The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-10-04
Suggestions of the United States 70
Be Accepted.
THE RINGLEADERS TO BE PUNISHED
r The Reigning Dynasty Voluntarily
Offers to Take Up the Case Against
z Those Who Instlgated the Boxer
Troubles.

Washington, D. c., special-Import-
ant news came from China at the end
Of the day, which in itself tends to ad-
vance materially the efforts for
final settlement. China has accepted
the suggestions of the United States
contained in the answer to the Ger
man proposition and has begun volun-
tarily the punishment Of the reaction
ary Chinese leaders who were reSpon-
sible for the Pekin outrages. The De-
partment OF State was informed by
Consul General Goodnow, at Shanghai,
that Sheng, Clinese director Of rail-
ways and telegraphs, has handed him
a decree of the Emperor and Empress,
dated at Taignan, September 25th,
blaming their ministers for enCourag-
ing the Boxers. The edict orders the
deg adation Of four princes and de-
official servants He is to be brought
for trial before the Imperial Clan
Court 1t will be recalled that in our
answer, the State Department was
careful to state that while it did not
believe in demanding the surrender Of
the Chinese ringleaders as a condi-
tion precedent to negotiations, it was
resolved firmly, as Secretary Hay said
in his note of July 3rd, that in the end
the guilty parties should be held in
the uttermost accountability. The
Chinese government has taken this in
timation to heart, and perhaps has
tened in its action by the recent mani
festations of dissatisfaction by the
United States government at the re-
ported promotion of Prince Tuan, al
ready has begun the punishment OF
him and the other Chinese leaders
who are held guilty.
The decree recited by Shen is felt to
be Of the utmost Importance as indi-
eating a complete change Of heart on
the part of the reigning dynasty. 1t
means that the Teactionary influences
which have been dominant in Pekin
thrcLgh the uprising and have been
continued of late, have suffered 4 COM
plete overthrow and that their most
conspicuous figures are on trial. 1t is
believed here that if his action is
sSyuine, it will be hard for any of the
p&ers to find a reasonable preteXt for
longer refusing u heed the appeals OF
the Chinese government for the open
Ing Of negotiations looking to settle
ment.
The importance Of the action is
shown by the determination to try
Prince Tuan before the Imperial Clan
Court. This is the supreme judicial
tribunal of China, and is the only one
having jurisdiction over the members
of the imperial family. 1t is presided
over by Prince Ii. with the we'll
known Prince Ching as vice presi-
dent. Prince Lii is the first of the
eight princely families Of China and is
regarded as friendly to the progressive
element The attitude of Prince Ching
hes been notable throughout the
trouble as friendly to foreign interests.
There are five other members Of the
court, all of them high personages.
They occupy a building at Pekin and
are in regular session for the trial of
cases affecting members of the nobility
and the highest personages. Chinese
officials here say that the reference Of
the case to this high court is of it.
self the fullest assurance Of the gray:-
ty with which the throne regards the
matter 1t is noted also that even be-
fore the trial, Prince Tuan IS stripped
of his salary and official servants. Be-
ing a man of large and independent
means, the loss of salary would not
amount to much if it were not that
this and the loss Of the servants is a
special means of humiliation. The
names of the four princes who have
been degraded are not known here,
either by the State Department or by
the Chinese legation.