The Portland daily press., 1900-10-01
TO PUNISH TUAN.
The Boxer Leaders To Be Punished by
China.

China.
Washington, September 49, Important
news came from China at the end OF the
day, which In itself tends to advance
materially the efforts for final settle
ment China has accepted the sugges-
tions of the United States contained in
the answer to the German proposition
and has begun voluntarily the punish
ment Of the Chinese leaders who were re-
sponsible for the Pekin outrages.
The Department. OF State Is informed
by Consul General Goodnow at Shanghai
that Sheng, Chinese director Of railways
and telegraphs, has handed him decree
of the Emperor and Empress, dated at
Taignan, September %, blaming their
ministers for encouraging the Boxers.
The edict orders the degradation of four
princes and deprives Prince Tuan Of his
salary and official servants. He is to be
brought for trial before the imp erial clan
court.
1t Will be recalled that in our answer
the State Department. was careful to state
that, while it did not believe in demand
leaders as a condition precedent to nego-
tiations, 1T was resolved firmly, as Secre-
tary Hay had said in his note of July
Sd, that In the end the guilty parties
should be held to the uttermost account
ability. The Chinese government has
taken this intimation to heart, and per-
haps FASTENED 10y the recent manifesto
ton of dissatisfaction by the United
States government at the reported pro-
motion OF Prince Tuan already, has be-
gun the punishment of Tuan and the
other Chinese leaders who are held gull
ty.
The decree recited by Sheng is felt to
be of the utmost Importance as Indicating
a complete change of heart on the part OF
the reigning dynasty. 1t means that the
reactionary influences which have been
dominant in Pekin throughout the up
rising and have even continued of late
days, have suffered complete overthrow
and that these most conspicuous figures
are degraded and on trial. 1t is believed
here that If this action Is genuine, it
will be hard for any of the powers to find
a reasonable pretext for longer refusing
to head the appeals of the Chinese govern
ment for the opening of negotiations
looking to a settlement.
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 ons having jurisdiction
over the members of the imperial family.
1t is presided over by Prince Ii, with the
we'll known Prince Ching as first vice
president. Prince Ii is the first of the
eight princely families of China and is
regarded as friendly to the progressive ell
ement The attitude Of Prince Ching
has 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 court
is, Of itself, the fullest assurance Of the
gravity with which the throne regards the
matter 1t is noted also that, even before
the trial, Prince Tuan is stripped Of his
salary and official servants. Being a man
of large and Independent means, the loss
of salary would not amount to much If
itswere not that this, and the loss Of the
servants, is a special means of humilia-
ion.
The names Of the four princes who
have been degraded are not known here,
either by the State Department or by the
Chinese legation. The action Of the Chi
nese government in overthrowing the re-
dictionaries is likely to give the most in
tense qualification to the friendly viceroys
of the south of China, and to the minis
ters here, in London and in Europe, who
have so strenuously resisted the Boxer
movement. it may be specially noted
that only today Minister Va received in
formation that these vicerOys, including
Ii Hung Chang, had memoriahzed the
throne to punish the very element which
has now been overcome,