The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-09-11


Z-L Governing aase rhn s'1 It is is
just possible that they have learned
that the leN government there is the
better it will be in the end for the peo-
pie.
While the Mantchoo masters of mod
ern China have been VIGOROUSLY cruel
and inscriptions, they have also
shown no little cleverness in keeping
the ship of state off the rocks of disas-
ter. The conquest which led to the
founding of the present dynasty was
accomplished by stroke of Asiatic di-
plomacy. A very capable Chinese gen
eral named Chunghwan defended the
borders against the. northern hordes of
Mantchoos and Mongols. Finally the
Mantchoo leader decided to attack Pc
king, which was held by the forces Of
Chunghwan. But Chunghwan was a
host in himself, and the willy Mantchoo
spread word in the Chinese camp to
the effect that Chunghwan was pre-
pared to deliver up the capital of his
country to tie enemy. Without investi-
cation the Chinese emperor cut off the
head of his right hand man, and, al
though the Mantchoos didn't take Pc
king as soon as expected, their bold
ness stirred up rebellion among the
Celestials which in the end weakened
China and led to her subjugation.
The Mantchoos entered Picking in 1914
only to find it in ashes A boy of 6
years was placed upon the throne UNI
der the regency of an uncle who had
overcome the Chinese. After a reign
of Is years Shunchih died, bequeath-
ing the throne to his second son,
Kanghsi, boy of years.
The crown is not hereditary in Chi
na. The emperor names his heir, who
need not necessarily belong to the inn
perial family. When an emperor dies
without naming an heir to the throne.
the choice is made by the imperial
clan. The present emperor, Kwang
Su, was adopted heir to an uncle WHO
had been dead IA years, and the heir
apparent, infant son, of Prince Tuan,
will come into power as the adopted
son and heir of the childless boy en-
peror Tung Che. who died in 1875.
Kanghsi, the second Mantchoo ruler
of China, held the throne 60 years and
left behind reputation for justice and
learning. he was an author himself,
and under his direction the standard
dictionary of the language, comprising
36 volumes, and an encyclopedia of
5000 volumes We're completed. He
likewise favored and supported the
work Of the foreign missionaries.
Kanghsi chose his fourth son, Yung-
cheng, "a man of rare and precious
character, with great resemblance to
myself" to succeed. Yungcheng re-
versed his fathers policy as to for
eigners and was not popular ruler.
He died suddenly, and his eldest son,
Chienlung, young man of %, was
chosen to succeed. Chienlung, last of
the great and wise emperors of China,
reigned 60 years, from 1875 to 1895, a
period of internal strife or border wars
and foreign complications. In his first
manifesto, when about to strike at the
Mongols beyond the great wall. the
emperor made this characteristic boast:
My empire is larger than any in the
world. 1t is more populous. 1t is
richer. My Golfers overflow with sill
yer, and my granaries are full of all
kinds of provisions" He then pro-
ceeded to thrash the Mongols fol-
treachery and to add another province
to the empire.
In the time of Chienlung the Chinese
had splendid cavalry corps and nc
lack of able generals. After disciplin.