The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-25
Is the Chinese Emperor Dying?

1t is only q short time since the envoy Of
the Mikado was admitted to an audience by
the Empress Dowager Isl AN, at which the
Emperor KwANa-sU was present. The lat
ter was then reported to be in tolerable
health. There is nothing incredible, how
| ever, in the rumor which now comes to US
from Pekin, that OF late his condition has
changed greatly for the worse, and that he
is believed to be at the point of death.
Should his demise be announced presently,
he will lave experienced q fate identical
with that of his predecessor, TUNG-cHI,
who died under precisely similar circum-
stances about fourteen years ago
1t may be remembered that on the death
OF the Emperor HIEN-FUNG, in August, 1851,
he was succeeded by his son, a child Of less
than six years Of age, who was proclaimed
Emperor under the style Of C~HI-sEANG, the
control Of affairs being assumed by a board
of regency. Some months later q palace
revolution was brought about by Prince
KuNa, who had secured the assistance Of
the Empress Dowager Isl Tbs and Of her
far ADLER associate, the still living Empress
TsI An, who had been a concubine OF the
deceased sovereign.
The outcome Of this coup detGt was the
deposition of the Board Of Regency, the re-
proclamation Of the child Emperor under
the name OF TUNG-CHI and the acquisition
Of supreme authority by the two Expresses
under whom Prince KUNG became Chief
Minister. In October, 1872, h young
Emperor TuNG-CHI was marriedt to AHLUTA,
a Manchu lady Of good family, and, four
months later, he was formally invested with
the personal control of his dominions. New
ertheless, Prince KUNG. who was still the IA
vorite of the two Expresses, remained Chief
Minister until Sept. 10. 1874, when TUNe-
CHI, determined to be keptin leading strings
no longer, announced in a Vermilion Edict
the degradation Of Prince KUNG and his son.
This act led to his downfall. On the very
next day a decree appeared from the two
Expresses reinstating Prince KUNG and his
son in their hereditary ran and dignity.
These ladies thus reasserted a claim to ex-
ercise supreme authority in the empire.
Not long after ibis disturbance in the in
terror Of the palace, rumors became rife
that the Emperor's health was in a preca-
rious state, and early in December it was
said that TUNG-CHI was i'll from an attack
of q malignant nature. On Dec. IS ap-
peared an edict requesting the Empress
Dowagers to assume personal charge OF the
administration. Less than a month later,
namely OF Jan. ~, 1875, it was announced
that TUNG-CHI had "ascended upon the
Dragon to be a guest on high" That he
was the victim OF foul play could not be
proved at the time, nor Is it likely that the
truth on the point will ever be revealed. 1t
Ia onrkaf4 khak khn 1fo,oc 80 kln TO- IT,.
presses and OF Prince KuNa were promoted
by his death. The young Empress AHnUTA
was pregnant at the time of her husbands
death, but she also was soon smitten by a
convenient illness, and died without bear
ing a child.
The two Expresses, however, did not
wait to see whether TUNG-CH might not
have a posthumous son., but on Jan. 10,
1875, proclaimed as Emperor, under the
name Of KwANG-sU, a son Of the Seventh
Prince, who at the time was only three and
a half years old. BY this selection Of a
nominal ruler, the two Expresses entered
on a second lease Of undisputed power. Not
long, however. was this high position en-
joyed by the Empress Isl THsI, the princi-
pal widow Of the Emperor HIEN-FUNG, and
the nominal senior of the two ladies carry
ing on the Government. After a short and
sudden illness, attributed to heart disease,
she died in April, 1881, at the age of forty
five. Her more capable and ambitious col,
league, Isl AN, who, as we nave said, had
been only the concubine of HRN-FUNG, re-
manned the sole and absolute mistress of
the administration, and such she still is
at the present time.
In February, 1887, it was announced that
the proposed marriage of the young En-
peror KwANG-sU would be postponed for
two years in consequence Of his delicate
health. This postponement. although con-
trary to Chinese precedent, according to
which an Emperor should marry at the age
OF sixteen. had the advantage OF assuring
to the Empress Regent a further lease OF
power. On New Years Day, 1889, however,
when KwANG-sU was well advanced in his
eighteenth year, he was married to YEH-
HoNALA, the daughter OF a Manchu Gen
eral, who had been carefully selected for
the honor out OF many hundred candidates.
On the same day the Empress Dowager made
a formal resignation OF power in n farewell
edict, and passed into a retreat, taking Il p hen
abode In q palace outside the walls of Pekiu.
On numerous occasions, however, evidence
was forthcoming hat she still continued To
rule her adopted son with Il rod of iron.
For a while. Ii HUNG CHANG was her favor,
lite, and at one time 1t was only her protec,
ton that prevented his losing his head.
That she retained the substance of power
was evident.
The last chapter in the history of the re-
alton between the Empress Dowager Isl
An and th" Emperor KwANG-sU is familiar.
Influenced by kANG YU-wEI and other ma
tive reformers, the Chinese ruler resolved
to take measures calculated to regnncrate