The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-09

pire. Now the Boxers are given an oppor-
tunity in the theater of hostilities In order
10 pave the way for Russia 5 advance into
the chinese empire in way which NH
the allies helping her TO accomplish her
purpose. Russia is pulling the wool over
the eyes OF the other nations and Is max
ing cats-paw of the Boxers. Ii will make
little difference TO her who yields power
finally. the Empress or the young King,
once she is firmly intrenched on Chinese
soil. She has been preparing for this Tor
years. Any overt act against her by the
Boxers or Empress pending the settlement
or the present crisis counts Tor naugnt.
However as we Chinese say, When the
water is clear we shall see the rock
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.
Much as we in this country and the re-
form party at home may deprecate the
awful tragedy going on in the empire. we
get out of it grain of comfort 1t will
mean the battering down of the prejudices
which have left China so far behind the
other countries of the world in civilization
and open the empire TO light, education
and freedom. The Chinese would prefer
TO see the empire controlled by the for
eign powers rather than to have a con-
tinuation of the present Tartar govern
ment. The progressive party in China,
which is confined almost entirely TO the
south, is willing 10 have the young Tartar
King on the throne. He is idolized by the
intelligent, educated Chinese, who see the
superiority of western civilization, and We
hope that the upshot of the existing
troubles will be his restoration TO the
throne.
ION my recent visit to China / got a
glimpse of his aunt, the regning Empress.
She Is a woman without mercy, without
justice, without scruples and at her age Is
vain and giddy. She undoubtedly did away
with her father, and would destroy her
nephew only she fears the consequences.
If Prince kwang, who aroused her hatred
because the young King was Influenced
by him in his present liberal attitude, were
placed on the throne, ii would mean the
salvation of China, and even the young
King would be satisfied. But all would pre-
fer the young Tartar King While he was
in power he undertook to abolish the pen
sion of Tartars, and to turn the temples
into schools for the education of the COM
mon people. The last letter he wrote to the
reform party before he was deposed is pa
thetic, and shows his spirit as well as any,
thing can. L have been suffering for twen-
ty-two years for the sake of my people,
he wrote. Why should 1 not wish my
people to be prosperous and happy? Some
people may call me the sleeping Emperor.
but there Is the Empress dowager, who
does not wish to change the modern admin
istration. and the higher Manchu officials,
who insist on the ancestral method of gov
eminent In another letter addressed to
his subjects while he was on the throne,
he invited criticism CT his actions and sug-
gestions which might lead to the betterment
of his people. His one aim is to do the
will of his subjects wisely and well.
IF the apathy which for ages has kept
the Chinaman from taking an interest in his
government and from looking beyond his
own door is broken by the present rebel
lion, which gives promise now of stirring
up the whole empire, the curse of China
will be removed. The one idea instilled in
to every Chinaman is, Mind your own
his f1nc [.l1r ol,< <~t.,r
mok kwon tar yam oak shung. is religious
tenet. Let each family sweep off his own
front stoop: don't mind the ice on your
neighbours rooftop.' What's the differ
enceg a Chinaman will say If he hears
anything amiss with his government; III
isn't my affair That attitude of mind is
responsible for the natives lack of self
respect and ambition, and it has been
brought about by government which
ignores the individual subject except when
extorting a tax from him.