The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-01
IL cATHEnINE oF cmNA.
How the Daughter Of a Poor Tartar
Became an Empire'z Ruler

AftANuf mm T. "a liAEN A+A---As
From The L7ldon Globe
Death has recently robbed the Celestial
kingdom OF one OF its chief ruling spirits
in the person OF Tson Hzi, the late Dow
ager Empress Of China In many re-
specIs she resemble Catherine the Great
Of Russia, but especially 80 IN her hum
bic origin and the vast influence she eX-
ercised over her country's fate.
She was the daughter o. needy Tartar
who sold her during early infancy 10
mandarin. Her destined lot seemed 10
be that Of acting as an ornament TO this
wealthy individuals residence; but sud
den caprice Of the emperor. Tchien Tung,
changed everything. lie gave notice b.
PROCLAIMED iOn that he wanted a Tartar
oainseli and among the most DeauLlIai
OF those submitted to his choice was Isou
hsl. IRE emperor Icing charmed 10y heF
grace. beauty. and ~ lt. added her accord
lnsiy 10 his Devy " OeduteOus Games
and she bore him son.
Ihc Official Empre ss-Empress OF the
East-had not presented her lord with an
helri 4 son Hsi. therefore, might nave been
elevated over the head OF the empress.
With characteristics diplomacy, however,
she persuaded the monarch not to give
her the position OF the empress, but to
create another for her. under DE style OF
ceclled beyond every hope for It led to no
jealous rivalry between the two wives,
who lived together in perfect harmony.
Even after Tchieu Tunc $ death, and
the succession OF his f0ur-year old son,
this DISTINGUISHED woman continued to
govern. With the AID or the other en-
press, she seized the reins Of government,
and Tor fourteen years exercised des-
potlc rule. In 1875 the young emperor
died at IS, leaving the throne to the pres
ent emperor, Kuang Su, who became
emancipated in 1889. Her influence was
however, IN no way weakened by the en-
peror attainment % his majority as the
marriage Of the emperor TO one Of IsOn
isis nicces evidences.
II was more by fear than affection that
she ruled over the mind Of the emperor
by overthrowing her rival Prince Kung
popular though h. was she became the
most powerful person iu the Chinese en-
pire, welding at one time a power little
short Of bOundess. During late years
however. she lost nearly every vestige Of
this influence
The Japanese war which was so disas-
trouS to China, brought about violent
reaction against the late empress and
her favorite. Ii Hung Chang; the latter
saw his fortune and his personal safety
menaced, While many thought the former
had lost forever the power which had
enabled her to rule over China for thirty
years under three successive emperors
Those whom Tson Hsi's policy had ousted
now Joined together and plotted against
Tson Hsi, the young emperor being for a
while won over 70 their lntrigues. Wisely
she allowed the storm to pass over her
head without striving inemectively against
IT, When peace was signed and minds
were calm once more she again seized
power with promptitude and energy The
emperor again gave his confidence to his
hrst counselor, and that. too, by a public
act publishing this curious decree In the
Pekin Gazette, I'm order to disown all
connection with her foes:
I'VE have ever entertained respectful
sentiment of gratitude for the care and
solicitude with which the dowager en-
press has day and night surrounded our
infancy, and we have sought in return to
repay her by every obedience. Further,
we owe her a great debt of gratitude for
the immense benefits we have reaped from
her counsels in times Of peace and Of war,
as we'll as in the smallest events OF every
day life. She has In all things and at all
times been careful to prevent our inex-
perience from leading US astray All this
Is Well known TO our ministers Let the
feelings which we have experienced be
imagined, then, on hearing in several OF
our audiences certain in-mannered men
without tact or discretion, utter words and
phrases calculated TO diminish our filial
gratitude and respect for her imperial
majesty"
1t seems that these 'TI-mannered mem
referred to were the Vice Presidents
Wang and Chang, who had frequently
made use OF injurious language concern
ing the dowager empress, with the inten-
ton of bringing about an open rupture
between her and the emperor The lat
ter declared that he would have dismiss
ed them at the time. but the country was
passing through a crisis, and the dowa-
ger empress was i'll, and 50 he restrained
his anger. The time for making his i'm
perial will known had at length come, and
these ministers and others would for the
future be more discreet in their language,
under penalty of his anger.
Wang and Chang were consequently de-
clared incapable for all time of holding
any public Office. The court and ministers
were at the same time warned that In
future whoever attempted to turn the
emperor aside from his duties toward the
dowager empress would be punished with
extreme severity. The death of the EN-
press Tson Hsi leaves the young emperor
under the rival influences of Ii Hung
Chang and Tchang-the former being an
advocate of reform and European inlu-
ence, while the latter is the leader of that
party whose watchword is China for the
Chinese and whose aim 1t Is to shut out
European civilization from the Chinese
empire.