The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-07-03

the throne. and whole vista OF posi-
oilitfes was opened up.
seg.etisn sfaa Heir.
It is part OF the irony OF things that. in
January. 100, the result was announced
Gas follows in the Emperor's own name:
while yet in our infancy We were ey
grace ot the Emperor Tung Che chosen 20
succeed him in the heavy responsih!iii.es
Of head OF the whole empire, and when
his ma jesty disd we sought day and nignt
10 be deserving % such Kindness b. 80
srsy and faithfalnezs in our duties @e
were also Indebted 20 the Empress Dow
ager. who taught and cherished Us ass.9u-
ously. and 10 her We owe our safety 10 the
present day Now. be Il siss known that
when we were selected to the throne il
was then agreed that " ever we should
have a son TIA, son should be prOeiairne8
heir to the throne. Bat ever since las
year OSsl we hava been constantly IT,
and It was for this reason tha,. Ia TIE
eighth monta OF that year Che date 81
the coup d'etsO. the Empress DowagNT
graciously needed 20 our urgent prayer
and took over the reins OF government ~
order 10 instruct Us In our datles. yenr
has now passed and still We ind ourselves
an invalid but ever keeping In cur miri
that we 20 not belong 20 the direct line
Of succession and that. for the sake OF
the safety Of the empire oe our ancestors.
legal heir should De selected "a the
throne. We again prayed the Empress
Dowager 10 carefully choose from amongst
the members OF the imperial clan such
one: and this she has done IN the person
Of Pa Chun. son % Tsai VI Prince TuGn-
I'VE hereby command accordingly that
Pu Chun, the son of Tai vi. Prince Tuan,
be made heir 10 the late Emperor Tuns
Che"
Now. the bearing % these nttersnees
depends. like those OF Capt Bunsby, on
the application Of them. The meaning
read into them by all China seems 70 have
been that the Empress intended 20 dspose
Kwang Su. make Pa Chun Emperor, and
constitute herself regent during the new
minority. The anticipation evoked an
outburst Of loyalty TO Kwang Su when
surprised those who had doubted the q
isienee Of any public opinion among the
Chinese. Such an explosion of remOn-
STRANGE seems 20 have caused astOniSh-
ment, as well az alarm and anger, a. Pc
kin. But the Empress was shreWd enough
TO perceive reason for pause. Instead or
board Of ceremonies to decide upon a H.
ting manner of observing his birthday
and acquiesced in demand by the foreign
Ministers 10 be allowed 10 pay him thsi'
compliments on Chinese New Years DAY
February 49,. But she turned her rage
against the Reform party. who are he'll
responsible for the opposition.
Trust Placed in RightfuI Emperor.
One consideration might induce the En-.
III ess to desert the reaetionary cause AMI
throw her influence into the opposite
scale 1t has been suggested that she :
being carried farther than she intended.
having had no conception OF the forces
that are at work. The last thing she de-
sires Is 10 endanger the dynasty. II 1t
could be brought home 20 her that the
present reactionary policy constitutes
danger for the dynasty and the empire.
she might be induced. Yet, TO change her
course and support the Emperor in pol
icy OF reform. Her halt on the threshold
of what was intended. clearly, TO be =
fresh coup detat. two months ago. goes
to prove that she is not impeTyious to
manifestations Of popular sentiment, but
many well qualified TO form an opinion
are persuaded that she is kept in ignor-
ance OF the real import and magnitude Of
the crisis by which the empire Is asssiled
she Is lnpftSs ed, iOf the moment. Dy the
VOIume OF rmoAs5fanee her project has
evoked. although she wreaks. woman-like
I her spite on those whom she singles out
as opposing her wiz The present advice
Of the EmperoT'S i:iends at Pekin to their
partisans in the provinces Is said TO be not
to press her too hard but to let her es-
cape, II she will, by the loophoIe which
the protests have left her I'm laying the
blame on her advisers. The primary CD
| ject is TO save Kwang Su. The great fear
a o. Reform Is he ma n.
made away with. So long as ne IS alive.
| they are contending for their rightful SOW
ereign, but his death would undermine
, that standpoint of objection TO the En-
press regime To oppose hSN If she were
ruling legally as Regent for a new EN-
| Eeror. would be to rebel and rebellion l.
az the sin OF witcheraft; the Chinese have
| ii in SuperstitiOuS dread