Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-26
Rsgraced Chinese Dignitaries Kill
Themselves.
S0lCIDE OF KANG VI AND YU HSIEN
Would Not Be Surprising if Tuan
Followed Suit.
MINISTER'S TO NEGOTIATE

tionary leaders of China realizing that the
throne and the influence of the powers was
against them. had sought death rather than
face inevitable disgrace. The dispatches
announced the death of Kang vi, a mem
Der of the cabinet with Yung Lu, and one
of the most intense anti-foregn leaders of
the Boxer movement. They also announced
that Yu Hsien governor of Shansi. and an
other foremost Boxer sympathiZer, had
committed suicide by swallowing gold leaf.
1t was Governor Yu who charged with
enticing missionaries into his yamen to
have them butchered. 1t was he also, who
was governor of Shansi when the emperor
and empress dowager fled there from Pekin,
and found themselves surrounded by sinis-
ter anti-foreign influences. In order to
further cut them off from the outside
world. Governor Yu destroyed the tele
graph line He was impeached. and his
disgrace was certain and decap.tation prob
abe
knnE Yrs Death Important.
= The death of Kang vi is an important
event. he is of the ringeaders
whose punishment was demanded by the
powers He held the position OF assistant
grand secretary and president of the civil
board. and also one of the six Chinese
statesmen making up the privy council. or
cabinet. which is the body nearest the
throne. Following the demands of the pow
ers for his punishment an edict issued
ndndlng MIN over to the board OF cenSOrS
to consult and decide upon penalty for his
misdoing. The same edict punished Prince
Tuan and it was thought that the Tuan in
fiuence would secure leniency for Kang vi
and the others. TOday's dispatches show,
however. that Kang vi himself recognized
that there was no hope of imperial favor.
Although the dispatch to Mr.. WI says SIM
ply that Kank vi died" on the 18th in
stant. ii is recognized that his death was
the natural result of the disgrace which has
oVertaken the anti-foreign and Boxer ele-
ment.
Tuan in Permanent Disgrace.
Gov. Yu's method of suicide. by swallow
Ing gold leaf, is unique to China. 1t is the
means by which high personages take their
lives, the gold leaf being representative Of
their high station. The leaf forms a con-
gealed ball in the canals of the body, and
brings death from suffocation
Minister Wu's advices today also show
that Prince Tuan has also been visited with
severe censure from the throne. and to such
an extent that it would be no surprise if he
followed the course of kang vi and Yu
He has been prevented from accompanying
the imperial court to Singan-fu and re-
mains behind at Shansi. cut off from
further influence with the throne. Since the
edict ordering Tuans punishment little has
been heard of him. save that he was re-
establishing himself in imperial favor. This
boded i'll, but it now appears that the
throne has finally shaken him off 1t is ex-
pected that he will be banished. which to a
prince of the blood is worse than decapta-
ton, and. under the Chinese idea of pro-
priety. suicide is likely to be his end.
Self-inflicted death has a significance un-
der Chinese custom not generally under
stood When an official is disgraced he has
the means of showing his patriotism and
devotion to the throne by taking his own
life, and thus freeing the throne from the
embarrassment of his existence. In the
case of Tuan. kang vi and the other anti
foreign leaders they have been the chief
embarrassment to the throne. in the ewes
of the powers So that their taking off would
be in line with the custom of displaying
their patriotism
State Department Announcement
The following bulletin on the subject was
posted at the State Department:
The Chinese minister handed the follow
ing to the Secretary of State this morning:
''Cablegram from Viceroy Chang Chi
tung. dated October %, states that governor
of Shenshi has reported that Kang vi died
on October Is. that Yu Hsien. late governor
Of Shansi. has committed suicide by swal-
lowing gold leaf and Prince Tuan has not
been permitted 10 accompany the court
"A cablegram. dated October a. from
Director General Sheng states that i'm
perial decree has been issued directing
Prince Ching and Earl Ii to fix and sub
nit for approval the several penalties to be
inflicted on those princes and ministers that
ought to be punished. He adds that Kang
vi has died of sickness, and that Prince
Tuan and Prince Chwang have not been
been allowed to accompany the court (to
ShensD.
Conforming to Our Demands.
Our government is disposed to regard
the attitude of the Chinese government as
manifested in the intiction of these pun
ishments, as directly in the line of con-
fcrmity with the requirements the United
States laid down as the basis for negotia-
tons. OF course, 1t is expected that the
full confirmation will be had, probably
through Mr. Conger or some of his re-
of oil
the Chinese officials mentioned in these dis
patches. 1t is not difficult usually, for Eu-
ropeans and Americans to be misled as to
the personality OF Chinese. oTing to the
strong resemblance between Individuals so
that some precautions on that point are
5usifable
as 1t seems to be, that the Chinese govern
ment is actually furnishing in the severe
and exemplary manner demanded by the
United States and the other powers the
Chinese leaders who were responsible for
the Boxer outrages. 1t is the impression
here that there will be no longer ground
for delay in proceeding with the other
points Of the negotiations, and good
deal of surprise is expressed here at the
news from Paris that the Chinese commu-
nications relative to the punishments are
not satisfactory to The legations. The lat
ter terra is understood to mean the con-
suls and ministers resident at Pekin who
Al present are engaged in negotiation with
LII Hung Chang and Prince Ching, organ
lied as sort Of council. 1t is felt that
the ministers showing a disposition
to unduly crowd and oppress the thorough
ly repenant Chinese
The AnElo-Germaa Agreement.
The State Department has received off,
cial notice from the British government
of the terms of the arrangement reached
between Great Britain and Germany as to
China 1t was similar at all points to the
copy furnished by the German govern
ment through Count de Quadt several
days ago. Now that both governments
have been heard from formally, the State
Department will turn its attention to the
preparation Of the answer, which, as al
ready indicated, will deal with the points
likely TO be acceptable to the other gov
ernments, leaving the third paragraph for
further consideration
Ministers to Negotiate.
1t has been definitely decided that the
ministers IN Pekin shall conduct any nego--