Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-03-31
TIE ENPEROR'S DILEMMA.
An Event IL CiiIIi2 Shows that Ma Ju
Lung Had Enemies as Well as Friends.

Lung Had Enemies as Well as Friends.
An amusing and curious transaction
in China, in which the Emperor took
part, is recorded in three recent issues
Of the Pekin Guzejte. 4 short time
ago Ma Ju-Lung, at one time Com
mander-in-Chief III Iunnan. died at
his native place. Many citizens in the
province drew up an elaborate memo
rial to the Emperor, setting out the
great deeds that public benetactor had
performed, and praying that suitable
h0nors be bestowed upon his memory.
The memoralists said that it was he
who put down the great Mohammedan
rebellion in Yunnan about twenty
years ago. First and last" the paper
said che was instrumental in killing
over $1,000 of the enemy and in his
own person practically decided the
fate of Yunnan."
In reply to this memorial the En-
perOr issued decree ordering that the
highest hOnors that could be paid to
one of the deceased commanders rank
be given TO him. including the cree
ton OF temple i'll the capital OF Yum
nan. The imperial historian also was
ordered to compile a record of his
brilliant exploits. Afterward another
memorial came to the Emperor from
Yunnan. The prominent men who
signed the document denounced the
General in round terms. They said
that in his youth he was loating,
good-for-nothing fellow whom nobody
could abide. When the rebellion oc-
Cured he sold himself to the rebels.
In their service he proved himself
monster of cruelty, and once caused
the massacre of 10000 persons in a
captured city. Finally the hard-pressed
YicerOy bribed him to desert the rebels
and enter the imperial service as a
General. "He rode in yellow chair,
and in all things did as he pleased"
Even after that he was treacherous to
the Emperor, and he exposed the CAPT
lii, 10 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 simners of the document said
that those who had recommended him
for posthumous honors were nothing
but lot of small traders, and that if
the hOnOrs were not withdrawn they
feared that the tens of thousands of
Innocent souls whom he had sent to
HadeS would be unable to close their
eyes Tor indignation. They, therefore,
asked for revocation of the decree,
giving honor to the spirit of the de-
ceased Ma.
Here was dilemma for the En-
peror. The honors which he had or
dered were already in process of be-
stowal At last he issued another de-
cree eXtricating himself from his diff
Guilty. He said that the bestowal of
such high distinction as the erection
of memorial temple should only be
granted where the popular feeling was
unanimous in its favor; and, as praise
and blame seemed to be equally ap-
portioned in the present instance, he
ordered that the previous 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, it is to be presumed,
would be particularly agreeable to it.
~ Y SUn.