Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-23

press dowager to give to the emperor .he
benefit of her ripe experience and her in
struction.
The dowager empress has been pleased to
a6 cede to this request. Therefore, it is to
the good fortune of the whole empire that
this auspicious event is brought aboIt.
From today the empress dowager conducts
the business In thu imperial apartments,
and on the eighth day of the present month
Chinese calendar, meaning today English
calendar), we will take all the princes and
ministers TO perform the ceremony in the
CEin Chung Palace. Let the yamen for
tign office) prepare that the ceremony may
De performed with fitting honors."
Not Triumph for Any Nation.
The Chinese minister was seen at the le-
cation today and talked freely concerning
the edict. He said there was no secrecy
about it. nothing to indicate that 1t was
a triumph CT one foreign element over an
other and that its essential purpose was
to strengthen China herself at time when
serious problems were presented 1t was
quite natural he said, that the dowager
empress should be called to the aid of the
emperor, owing to dynastic reasons.
The present dowager has survived three
dynasties. beginning with that of Emperor
Hsien F'ung She was the second wife of
the emperor, and bore him a son, Tung
Chi. who on the death of his father, be
came emperor. The latter was an infant
however, anu lilt lliOticl, iheH
now Cowager empress. directed for him
the vast affairs of the empire.
on his death without issue the dowager
elected her nephew, kwang Hsu, to be-
come the emperor. and his reign is now in
progress. He was child when he took
the throne twentyfour years ago. and up
to nine years ago the dowager directed af-
fairs for him, acting much the Queen
Regent of Spain acts for the boy king. 1t
is this dowager empress who is now re-
called to the active assistance of the en-
peror. This, the Chinese minister points
out, is natural move toward the strength
ening of the hands of the emperor. giving
him that same aid which the dowager
empress gave while the emperor and his
father were infant rulers.
Concerning the report that the empress
return to power was coup d'etat favora-
BILE to Russia. the minister says he does not
consider the move favorable to any power
as against any other. Its effect, he says,
will be toward strict impartiality in Chna's
treatment of Russia, Great Britain Ger
many, France. the United States, Japan
and the world at large. During the former
marked friendship for the English so that
in the opinion of the minister IL was unfair
to presume that she had English prejudices
Effect ON Ii Hung Chang.
As TO it's effect upon Ii Hung Chang. the
minister said the dowager empress has long
admired the rugged ability of the old
statesman But he did not think this would
result in the return of Ii to the foreign
office, from which post he was recently re-
Heved. owing. it was understood. 10 foreign
influences. 1t is probable. the minister be-
lieves. that Prince Ii will continue in his
nominal post imperial secretary.
When asked If China had the strength to
resist ACKNOWLEDGMENT by foreign powers
NJ. WI Ting Fang said:
Il am confident China will remain intact
and l am glad TO note that your late min
lister TO China, Mr.. DENLY has the same
opinion China has the native resources
wealth and population to make her strong
within herself. IL should not be overlook
ed that some of the foreign Influences, such
as concessions for railways. &c, will ben-
eft and develop China far more than they
can benefit any foreign country. These
concessions will tap the rich Interior of
China, give highways for the products now
confined TO the interior and carry them to
outside markets
COncessiOn to Americans
The minister speaks with special satisfac-
ton of a concession which he signed a
short time ago, by which an American syn-
dicate will build railroad from Han Kow
to Canton, a distance of 800 miles, 1t is
understood that among the names of those
interested in this concession are the Rookie
fellers. Vanderbilts. Morgans, Brice and ex-
Mayor Hugh Grant of New York The
minister signed the concession just before
the Spanish war broke out, and this led 10
some delay In beginning work on the road
Now, however. he is informed that the
American engineers are about to start for
their surveys of the line and that construc-
ton will be pushed from this time forward