The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-21

has maintained itself on the throne of
China
During that time the two races, the
ManChus and the Chinese, have remained
distinci. The Manchus as the conQuering
race have asserted and maintained a GER
tain superiority over the Chinese. The
principal cities are garrlsoned by Manchu
troops, in which no Chinaman is allowed
to serve Rear Admiral Lord Charles
Bere sford, who inspected the Chinese
armies in 1888 says: The military forces
are divided. some are Manchu and some
are Chine Sc The Manchu fo:ces are quite
exclusive, no Chinese serving in their
ranks, but the Chinese armies have some
Manchus among them. The armies in the
north and about Pekin are nearly all
commanded by Manchu princes. The Man
chu armies are supposed TO be 10000
strong, but there is no Manchu army eff
iicient either in drill, discipline or organ
ization throughout the Empire"
Lord Beresford declares that the best
armed, best-driIled and best-disciplined
army that he saw in China was that of
Gen. Yuan Shi Kei. a Chinaman COM
handing Chinese troops Reports from
China says that this General is inclined TO
cooperate with Ii Hung Chang and the
southern Viceroys in maintaining peaceful
relations with foreign nations, and in the
preservation of order and the protection
of foreigners in China. Ii Hung Chang
is also Chinaman. On the other hand,
Prince Tuan, we know is a Manchu, and
it may be owing to the fact that, as Lord
Beresford says, nearly all the armies
around Pekin are commanded by Manchu
princes, that the government has found it
impossible to use these Manchu forces for
the purpose of putting down the Boxers
and protecting the foreigners in Pekin.
1t may be that these Manchu princes are
the Bourbons of China. They have ruled
over China so long that they have become
impatient of any interference from the
outside world. The recent efforts of Eu-
ropean nations to secure parts of the ter
ritory of China have alarmed them for the
security of the empire, and they may have
determined that they might as well fight
for it now as allow it to be taken away
from them piecemeal. In this view OF
the case the Boxers with their religious
and anti-foreign fanaticism may appear to
them as allies that should be welcomed
and utilized. If Prince Tuan and his
party have determined to set aside the
present Emperor and place the Princes
son upon the throne, he may have decided
that the shortest and surest way to &C
complish this object is to start a revolu-
ton based upon the principle of China for
the Chinese and exterminati ton for the
foreigners.
lie evident d1Slncllnatlon or Ii Hung
Chang to obey the frequent and pressing
summons that have been sent him 10 come
to Pekin seems to corroborate the sup
position that the controlling powers there
are hostile to the outside world. II has
been chiefly through his influence that the
southern provinces of China have up to
this time remained quiet. To get him
away from Canton is in the first place to
release the insurrectonary spirit in that
district and in the second 10 break up the
connection that he has formed with the
other viceroys in the interest of peace
and order. Once in Pekfu he will be a
the mercy of the ruling party there. and
no man knows better than Ii Hung
Chang what that means. He must either
make common cause with them or pay
The panaity with his life. The men who
have not hesitated TO brave the vengeance
of the civilized world by the murder of
its representatives will speedily dispose of
Lii Hung Chang if he dares raise his
voice against what they have determined
upon. Lii Hung Chang has been called the
Bismarck of China Bismarck's life sur
vived his influence, but Ii Hung Chang
may lost both if he goes to Pekin.
Washington, July II. J. S. T.