The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1894-11-12
PRINCE kUEG.
Chsckered Career of the New Chinese
Commando. n Chief.


Commando: n Chief.
Prince kung. who has been appointed
commander in chief Of the Chinese
armies, is one Of the Oldest. but not the
ablest, Manchu politicians in the i'm
perial court at i>ekin. He IS a younger
brother Of the emperor. EIicn Funr,
and is about scventy-two years Of age.
1t is said that the q have told upon
him. and he is but a shadow Of his for
mer self, both physically and intellect
uallv. On account of the high position
due to his relationship to the crown, he
has been brought more into prominence
than his abilities at any time war
ranted. His official status made him
the second most important person in
the imperial clan, his only superior be-
ing the emperor himself. Through his
relationship he takes the name Of
kung Tsin-Wang, in which Kung
means prince, and Tsin-Wang implies
the highest branch Of kinship As
translated into English, "Prince kung'
i, a term which is liable to produce al
erroneous impression. kung is Otthe
name Of either a person or a place, but
Of a title. 1t is merely a general de-
scription or epithet which might apply
to many individuals.
The person bearing this title receives
an annual salary from the imperial
treasury Of fifteen thousand dollars, a
r~ctinue Of three hundred and sixty serv-
ants, one for every day of the Chinese
year, and clothing, palace and food Tor
the support of himself, his family and
all his SubOrdinateS. In the blue book
Of China his allowance from year to
wear has never fallen below seventy
five thousand dollars, and in the times
Of his greatest prosperity 1T has eX-
cccded n hundred and fifty thousand
dollars. IN addition to this handsome
venue he is entitled to salary and
fees in the various positions which he
ma hold from time to time.
kung's career has been a very check
cred one. In his best years he has held
as many as fifteen offices, whose net
return was annually over three hun
dred thousand dollars, and on the 9TH
er hand, in seasons of retirement or of
disgrace, all of his positions AVE been
taken away from him. Despite his ups
and downs he is a very rich nan and
yields a tremendous power in the en-
pire.
Upon the death Of the old emperor
in 1860, kung was appointed joint
regent with the two dOwager en-
presses, his sisters-in-law, and there
held sway for twelve years. His ad-
ministration was marked by many re-
forms, by appreciation and adOp-
ton Of European methods and by the
recognition and promotion of the lead
erS of the liberal or progressive party,
among whom were Ii Hung Chang and
others Of lesser note. During this
period the great Tapping rebellion oc-
Cured, and was finally suppressed
through the assistance of the great
powers and a troop Of foreign merce-
naries at WhOGe head was Chinese"
Gordon; the MOhammedan insurrec-
ton which at one time threatened the
western half Of the empire was utterly
crushed; the uprising in the north
west was defeated and several small
wars with Tartar tribes in Mongolia
and Manchuria were brought to a sue
cessful termination. On one occasion
he admitted to Lord Elgin that he un-
derstood but little Of modern warfare
and relied entirely upon those familiar
with its principles and practices.
He also opened up diplomatic inter-
course with foreign nations and was
instrumental in establishing many of
the present treaty ports. He was a
great friend Of 'Chinese'' Gordon, al
though the latter regarded him as
thoroughly INSCRIPTIONS and treach-
erOuS.