The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-03-03
a PUPpRT RMPEROR
AzWnng>msu, the Chinese Hu1er, Eut
q Creature Of MS Dove
ageE Aunt.

n year mas passed since the EGluB OF
government in China were wrested
from the weak hands Of Kwang- -Hsu
by his aunt and adopted mother, Tis-
An. This momentous event meant at
the same time the end Of reforms
which have been inaugurated by the
youthful emperor, or rather by LII
Hung Chang, the viceroy, who has not
inaptly been termed the Chinese Bis
marcl1.
If the relations of China to foreign
powers were still as loose as they
were only 40 years ago, the coup
d'etat undoubtedly would have ended
with the assassination of Kwang-Hsu,
but now even China has to respect
and to fear public opinion" at least
as far as it finds expression in inter
national politics. 1t probably was
only this fear Of an Intervention, or
even of a protest, by the powers hav-
ing spheres of interest in China
that prevented the ruling powers IN
China from employing the means
which otherwise are, as a matter OF
course, the finale of palace revolutions
in oriental countries.
1t may also be possible that the low
ing aunt and dOwager empress was
of the opinion that no artificial means
were necessary to expedite the de-
parture of the sickly nephew to the
seventh heaven of the disciples of
Confucius. The health of the de-
scendant of the robust Manchu
chiefs, who bears every sign of the
deeadenoe Of the dynasty, has always
been extremely precariOus. He is
physically quite Undeveloped, scarcely
five feet in height, and makes, though
he is nearly 30 years old, the impress
sion of a weakly boy of Is years. The
quivering lower lip gives him an apa-
thetic expression, somewhat softened
by the melanchOlic but shrewdly look
ing eyes. Like his adaptive mother,
Kwang-Hsu has a Roman nose-for
descendant OF Manchu an unusual
feature.
The physician of the French EN-
bassy, who soon after the coup d'etat
was called to the palace to refute the
TnmOr circulated by the foreign press
that the "Son of Heaven" had been
ssassinated, and for this purpose Co
make a physical examination of the
EMPEROR, gave it as his opinion that
Kwang-Hsu would live eight months
at the utmost. This period is now
long past, and, though the emperor
has not recovered, and the idea that
he viii ever be in perfect health again
is altogether improbable, his condi-
tion has not grown materially worse.
This, at least, is the impression gained
by foreigners who saw him soon after
the palace revolution, and again late
last summer at the diplomatic recep-
tions.
1t is true that all sacrifcial rites
and other ritual acts, which, other
wise, according to custom, are cele-
brated by the emperor in person, as
head of the Chinese theocracy, are
performed by deputy. But this may
be done for the sake of economy as
well as for the emperor's health, be-
cause sacrificial festival at which
a functionary Officiates does not cost
nearly as much as if the "Son Of
Heaven" appeared in person, ard, on
the other hand, the fear is removed
that Kwang-Hsu may use his absence
from the palace as an opportunity for
flight.
Soon after his oppression on Sep
tember 21 of last year the emperor
attempted flight, as is now known,
for the purpose of seeking the protec-
tiOn of the British embassy. But this
scheme was betrayed and frustrated.
While the Chinese ambassador in Eng
land declared that the most cordial
relations existed between aunt and
nephew, the latter was imprisoned
upon small island in a little lake
within the palace grounds. The stone
bridge which connected this island
with the extensive gardens was de-
stroyed, and board of contrivance
was provided which is only put IN
place when eunuch brings the meals
for the 'sSOn of Heaven" or when the
legal ruler Of over 400, ,OOO, 600 of pso-
pie is taken away in a litter to par-
ticiPate as a silent figure in some
council of state, where the edicts are
framed which declare his best friends
to be traitors or denounce his reform
atOry DEGREES and recall them.
Gradually the dethroned ruler
seemed to become reconciled to his
fate, and he was given quarters in the
palace in the center of Picking, near
the rooms used by the dowager em-
press. He still lives there under tine
closest surveillance, When the wo1n-
en- of the foreign embassies in Picking
were received by the dOwager empress
last month Kwang-Hsu was present
as silent spectator. He occupied a
seat of state, which was placed lit
tie lower than that of his aunt, and
as the seven women were presented
he shook the hand of each, smiling
awkwardly.
During the present year the en-
peror has repeatedly received foreign
ministers without the presence of the
dowager empress, scarcely saying a
word, while before the coup d'etat he
used to speak quite freely in thin,
boyish voice. 1T is said that in the
councils Of state he never says any
thing and chat he declines 10 partici-
pate ia A. OF the business transact