New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-30
KWANG SU'S DOWNFALL.
THE HISTORY OF HIS SHORT-LIVED
POLICY OF REFORM.
HOW THE EMPEROR PLOTTED TO PLACE THE
EMPRESS DowAGER IN RETIREMENT
THE GREAT INFLUENCE OF THE
BROTHERS KANG

THE GREAT INFLUENCE OF THE
BROTHERS KANG.
Picking. September 26
The events OF the last few days have been
exciting even to the phlegmatic and lethargic
Manchu The Empress Dowager hes assumed
supreme control and has had all the metro
politan officials come in and knock their heads
(kowtow) to her. His Imperial Majesty
Kwang Su acuuiesces. The events which have
led up TO this elimination have been rapidly
following one after another, astonishing the
Conservatives, frightening the provincial gov
ernors and delghting the progressive party. AS
soon Prince Kung died the Emperor sent
Weng Tung Ho his ex-tutor and Cabinet MIN
lister, into retirement and disgrace, removing
his button and all his offices. This was owing
TO the representations made to the Emperor
through a court censor by one Kang Yu WEI,
progressive Cantonese, who had come to Picking
the representative of large Southern pa
triOtic constituency.
This man Kang is a man Of great ability ana
oratorica power and has in the short time ne
has been in Picking caused more edicts OF
radical nature to emanate from the throne tnan
would have been thought possible for China
Foreigners long resident In the country nave
been astonished to read the number OF daily
edcts, dealing with reforms and changes for the
better in THE Picking Gazette"
First, new university was ordered opened
on Western lines. Then a patent office was
ordered started to encourage invention ana
protect the inventor. Then the viceroys and all
the Tartar generals were ordered TO protect
missionaries and receive them civilly whenever
they called upon them. The stilted essay as
test of official ability was abolished; the DOW
and arrow we're superseded for military stu
dents by the rife mathematics and science
were placed In the curriculum Of the provincial
examinations right Of direct memorials Was
granted to all OF the rank Of Tao-Ta with the
right OF memorializng the throne by any grad
uate, through his native project; corrupt OFF,
Gals daily dismissed and their places niied
by apparently brighter if not better men.
These are things that have occurred and that
are attributed to Kang W Wei and his imme-
date followers.
II is said that after reading several Of his
memorials the Emperor desired TO see the man.
and after one public interview saw him and his
brother frequently at night. and privately Inc
Emperor being in poor health Hangs brother
supplied him with medicine, said to be foreign
medicine. which relieved his cough and caused
His Majesty to think more of the two Hangs
than ever But Kwang Su was moving little
too fast for his people and especially for the
grossly corrupt officials who make up the man
darindom of China. Hangs success made him
bitter personal enemies and spies were set upon
him by some OF the great metropolitan officials.
Emboldened by his success he tried each day
something more difficult. and having succeeded
in having Ii Hung Chang and Cheng Hsin re-
moved from the Foreign Office he next at
tempted to shelve the Empress Dowager.
1t Is stated upon what seems good authority
that he had secured the Emperor's acques-
cence In a plan to surround the Empress Dow
ayers palace and have her removed TO dis
lance from Picking and kept In seclusion. Here
he overreached himself. A confederate at once
FASTENED to the Empress Dowager at Emo PARK
thirteen miles from Peking. and told her all the
doinSs and plans Of the ambitious kahs
timid woman would have been frightened put
Her Majesty the Empress Dowager Is not 'ih,iu.
She Immediately called her guards. ordered her
sedan chair and went straight TO the palace
and demanded to see the Emperor The young
man duaked before his aunt. and promptly al
mtted that her information was correct.
Thereupon the Empress Informed MN tnat ste
should at once assume control ana thal ne
must give orders for all the metropolitan ON
cials to be called in audience the next Day
when she would appear openly upon the THRONE.
not behind a screen, as always before IN court
ceremonIals and receive their koWtow IN token
Of their submission to her VIII.
Al the same time soldiers were dispatched In
all directions TO search for Rang iu wei ms
brother and the members of their faction. AS II
was known that Kang was frequent VISITOR az
the house Of Chang Yin Huan. member OF tne
Tsung II Yamen. his house was searched nrs.'
This created great excitement IN the CITY
Chang Yin Huan who Is known In England as
Sir Chang Yin Hoon Che was knighted by queen
Victoria at her Jubilee) was at the Tsung II
Yamen having an interview with the United
States Minister, when the police and soldiers
arrived to search his house, and did not know
until he saw the mob IN the street In front, on
his return. what all the disturbance meant. lie
was informed that one of Hangs circle. one
Pan a military official. had been found on his
premises and carried off by the police. ana ne
was also told that he Chang Yin HuaD would
be kent under surveillance IN his residence ny
orders of the Empress Dowager. He is stu Kept
there but up to the present Writing mas not
been cashiered nor have ms estates peeh con-
fiscated though IL is leareo 'i''s may '"'c P'S
at any morent
The next day Her Majesty held audience
seated upon throne upon the same level with
the Emperor and without any screen or cur
tain before her. l.. Hung Chang and the
princes az well as all the presidents OF Boards
and Manchu generals. came IN ana ko%toMeu.
promising their allegiance, upon when they
were allowed TO depart. So Her Majesty the
Emnress- DoWager is now the real ruler or
China, and the Emperor Kwang Su will do only
what his imperial and iinperious aunt allows
him to do
There 10 another story current that the Rus
slams being highly incensed at the removal or
IL Hung Chang from the Foreign Office. are the
real spring that moved the Empress Dowager
TO take this action; and as 1t Is known the
Empress Dowager has been the lifelong friend
OF Ii Hung Chang that he VIII soon return 10
power as the head OF the Tsung Ii famen
member OF the Cabinet. or at his old post as
Viceroy of Chih-LL
IL is not known how far the present ruler
favors the reform edicts so freely put out by her
nephew but one thing Is certain. the power
full impetus given to the cause Of Western edu-
cational methods will not he allowed 10 lose
force The people awakened. and even If
the Dowager Empress should try she cannot
curb the desires OF an aroused nation TO ad-
vance toward a place among the nations of the
earth. The English will be wild II Ii Hung
Chang is returned 70 power. for The English