The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-04-28

4 FAILING EMPIRE.

4 FAILING EMPIRE.
The Emperor an lmbecile and His
Advisors Corrupt.
CHINA TOTTERING TO ITS FALL.
New York Sun.
PEK1N, February 15.-The situation
here goes rapidly from bad to worse.
The Imperial Government IS drifting
horelessly to ruin. The Emperor, sur
rounded by eunuchs and concubines.
if not besotted imbecile, is a puppet
in their hands. 1t is case of igno-
rance teaching the ignorant, or the
blind leading the blind, and, so far as
can be seen by even the wisest and
most experienced observers, the end is
not far off. The Japanese have pro-
verb which says: "There Is no medi
cine for fool" and every days revela-
tons in this capital OF the far East
show that the saying is as true OF the
Emperor as of his humbIest subject,
and that, even if the means of salvation
Tor himself and his throne were offered
him again, as it has been more than
once in the last decade, there is not
the slightest chance of his accepting
it. Corruption, cowardice, and stub
borness all unite to place this country
and its government in helpless plight.
Their only chance for the last quarter
of century has been to call dislnterest-
ed Americans to aid them in the work
of regeneration and reorganization, and
this has been shown to them repeated
ly, but in vain. First, General Upton,
then General Grant, and, finally, Gen
erals Gordon, Wilson. and Foster, with
more or less particularly, pointed out
to the Chinese statesmen the road by
which humiliation and ruin might be
avoided, but they rejected all counsel
and steadily he'd on to their corrupt
methods, because they were sanctlfied
, by age and "custom." And nowa new
danger stares them in the face and
paralyzes them with fear. The news
has recently reached the capital that
| the Germans have struck the first open
blow at the integrity OF the country.
! Russia has long been advancing against
the northern side of the empire, If not
sapping and mining her vitals, While
England and France have been over
throwing her outposts one after anoth-
er in the South and West. Observant
travellers and intelligent students OF
modern movements and possibilities
have long looked upon the partition OF
China as near at hand, but to-day even
the princes and member OF the Tsung
Lii Yamen are forced to admit that 1t
has become a leading feature in the
plans of the Great European powers.
These purbllnd mandarins now see
that in calling German officers to In
struct their bannermen and still more
| ignorant sailors modern tactics, they
have only exposed their own weakness
and corruption to the curious eyes OF
men who are swift to make known their
discoveries to their home government
The German Kaiser has not had bis
emissaries here for the purpose OF teach
ling Cinnamon how to make war. but
for the purpose OF gathering lntorma
ton useful to his own government
when he shall be ready to reach out fol
his share of Asiatic plnnder. The
same may be said of England, wher
| she lent Captain Lang to the Chinese
Government to command its northern
fleet. The fatulty of all this is almos
incomprehensible and appears abso
lntely so In view of the fact that Amer
leans might have been had to do TIL
} work-men OF superior ability who's
/ country, it was we'll known even t.
Cinnamon, had no desire to acquire
? foot of Chinese territory: or even to es
s tablish "sphere Of commercial lnfiu
l ence" anywhere in Asia
It is also becoming known here tina
China has ceded Kiao Chou bay, W.T.
zone of thirty miles around it, t
t Germany, thus giving the latter a
s area of some 800 square miles, eaul,
d a,ent to a new German State, ninth
e size of those comprising the Germa
d empire. This grant carries with
Il valuable railway and mining rights
: the province of Shantung, the contr'
of coal-fieids, and the privilege OF col
4 Meeting their railroads with any trun
lines which may be built within reac'
While this is all based on a lea'
# limited in terms to a period OF nlnet
Is nine years, it is certain that 1t VIII o
d come a permanent occupation.