The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-26

Yuen Chen-Yuen and King-Yuen had been
ordered, and after providing for their pay
the balance of the money for the repair of
the Eho garden. Later on, when it was de-
cided to set aside or raise 80 100000 taels
for the construction of railways, she mis-
appropriated a large portion of the money.
The first intention had been to construct
the railway to Muqden, but it was never
carried farther than Shanhaikwan, the re-
mainder of the money being used for the
decoration of the imperial garden.
Every sensible man knows that railways
and a navy are essential for the we'll being
of a country. But in spite of the advice of
one or two advisers the Empress dowager
refused to carry on the schemes and thought
only of her personal qualification. She has
been steadily opposed to the Introduction
of Western civilization. She has never seen
many outside people-only few eunuchs in
the palace and few ministers of state who
have access to her. Before the Japanese
war Ii Hung Chang was the man she had
most confluence in After the war Ii Hung
Chang was discarded and she seemed to
repose most confidence in Prince Kung and
Jung Lu. AS a rule, however, she retains
absolute control in her own hands. There
is sham eunuch in the palace who has
practically more power than the ministers.
Lii Luen Yen is the sham eunuch's name.
He is a native of Chilli Nothing could be
done without first bribing him. All the
viceroys have got their official positions
through bribing this man, who is immense
ly wealthy Ii Hung Chang is not to be
compared with him. Before she handed over
year or two ago the Empress doWager used
to see many ministers, but after that she
has only seen eunuchs and officials belong
ing to the inner department. / have seen
her myself. She is of medium height. COM
manding presence and rather imperious in
manner. She has a dark. sallow complex
ion, long almond eyes, high nose, is fairly
intelligent looking and has expressive eyes"
The beginning of the struggle between the
maSterful old lady and the Emperor is de-
scribed by KangYu-Wei thus:
about two years ago two officials,
Cheung Lun and Wong Ming Luen, sent a
memorial to the Emperor advising him to
get the power into his own hands, stating
that the Empress dowager was only the
cOncubine of his uncle. Emperor Hien
Flung; therefore, according to Chinese law,
she could not be recognized as the proper
Empress doWager. The result of this me-
mortal was that the two officials were dis
missed. The Emperor recognizes that the
Empress doWager is not his real mother.
Since the Emperor began to display an in
terest in the affairs Of state the Empress
doWager has been Scheming his deposition.
She used to play cards with him. and give
him intoxicating drinks in order to prevent
him from attending to state affairs. For the
greater part of the last two years the En-
peror has been practically the figurehead.
against his own wishes After the occupa-
ton Of KiaOchau by the Germans the En-
peror was very furious, and said to the
Empress dowager: Unless l have the pow
er. will not take my seat as Emperor; 1
will abdicate.' Then it was that the En-
press dowager gave in to him to a certain
extent; telling him that he could do as he
liked, but, although she said this with her
mouth, her heart was different"
Kang Yu Wei had only one audience with
the Emperor, and the eXternals are graph
ically described by him thus:
1T lasted for two hours. I was received
at a. m. in the Yam Shau Hall. Port Ar
thur and Talienwan had just been taken
over by Russia, and the Emperor wore an
anxious, careWorn expression. The En-
peror was thin, but apparently in good
health. He has straight nose. round fore
head pleasant eyes, is clean shaver, and
has a pale complexion. He is of medium
height His hands are long and thin. He
looked very intelligent, and had a kindly
expression, altogether uncommon among the
ManchuS or even among the Chinese. He
wore the usual official dress, but, instead of
the large square of embroidery on the breast
worn by the high officials, the embroidery
in his case was round, encircling a dragon,
and there were two smaller embroiderieS on
his shoulders. He wore the usual official
cap He was led in by eunuchS and took
his seat on a dias on a large yellow cushion,
with his feet folded beneath him. He sent
his attendants away and we were left alone,
but all the time we were conversing his
eyes were watching the windows as If 70
see that no one was eavesdropping. There
was long table in front of his, with two
large candleSticks. l knelt at one of the
corners of the table, and not on the cush-
ions in front of the table which are re-
served for the high officials. l remained
kneeling during the whole of the audience.
We conVerSed in the Mandarin dialect"
The conversation which took place VAS so
accurately summarized in our correspond
ent's telegram that we need not reproduce
it here.