The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-01

Speculation rs to His appointment as I'M
pertaI Chancellor.

The summonIng Of Ii Hung Chang TO
Pekin, there to assume the rank ana
duties OF Imperial Chancellor IS an event
OF considerable sigr@ncaite. Its pre-
else meaning. however, is. in the absence
OF further details, involved in some OBJ
security. 1t IS possible that the Emperor,
still jealous OF the immense authority
welded by LII Hung Chang as Niceroy OF
Pechill. is once more Attempting to curb
his too powerful subject by Turing him
to Pekin, where he may easily be kept
under the imperial thumb or be extn-
gulshed altogether.
II this be the Emperor's object. and Ii
Hung Chang have a suspicion OF the
truth. the imperial summons VIII very
likely prove as Intellectual as previous
orders of a similar Kind have been. Should
Ii resolve TO remain where he Is, IL VIII
not be the first time that kwangsu mas
unsuccessfully attempted 10 bring MN 10
Pekin. Even since his return from japan,
after concluding the prelin.narles OF
peace. LII Hung Chang has more than once
been ordered 10 go up TO Pekin, but ne
has always found an excuse for not doing
so in the wound inflicted by koyama 5
pistol shot. lie understood the perils IN
volved in n visit to the Pink Forbidden
City. where his enemies have toiled I'M
ceasingly 10 poison the young Emperor
ears against him, and with his customary
astuteness and auIacity he poLtely uc-
cllned TO stir. IL may be that In the
present instance the fowler IS again
spreading his nets In signt or the pfu'
and that history will repeat user one
more in Ii Hung ChanS's wary reiusai ~
be trapped.
the great Viceroy Is really wanted III
Pekin for the purpose OF caIry,"s ou'
a distinct nolicv. Hitherto, all LIS IN
fluence. and that of the Empress DOW
ager has scarcely been able to stand
against the savage obstinacy OF lhe
reactionaries of the capital lhese re-
Progressive politicians were bitterly op-
posed TO lis peace policy, ana It's culiil-
nation i'm the treaty of Shlmonosekl. \
little while ago, when Taotai Lo, one
of Lis trusted satellites, went up 10
Pekin TO interpret certain clauses Of
the treaty before the TsungI- / amen
the document being written IN English
he was afraid 70 appear before the IN
furiated Ministers. who openly threatened
him with death for his temerity IN trans
lating the Infamous record OF emma ,
shame. II Ii has been summoned IS
Btkin III KODu ldllHs anu NANtt
intentions. these blind and reactonary
elements have evidently been brought IN
der control. and an enlightened policy is
being aimed at by the Emperor and mis-
advisers.
The Imperial chancelorship offered TO
Ii is apparently new office, created ex-
pressly for the Niceroy, and probably
invested with special and extensive pow
ers. The general central administfa-
ton Of China, under the Emperor, con-
slsts OF what may be called two inner
Cabinets. and a number Of nominally sub
sidiary boards, controlling separate de-
partments Of State. The two Cabinets
are the Grand Secretariat and the Cen
eral Council. The former termed In
Chinese Niu Koh. is nOminally the more
important. and has always existed under
the Chinese Emperors. 1t is composed
Of four Grand Secretaries. two Manchu
and two Chinese. and two assistants
To assist the secretaries ana their as
sistants are ten learned men hioh-sy,
who are generally doctors Of the Hanln
College.
The duties OF the Niu Koh are many
and varied. They are IN the closest con-
tact with the sovereign, 10 whom they
submit all papers. and from whom they
receive the replies and instructions upon
which the official edicts are drawn up.
The officers OF the Secretariat also keep
the Imperial seals. OF which there are
twenty-five forms. used for different docu-
ments and departments.
The Kun ri Chu. or General Council
though founded only IN the last century,
has become the real depository OF power
in China and TO IT has fallen the priyi-
lege OF framing cdicts for the Imperial
signature Under these two councils
come the six administrative boards. They
are the Civil Office. the Boards Of Reye-
nue.. OF Rites, of War, Of Punishment.
and Of Public Works. There are some
other public offices at Pekin OF special
nature. the most important OF which is
the Tsungli-Yamen. or Foreign Office.
formed in 1861. by Prince Kung, for the
purpose Of transacting business with the
Ministers Of foreign powers resident in
Pekiu -NeW York Herald