The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-11-22
THE IMPERIAL EDICT
Chinese Decree For the Pun
ishment of Boxer Leaders
LIFE SENTENCEFOR TUAN AND CHW ANC
Nu Hsicn. Former Governor of shan
81, to lie Kept AT Hard Labor
In the Fatbermost border
of the Country.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21.-Thc Japa-
ncse legation has received from the for
eign Office at Tokyo the text of the Chi
nese imperial cdict, dated the 18Th inst,
on the punishment of the antiforeign Off
cals. 1t is to the following effect:
Orders have been already issued for
the punishment of the officials responsible
for opening hostilties upon friendly pow
ers and bringing the country into the
present critical condition by neglccting to
suppress and even by encouraging the
Boxers. But as peking and its neigh
borhood have not yet been entirely clear
cd of the Boxers the innocent people are
still suffering terribly through the devas-
tation of their fields and the destruction
of their houses, a state of affairs which
cannot fail to fill one with the bitterest
feelings against these officials. And If
they are not severely punished how can
the anger of the people be appeased and
the indignation of the foreign powers al
layed?
Accordingly Prince Tuan is hereby
deprived of his title and rank and shall,
together with Prince Chwang. who has
already been deprived of his title, be de-
litercd to the clan court, to be kept in
prison until the restoration of peace,
when they shall be banished to Sheng
king, to be imprisoned for life. Princes
vi and Tsai Yung, who have both been
already deprived of their titles. are also
to be delivered to the elan court for inn
prisonment, while Prince Tsai Lien, also
already deprived of title and rank, is to
be kept confined in his own house Duke
Tsai Ian shall forfeit his ducal salary,
but may be transferred with the degrada-
tion OF one rank. Chief Censor Ying
Men shall be degraded two ranks and
transferred. As to Kang vi, minister of
the board of civil appointment, upon his
return from the commission on which he
had been sent for the purpose of maxi
Ing inquiries into the Boxer affair he
memorialized the throne in an audience
strongly in their favor He should have
been severely punished but for his death
from illness, and all penalties are ac-
cordingly remitted. Chao Shuy Yao,
minister of the board of punishment. who
had been sent on II mission similar to
that of Kang vi, returned almost i'm
mediately.
Though such conduct was a fragrant
neglect of his duties, still he did not
make n distorted report to the throne
and therefore he shall be deprived of his
rank, but allowed to retain his present
office. Finally Yu Hsien, ex-governor Of
Shansi, allowed while in office the Box.
ers freely to massacre the Christian mis-
sionaries and converts. For this he de-
serves the severest punishment. and
therefore he is to be banished to the
farthermost border of the country and
there to be kept at hard labor for life.
1--WE have Il full knowledge of the
present trouble from the very beginning,
and therefore, though no Impeachment
has been brought by Chinese officials at
home or abroad against Princes vi, Tsai
Lien and Tsai Young, we order them to
be punished in the same manner as those
who have been impeacfed. All who see
this edict will thus perceive our justice
and impartiality in infiicting condign
penalties upon these officials