The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-10-19
CHINESE DO NOT KILL.
Suicide the Favorite Method Of TAX
ing off of Celestials.

/ WASHINGTON, Oct. 2.-Mr. WI, the
Chinese minister, received cable
gram from Pekin this morning. No
allusion was made to the death of the
emperor, although it referred to the
Punishment of Chang Yen Hoon, his
| predecessor here. He is, therefore,
disinclined to believe the newspaper
dispatches, although he would not be
surprised to learn that his sovereign
is dead. Minister Conger has notified
the department of State that the en-
peror is i'll, but has sent nothing to
confirm the newspaper reports Of his
death. Both Mr.. WI and Col. DENLY
are very skeptical as to the story Of
the emperor's assassination.
No emperor Of China was ever as
sassinated, so far as history goes.
The dignity and sanctity Of his person
makes such thing almost impossible,
except by maniac, but suicide is a
frequent method Of escaping disgrace
and humiliation. Several emperors
have died by their own hand. Hwai
Tsung, the last emperor Of the Ming
dynasty, killed himself because he
was deposed by the Manchus, the
| family of the present monarch, who
are known as the Tsings.
Offenders are often allowed to COM
NIT suicide to save their honor. This
privilege was granted to Prince Chin
in 1861, when he was held responsible
for the British invasion. Tseng, the
commander Of the Chinese feet, COM
mitted suicide in 1895 to cover the
humiliation Of his defeat by the
Japanese, and only few months ago
one of the most prominent ministers
was given hio choice between suicide
and banishment.
Suicide is not disgrace; it is often
used as means Of revenge. The Sc
verest punishment a man can inAict
upon an enemy is to commit suicide
in his house or upon his doorstep, be-
cause curse will always hang over it,
and if Kuang Hsu wanted to punish
his aunt, the dowager, for deposing
him, he could select no more effective
method of making her miserable than
to take his own life in her presence or
in her apartment.
For similar reason the assassina-
tion of the emperor would not be de-
sireble by his enemies or his success
sors. In the first place the whole
people Of China, from the emperor
down to the most ignorant coolie, are
in perpetual and irresistible bondage
to the Fung Shuy, the spirits of the
dead, who retain their interest and
activity in the affairs Of the living
and exercise an overpowering influence
over the minds, the acts and the for
tunes of men.
This is the secret Of ancestral wor-
ship. It is the theory that the great
er influence a man exercises in life
the more power his spirit will have
over the destinies Of mankind after
death. Therefore, shrines are erected
to great men by those who want their
favor, just as we erect monuments in
this country.
The emperor of the "son Of heaven;
the king of kings" While he is liv-
ing his person is so sacred that no one
except those authorized may touch
him without suffering the penalty Of
death. People are not permitted to
look upon him. When his ministers
approach the throne they bow their
heads to the floor and address him on
their hands and knees. When he
passes along the streets Of Pekin
screens of mating are hung in front
Of all the houses and shops. Although
there is no doubt good deal of peep
ing, those who are guilty would un-
doubtedly be punished if found out.
When he dies the emperor ascends
among the gods where he continues to
be source of good and evil, and even
such rugged old iconoclast as Lii
Hung Chang would not take the chan
ces of his interference with his plans.
Besides that the emperor's successor
is required to worship him. The same
obligation rests upon the court, and it
would be little difficult to worship a
man you had assassinated.
Nevertheless the Chinese are pro-
crossing rapidly in modern ideas. Rev.