deeds that public benefactor had
performed, and praying that suitable honors
be bestowed upon his memory. The memorial
lists said that it was he who put down the grea.
Mohammedan rebellion in Yunnan about
twenty years ago. First and last" the paper
said, The was instrumental in killing over
lo.oOO OF the enemy and in his own person
practically decided the fate Of Yunnan."
In reply to this memorial the emperor Issued
a decree ordering that the highest honors that
could be paid to one of the deceased COM
manders rank be given to him. including the
erection ola temple in the capital of Yunnau.
The imperial historian also was ordered to
compile a record of his brilliant exploits
Afterward another memorial came to the en-
peror from Yunnan. The prominent men who
signed the document denounced the general
In round terms. They said that in his youth
he was a loafing. good-for-nothing fellow.
whom nobody could abide. When the rebel.
lion occurred he sold himself to the rebels. In
their service he proved himself monster of
cruelty, and once caused the massacre of
1900 persons in a captured city, Finally the
hard-pressed viceroy bribed him to desert the
rebels and enter the imperial service as a gen.
eral. HE rode in a yellow chair and in ali
things did as he pleased" Even after that he
was treacherous to the emperor, and he. ex-
posed the capital to a rebel attack in revenge
for being compelled to ride in a green chair.
He was always ready to run over to the winning
side and his later services did not in the least
atone for his atrOcious crimes.
The signers of the document said that tbose
who had recommended him for posthumous
honors were nothing but lot of small traders
and that If the honOrs were not Withdrawn thew
feared that the tens of thousands Of innocent
souls whom he had sent to hades would be nm
able to close their eyes for indignation. Thew
therefore, asked for a re vocation of the decrce
giving honor to the spirit of the deceased Ma
Here was a dilemma for the emperor. The
honors which he had ordered were already in
process OF bestowal. At last he issued another
decree extricating himself from his difficulty.
He said that the bestowal of such high dis
tlnction as the erection of a memorial temple
should only be granted where the popular feel
Ing was unanimous in its favor, and. as praise
and blame seemed to be equally apportioned in
the present instance, he ordered that the pre-
vious decree, as far as it related to the TEMPLE.
should be cancelled. Mas doings in the flesh
are recorded by the historian. but his ghost
will have to do without votive offerings. which.
1t is to be presumed, would be paruculy agree.
able to it.