The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1894-08-18
Z, IDAHO, SATURDAY. AUGUST Is, 1894,

OUNTY, IDAHO, SATU1
A HATED EMPEROR.
N Feealng Existing Between the
Chinese Ruler and His Subjects
The 9peeay Downfall o4 the Present Dyn-
aaty Prophetically Annoonced-TAs
Country - Bs Divided Into
Three Kingdoms.
Reports Of . serious revolt against
the present Chinese government in
Manchurin and the issue Of proclama-
tions by the rebels declaring that the
Aanchu dynasty is near, its end have
created great deal of interest among
the foreign colony in the treaty ports,
says letter from Shanghai. News
that bears directly upon the reported
disaffection in many provinces Of China
comes from Nanking. It appears that
all up through the great valley of the
Yangtse finely written prophecy OF
the approaching end of Manchu rule is
being circulated. It is almost impossi-
BILE for foreigner who has not lived
in China to understand the Importance
that is given by the gentry to anything
which is well written or carefully
printed. If such document does not
strongly violate the probabilities it
u 4.
This prophecy. saws the Chicago
Tribune. appears to be firmly believed
bv all the Chinese who have read it. It
purports to have been written by Huan
Peh-Shan. who In a vision describes
the downfall of the present govern
ment. It shows considerable literary
ability. but anyone who Is skeptical
NAV readily see that the author has
thrown in local detail to clinch his
prophecy.
The sketch of the emperors of China
is very well done, but this historical in
PRODUCTION appears to have been writ
ten merely to lull the suspecions Of the
reader and to induce him to accept the
sensational statements about the COM
ing ruin Of the Manchu dynasty. The
prophet declares that the great prov
inces Of Yunnan and Kueichou are the
first that will abandon the empire.
After this China will be divided into
three Kingdoms, but this will not take
place and permanent peace will not be
secured until the woods are cleared
rom Purple mountain and the waters
If Lotus lake are dried up. The
specious nature of such prophecy may
be seen when it is stated that about
all the forest has been cut of Of Pur-
pie mountain, while in dry years one
may walk over the bed of Lotus lake,
which is converted into solid ground.
Any season of drought may therefore
be taken by the conspirators with the
assurance that the two main items of
this prophecy will be found fulfilled.
In Human there is deep feeling
against the present DYNASTY because Of
it's favor shown to foreigners. Human
is the seat of a set of fanatics who
would rejoice to see eyery European
thrown out of China. In this province
have occurred the worst outrages on
Christian missionaries. and anyone
iourneyinp M the Yanptse retains
vivid recollections of the showers of
stones and obscenitv that descended
unon hia house-boat from the ne,ch-
boring banks. Intercourse with
foreigners seem only to intensity the
popular hatred of the European inter
iopers, who, they think, are encouraged
bv the voun0 Emperor and his adyis-
ers. The worst feature of the situa-
ton is that the central government
does not dare to rebuke the insolence
of the Human people. This has been
shown repeatedly in recent years, but
the most conspicuous instance was the
failure to punish Chou Han, the author
of the infamous Human tracts against
Christianity, which caused all the peril
and suffering of missionaries in the
Yangste valley. This man was proved
to be the author Of these tracts incit-
ing people to murder Christian mis-
sionaries, and the very blocks on which
they were printed were found in his
house, but he escaped on the specious
pretext, trumped up by the governor
of Chang Chu, that the man was insane,
and therefore beyond the reach Of the
law!
Again in the recent Suneku massacre
of two Swedish missionaries the
viceroy Of Human was first insolent,
then procrastinating, and finally,
when forced to act, cunningly made
Of some OF the best native
friends nf tho YnSAASnrQrioS He then