The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-12-24
RESTORED TO HONOR.
Tardy Justice at Last Comes to
Prince Kung.
An Interesting Story OF Intrigue aud Com
sparacy Among Celestial NobIea-
Saving of the Reiening
DYNASTY.

Saving OF the noASnAu8
Dynasty.
Prince KunR-whose proper title is
Kung-tsin-wang, or the reverend kim
dred prince-whom the emperor OF
China has brought back to honor from
retirement and disgrace by appointing
him president of the foreign Office and
of the admiralty and co-director with
Ii Hung Chang Of the war arrange
ments, is man who in the past has
played very important part in the
history of China, and is now some six
ty-three years of age, having been born
about 1884, He is man of great vigor,
says the Pail Mall Gazette, and deter
mination of character, and is possessed
Of abilities of very high order. Prince
Kung is the sixth son OF Emperor
Tankwang, who died in 1850. His per-
sonal name, which is used only by his
family, is Yih-hu, while the people call
him Wu-ako, or the Fifth Elder
Brother. Prince Kung came to the
front first in 1860 when Emperor
Hienfung-the son of Tankwang-hed
from Peking on the advance of the
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France. At this critical moment the
former returned to the capital, as
sumed the reins of government, and
entered into negotiations with the al
lies. Having accepted their ultimatum,
he surrendered the northeast gate,
which commanded the city, on October
13, and eleven days later the treaty of
Peking was signed by him and Lord
Elgin. A very curious print of Chi
nese painting by an artist of note,
showing the ceremony attending the
signature of this treaty, occupies the
frontispiece of DIR. Williams Middle
Kingdom"
The following year Emperor Hen
flung died, leaving son as heir whose
age was only five years. -Four of
Prince Kung's elder brothers were al
ready dead, and the fifth had lost his
position in Emperor Tankwang's house
hold by being adopted into the family
of another emperor. There was thus
no one to claim precedence of him as
the first prince of the blood royal dur
ing the minority of Tung-chi, the new
emperor. A conspiracy had, however,
been formed against HIM, with which
he found it necessary to grapple imme-
diately The late emperor had left the
administration of affairs practically in
the hands of council of eight, of
whom Prince / was the head. This
council had decided upon plan of ac-
tion for seizing the reins of power.
They proposed to obtain possession of
the emperor's person, to put the en-
press-regents out of the Way, and to
kill Prince Kung and his two surviving
brothers. Prince Kung, however, was
not to be found mapping. Having re-
ceived news Of the plot, he at once took
measures to prevent it's successful ac-
complishment by carrying off the
young emperor to Peking. The con-
spirators were then arrested and
brought to trial. The Princes and
Chin, being of the blood royal, were
permitted to take the Happy Despatch.
The rest of the conspirators were either
beheaded or banished. Thus did Prince
Kung save from destruction the reign
ing dynasty of China.
For his great services he was at once
proclaimed regent prince and, in
conjunction with the two empress
regents, assumed the government of
China. He Immediately adopted vig-
orous policy in dealing with the
Tapping rebels, which was crowned
with success. After Col. Gordon's cap
ture of Suchaw at the head of his
sever victorious army" Prince Kung
bestowed upon him medal and ten
thousand taels, which were refused.
Prince Kung also successfully put
down the Mahometan rising in Yum
nan and Kansuh, and opened up diplo-
matte intercourse with the European
powers . Prince Kung's determination
not to accept the gunboats purchased
by Mr.. Lay in 1861 nearly led to very
serious results, and cost this country
about one million pounds sterling.
This crucial period was followed by
another in 1870, when the Tien-Tsin
massacre occurred. In all these events
Prince Kung showed he possessed the
gifts of great statesman. When
Emperor Tung-chi died childless in
1875, the choice Of a successor to the
dragon throne lay between Tsai-ching,
the son of Prince Kung, and Tsai-tien,
the son of Prince Chun, his younger
brother. AS the election of Tsai-ching
would have necessitated the retirement
of Prince Kung from an active par
ticipation in the government Of China,
and as continuance of his services
was matter Of absolute necessity for
his country, the former was passed
over in favor of Tsai-tien, child of
only four years Of age, who adopted
the name of Kwang-Su, or illustrious
successor. Prince Kung, however, con-
tinued to act as regent of the country.
The present emperor assumed the
reins of power in 1887, and subsequent
ly he dismissed with disgrace the man
whom now he is pleased to honor, and
who has rendered to China and the
reigning dynasty such services as
ought never to be forgotten.
ROUND COTTON BALES.