The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-24

Of the edict issued by the emperor yes
terday in which, owing to the critical
condition of Chinese affairs, he calls
back to power the empress dowager
and commits to her hands the direction
of the vast affairs of the empire. The
edict, freely translated from the cipher
cable, is as follows:
Now that China is disturbed and
there is need that all business shall be
we'll done, we. the emperor, agitated
from morning to evening, for the well
fare of affairs and fearful lest. errors
may occur, observing from the begin
ming of the reign of Tung Chi that the
empress dowager had twice given in
structions to the emperor, and with
signal ability and success, so we now,
considering the important interests of
the empire, have begged the empress
dowager to give to the empire the
benefit of her ripe experience and her
instruction. The dowager empress has
been pleased to accede to this request,
and, therefore, it is to the good fortune
of the whole empire that this suspicious
event is brought about. From today
the empress dowager conducts the
business in the imperial apartments,
and on the eighth day of the present
month (Chinese calendar), meaning to-
day English calendar). we will take all
the princes and ministers to perform
the ceremony in the Chinchung palace.
Let the Yamen (foreign oftice) prepare
that the ceremony may be performed
with fitting honors."
PURPOSE OF THE EDICT:
The Chinese minister was seen at the
legation today and talked concerning
the edict. He said there was no
secrecy about it, nothing TO indicate
that it was a triumph of one foreign
element over another, and that its
essential prpuose was to strengthen
China herself at the time when serious
foreign problems were presented. 1t
was quite natural, he said, that the
dowager empress should be called to
the aid of the emperor. owing to
dynasty reasons. The present dowager
has survived three dynasties, begin
ming with that of Emperor Helen Flung.
She was the second wife of the emperor
and bore him son, Tung Chi, who, on
the death of his father, became emper-
or. The latter was an infant ruler and
the mother then and now dOwager
empress, directed for him the vast af-
fairs of the empire. On his death
without issue, the dowager elected her
nephew, KWang HSu to become the
and his reign is now in pro-
gress. He was a child when he took
the throne "a years ago, and up to nine
years ago, the dOwager directed af-
fairs for him, acting much as the queen
regent of Spain acts for the boy king.
The recall of the dowager empress
to active assistance of the emperor, the
Chinese minister points out, is
natural move toward the strengthen
ing of the hands of the emperor, giving
him that same aid which the dowager
empress gave while the emperor and
info ntG
NOT IN RUSSIA'S FAVOR.
Concerning the report that the en-
press return to power was coup
d'etat favorable to Russia. the min
lister says he does not consider the
move favorable to any power as against
any other. It's effect, he says, would
be towards the direct impartiality in
China's treatment of Russia, Great
Germany, France, the United
States, Japan and the world at large.
During the former regency of the
she had shown marked
friendship for the English, so that, in
the opinion of the minister. it was I'M
fair to presume she had English preju-
dices. AS to its effect upon Ii Hung
Chang, the minister said, the dowager |
had long admired the rugged |
ability of the old statesman, but he |
did not think this would result in the |
return of Lii to the foreign office, from |
which post he was recently removed, |
owing, it was understood, to foreign !
influence. 1t is possible, the minister |
believes, that Prince Ii will continue |
in his nominal post as imperial secre- j
tary.
CHINA'S STRENGTH.
When asked if China had the !
strength to resist dispemberment by |
foreign powers, Mr.. WI Ting Fang |
said: Il am confident China will re- |
main intact, and L am glad to note that |
your late minister to China, Mr.. DENLY, !
has the same opinion. China has the /
native resources, wealth and popula- |
ton to make her strong within her |
self. 1t should not be overlooked that |
some of the foreign influences, such as \
for railway, etc, will bene-
it and develop China far more than |
they can benefit any foreign country. |
These concessions will tap the rich in |
terror of China, give highways for the |
products now confined to the interior, |
and carry them to outside markets
The minister speaks with special !
of a concession which he |
signed short time ago, by which an |
American syndicate will build a rail- |
'oad from Hankow to Canton, a dis |
.ance of 500 miles. 1t is understood |
hat among the names of those inter-
eSted in this concession are the Rookie |
ellers. Vanderbilts, Morgans, Brice
and eX-Mayor Hugh Grant of New |
I ork. The minister signed the conces-
zion just before the Spanish war broke
,ut and this led to some delay in be- |
ginning work on the road Now, how
sver, he is informed that the American
engineers are about to start for the
of the line and that construc-
ion will be pushed from this time for
ward.
London, Sept 23.-According to speciaI
dispatches received from Pekin. mem
,ers of the European community there be
ieve the life of the emperor of China is in
LANCER. 1t is added that the dowager
desires TO place Prince Kwana,s
,randson on the throne. The emperor
ealizes the strength of the conspiracv
gainst him and has ordered the guards at
he palace to be strengthened.