The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-22
THE EMPEitoR's AUNT.
All Interested in China Must Attend
TO These Views of the Energetic
Old Lady.

Ola Lady.
From the London Times
Shanghai Dec. N.-The text of a secret
edict issued by the Dowager Empress on
her own initiative on Nov. 81 last, and OF
a circular dispatch recently addressed by
the Tsung-l i-Yamen to all the viceroys and
governors of the maritime and Yang-tsze
provinces, is published by the North China
Herald. The Empress edict, which was
addressed to the vlceroys, governors, Tar
tar generals and provincial commanders
In chief, is as follows:
"Our empire is now laboring under great
difficulties, which are becoming daily more
serious. The various Powers cast upon us
looks of tiger-like voracity, hustilng each
other in their endeavors to be the first to
sseize upon our innermost territories. They
think that China, having neither money
nor troops, would never venture to go to
war with them. They fail 10 understand,
however. that there are certain things
which this empire can never consent to,
and that, IL hardly pressed upon, we have
no alternative but to rely upon the justice
of our cause, the knowledge of which In
our breasts strengthens our resolves and
steels us 10 present a united front against
our aggressors. No one can guarantee
in such circumstances who viii be the
victor and who the conquered In the end.
But there is an eva habit which has be-
come almost a custom among viceroys and
governors which, however, must be eradi-
Gated at all cost. For instance. whenever
these high oficf3fs have had on their
hands cases of international dispute, all
their actions seem to be guided by the be-
lief In their breasts that such cases would
eventually be amicably arranged. These
words seem never to be out of their
thong hts; hence, when matters do come to
a crisis, they, of course, find themselves
utterly unprepared to resist any hostile
aggressions on the part of the foreigner.
We, indeed consider, this the most serious
failure in the duty which the high pro-
vincial authorities owe to the throne, and
we now find 1t incumbent upon ourselves
to censure such conduct in the most Sc
we're terms.
at is our special command, therefore,
that, should any high official find himself
so hard pressed by circumstances that
nothing short of war would settle matters.
he Is expected to set himself resolutely 20
work out his duty to this end; or perhaps
Il would be that war has already actually
been declared. In such circumstances
there is no possible chance of the imperial
governments consenting 10 an immediate
conference for the restoration of peace. IL
behooves, therefore, that our viceroys, gov
errors, the commanders-in-chief through
out the whole empire unite forces and act
together without distinction or particular
izing OF Jurisdictions so as to present
combined front to the enemy, exhortng
and encouraging their officers, and soldiers
in persons TO fight for the preservation of
their homes and native soil from the en-
croaching footsteps of the foreign aggres-
sor. Never should the word peace fall
from the mouths of our high officials, nor
should they even allow II to rest for a
urtf OTIS
a country as ours, with her vast area,
stretching out several tens Of thousands
of II; the immense natural resources, and
her hundreds of millions Of inhabitants IL