Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-08-23
REAL EMPEROR or CHINA,

.E1g- ts .--A- g 5Tl.B
Dowager Empress Overreached Herself
and Gave Prince Tuan the Power Hc is
Now Using tn Start q Reign, Of Terror.
Writing to the New York journal, Yam
Phou Lee of Delaware, a relative iof LII
Hung Chang and graduate of Yale,
says: q
1.-THE political situation in China just
now is complicated one to the average
Occidental. But itmay be easily under.
stood ii we bear in mind certain we'll
known facts, coupled with knowledge
OF Chinese custoins. siS
1.-THE Empress Dowager was one of the
wives Of the Emperor Hien-fung. The
latter died In 1860, leaving an only son,
who assembled the throne under the title
| of Tung-che. His mother, tho present
Empress Dowager, became regent during
her sons minority, according to an an
| cient Chinese custom. 5fC
although Tung. che had ceased TO be a
minor several years before his death, In
1873, the ability and Influence OF his
| mother were such that she virtually
ruled the Chinese Empire during his en-
tire reign. When Tung-che died, in 1878.
without having an. heir, the Empress
Dowager cast her eyes about for sue.
| cessor tR2
"The customary thing to do was 10
adopt son for Tung-che and put him on
the Dragon throne. But in that case her
autocratic power would come to an end.
The widow of Tung-che would become
Empress Dowager and regent during the
minority of Tung.che's adopted son,
instead of herself. \
| $50 she, after consulting her ministers,
H,.a tlxta aid ttsa
son of Prince Chun. who was brother
of Hien-fung. This child assembled the
throne unker the title of Kwang.su drill
liant succession).
$50 this Kwang.su, who is now play
ing subordinate part in the drama, Is
Tung. che's first cousin, and was adopted
as Hien. fung's son. The Empress Down
ger, as his mother by adoption, continued
to administer the affairs of tho Empire as
regent. But in order to placate Chinese
| prejudices, and put an end TO discussion,
she agreed that as soon as Kwang-su be-
came possessed of an heir, lie should alb.
| dictate the throne and his son be seated
on the throne as adopted son Of Tung-che.
"She voluntarily limited the tenure of
her power by this act, but she was assured
of absolute power for at least 10 years.
Il
unto himself q number OF wives &C.
cording to custom, he was in the un-
pleasant position of man who may at
any time expect to be supplanted by q
son. Had he been SO fortunate or unfor-
tunate as to have an heis, it would be
hard To say what the ambitious Empress
Dowager would have done. But as the
expected heir did not turn up Kwang,su
kept on reigning--with his aunt, the EN-
press Dowager, always behind the throne.
1.-Two years ago in an evil hour. flor
Kwang.sp) he listened to the insidiors
counsels of Kang Yuwei and his band of
reformers, and straightway began to ex-
ercise his power as Emperor without the
raid and consent of the Empress Dowager.
"The good lady's conservatism was
greatly shocked. She saw her power
and influence over him slipping. away.
Then those events TRANSFERRED with which
the world is familiar. The reformers
were executed or banished and pro-
scribed. Kwang-su himself became q
prison in his own palace. The Empress
Dowager assumed full control once more.
"But this state of thugs could not con-
tinge without offending public opinion.
Some one must sit on the throne made
vacant by the alleged bad behavior and
illness Of Rwang:su. s,.
"She therefore appointed Pu Chun, the
l9.years-old son Of Prince Tuan, to be
kwang-su's heir-apparsnt-sa thing un.
precedented in the history ofthes Maprhu
dynasty. But he is not only heir, but
Emperor by proxy. sg.,,, fr,,g
"This Prince .Tuan, like Prince Ching
and the late Prince Kung and Prince
Chtn,. is a brother of Hiep-fung. Pu
Ohur is therefore Kwang-su's first cousin,
and, like him, adopted as a son of the
Empress Dowager. She no doubt ex-
pected to prolong her power and influence
by this expedicnt, but events have since
shown that she recSored without Prince
Tuan
"Since his son, PIT Chun, is heir-ap.
parent and Emperor by proxy, Prince
Tuan cannot be ignored in the distribu-
ton of power. Hence we find Prince
Tuan in command of the imperial army.
With these large forces under his control,
added to the immense hordes Of Boxers,
who owe their existence chiefly to him,
he has been able to dominate the capital
and inaugurate a reign of terror in Chill
and Msnchuria.
"1he Empress Dowager played the
trick once too often and has overreached
herself. II is not necessary for Prince
Tuan to encompass her death and that Of
of kwang-su. BY keeping them alive, but
under strict surveillance, he can conciliate
public opinion. By issuing edicts under
their names he can command the obedi.
ence Of officials who are opposed to him.
while his acts have been those of q
bloody tyranny, his authority ID legii.
mate from Chinese Viewpoint, i