The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1900-01-25
PRISONER ON THRONE
The Queer Plight of the Emperor
of China.
Kvxanx-Hsu the Mere Puppet OF HIS
Sharp and Shrewd Aunt
T1s.An, the DOwager
EmpFe00.

An. This momentous event meant at
the same time the end of reforms
which have been inaugurated by the
youthful emperor, or rather by Ii
Hung Chang, the viceroy. who has not
inaptly been termed the Chinese Bis
marck.
If the relations of China to foreign
powers were still as loose as they
were only 40 years ago, the coup
d'etat undoubtedly would have ended
with the assassination of Kwang- Hsu;
but now even China has to respect
and to fear public opinion" at least
as far as it finds expression in inter-
national politics. 1t probably was
only this fear Of an Intervention, or
even of a protest, by the powers hav-
ing spheres Of interest" in China
that prevented the ruling powers IN
China from employing the means
which otherwise are, as a matter OF
course, the finale of palace revolutions
in oriental countries.
It may also be possible that the low
ing aunt and dowager empress was
of the opinion that no artificial means
were necessary to expedite the de-
parture of the sickly nephew to the
seventh heaven of the disciples of
Confucius. The health of the de-
scendant Of the robust Manchu
chiefs, who bears every sign of the
decadence of the dynasty, has always
been extremely precarious. He is
physically quite undeveloped, scarcely
five feet in height, and makes, though
he is nearly 80 years old, the impress
sion of a weakly boy of Is years. The
quivering lower lip gives him an apa-'
thetic expression, somewhat softened
by the melancholic but shrewdly look
ing eyes. Like his adaptive mother,
Kwang-Hsu has Roman nose-for a
descendant of Manchu an unusual
feature.
1t is true that all sacrificial rites
and other ritual acts, which, other
wise, according to custom, are ccle-
brated by the emperor in person, as
head of the Chinese theocracy, are
performed by deputy. But this may
be done for the sake of economy as
well as for the emperor's health, be-
cause sacrifcial festival at which
a functionary officiates does not cost
nearly as much as if the "Son of
Heaven" appeared in person, and, on
the other hand, the fear is removed
that Kwang-Hsu may use his absence
from the palace as an opportunity for
flight.
Soon after his oppression on Sep
TENDER 81 of last year the emperor
attempted fight, as is now known,
for the purpose of seeking the protec-
ton of the British embassy. But this
scheme was betrayed and frustrated.
While the Chinese ambassador in Eng
land declared that the most cordial
relations existed between aunt and
nephew, the latter was imprisoned
upon a small island in little lake
within the palace grounds. The stone
bridge which connected this island
with the extensive gardens was de-
stroyed, and a board Of continuance
was provided which is only put IN
place when q eunuch brings the meals
for the "Son Of Heaven" or when the
legal ruler Of over 4OO, 900 Of peo-
pie is taken away in a litter to par
ticipate as q silent figure in some
council of state, where the edicts are
framed which declare his best friends
to be traitors or denounce his reform
atory DEGREES and recall them.
Gradually the dethroned ruler
seemed to become reconciled to his
fate, and he was given quarters in the
palace in the center of Picking, near
the rooms used by the dowager en-
press. He still lives there under the
closest surveillance. When the wom-
en- of the foreign embassies in Picking
were received by the dowager empress
last month Kwang-Hsu was present
as silent spectator. He occupied a..
seat of state, which was placed lit
tie lower than that of his aunt, and
as the seven women were presented
he shook the hand of each, smiling
awkwardly.
During the present year the en-
peror has repeatedly received foreign
ministers without the presence of the
dowager empress, scarcely saying a
word, while before the coup d'etat he
used to speak quite freely in thin,
boyish voice. 1t is said that in the
councils of state he never says any
thing and that he declines to partici-.
pate in any of the business transact
ed. If this is done out of spite it
would appear as if his resigned atti-
tude is only simulated.
Quite recently the rumor gained cir
culation that the emperor made an
other attempt at escape in having
himself wrapped in blankets and car
RED from the palace by eunuchs who
are devoted to him, or rather were
devoted, because they were later
bastinadoed to death. It is also said
that through the medium of the Jap
unese ambassador in Picking he has
prayed assistance from the emperor
Of japan. What truth there Is in
these rumors is hard to say, but the
existence Of them leads to the con-
rlusion that the young emperor is by
no means reconciled to his fate.
However, aid must come, If at all,
from the outside, for it is certain that
Kwang-Hsu has not the requisite en-
ergy to help himself. He cannot
count, upon delivery by personal fol-
lowers in China, for loyalty and self
sacrificing devotion are flowers which
do not thrive in the atmosphere of the
Chinese imperial court. - Chicago
Trihuro