The San Francisco call., 1898-12-15
Advocated Customs of
 White Men.
NOW HELD A ROYAL PRISONER
RUSSIA IS ASSUMING CONTROL
 OF THE CHINESE EMPIRE.
Grave Problems Now Confronting England and America and Big War May Soon
 Be On.

Among the guests at the Occidental who arrived on the seamer City of Picking, is G. Cox. He comes direct from China and Is registered from Peking MT Cox IS an Englishman and was born in Austra- lia, but he has spent the last thirteen years in China. He is now on his way to England, never having yet visited that country Mir. CoXs connections in China were such that he is in a position to be exceptionally well informed regard ing the affairs of that country, and es- pecially is he well informed concerning the international question of interest in China. He talks in an exceedingly modest manner. His version ot the recent over throw of the Emperor is best told in his own words. Regarding this he said:
 The Emperor has not been murdered He is simply held a prisoner as 1t were by his mother He is confined in the royal palace. There is no doubt but that his mother usurped the reins of govern ment, for the Emperor did not abdicate. To me it seems strange that the other nations recognize her as the lawful ad- ministrator of the affairs of the nation, when they know that there has been no formal abdication on the part of the Elm peror. The latter undoubtedly brought about his downfall because of the radical reform measures that he advocated. Many of the high officials of the empire were in the reform move with the Emperor, and 1t might have been successful, but some one of them. with the usual duplicity of the race, gave the scheme away and the Emperor's mother took immediate charge and made things hot for the reformers.
 The Emperor wanted to introduce Western customs. He advocated the wearing apparel of the white man and he wanted his subjects to dock their queueS and this was more than the Chinese would stand for. Chang Yin Huan, for mer Minister to the Court of St. James, and who also attended the Queens Jubilee where he was knighted, was one of the refOTmers, and but for the intervention Of Sir CIaud Macdonald he would have lost his head. As it was he was banished from the empire. Another high official escaped by taking refuge on a British warship. There Is no doubt but that these euterprising reformers would have made clean sweep if their plans had succeed ed I believe that their zeal would have led them to a free use of the aX, but their following was not strong enough, so they failed.
 "The most serious and at the same time the most interesting question to the Eng fish and Americans in China at present is the attitude of Russia. There Is no use denying the fact or trying to disguise the stern reality that Russia practically controls the Chinese Government. This must lead to international dissensions, and l look to see in the next two years a big war between England and Russia. Something has to be done, for if affairs go on as they have been Russia will control T and America are not looking after their interests as they should. Russia controls Newchwang, treaty port, which is within 200 miles of Picking. In the district Of Manchuria, in the northern part of Chi na. Russia is building railways. This is the richest and most desirable part of China While America and England are standing by looking on Russia Is daily in creasing her strength. From the port of Newchwang America gets at least 70 per cent of it's China trade. Can this country afford to allow Russia to control this port?
 T am not prepared to say what Eng land and America combined could do in war with Russia. It would be a hard country to fight. America has no army. l admit you can raise a large volunteer force. but you can't make soldiers in day out of volunteers. Russia has her best forces in China, and they have got to be met by men who have besides mere bravery the knowledge of how to be sol diers. The question Is a grave and serious one, and it is being carefully considered in England. What will be the outcome