The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-10

Japanese. being the first instance on record
| Of the interference of the ISLANDERS In the
affairs Of China. The allies were defeated
I by the forces of WI in four engagements,
| and the Japanese ships to the number OF
| 400 were destroyed. The imperial authority
| was also main tanned over the tributary
| States OF Central Asia and the Empress
! showed her wisdom by refusing to inter-
| fere in the conflict which was then raging
| between the Mohammedan hordes from
| Arabia and the Asiatic States which they
| were overrunning BY this precautiop WI
saved China from subjecticn to the follow
ers of the prophet.
| While the Empress was busying herself
| in warding off danger to the State from
| beyond Its borders, and in extending the
| imperial sway over new territory, her enc
| mics at home were not sleeping. and perils
! were gathering fast around her. In the
f. year 6S3 Kaotsong died. and Chongtsong.
son of the Emperor and WI. succeeded to
the crown. WI was not disposed to allow
this change to alter her position. while
; ChongtsOng showed signs OF an intention to
take the reins in his own hands. In a
trial of strength WI had never yet come
out second best and she dcposed and ban
ished her son after reign OF only few
days In China a woman cannot legally
reign, although she may rule, and the
son of Kaotscng. as nominal Emperor
while she asserted still more than during
her husbands life her absolute authority.
Having long possessed the substance OF
sovereign power she now assumed its form.
in the eyes OF a Chlnaman a much graver
offence. The historian Bulger says: 1.-The
Empress transacted all public business. re-
ceived petitions, and disposed OF the chief
offices in the Empire. She erected tenn
pies to her ancestors. wore the robes o.
state restricted to an emperor. and offere
sacrifice to the great God of ALL" The las.
three acts constituted high treason. the
last one. indeed being treason in a most
aggravated form; the first act of a rebel
who aspires to the throne being to offer
the sacrifice which is prohibited to all
save the sovereign.
Sent Hendricks 30 the Hcadsmnn,
While thus offending against the letter
OF the law she carried out the spirit of
the traditional policy OF the Empire But
1t Is the letter of the law which kills. and
those who would willingly have obeyed the
most arbitrary command If issued in the
name OF the Emperor. refused to lend their
support to course of conduct which TO
their notion, detracted from the dignity OF
the imperial throne. WI paid but little
heed to the murmurings about her; she
even added fuel to the fame by changing
the style OF the dynasty and giving it her
own family name, while she continued to
heap favors upon her kinsmen. However, |
when instructions broke out she acted |
with her usual promptness and vigor, and |
always defeated her opponents. who paid |
the penalty of rebellion with their lives |
The condemned were usually executed in |
the public streets Of the capital hundreds |
being led to the block at a time. Not only |
was such an object lesson afforded to the |
people to teach them the might OF their |
ruler and the danger OF opposing her, but |
she caused books to be written in her |
praise. ard ordered the priests to recount |
her virtues to the people. while her name
and titles were written in large characters
in the courts and temples.
But such a state CT affairs could not
continue. Able was her rule, her
enemies were multiplying and her strength
declining. Her head was bowed with
the weight of eighty years when the plot
was formed which caused her fall. Being
confined to her room by illness. suddenly
al midnight the conspiratcIs appeared be-
fore her with 500 armed men and de-
manGad that her son. Chongtsoig. should
be restored to the throne. She could not
we'll refuse request preferred in this
and therefore delivered over the
'iipCiiei Stal OlHtT insignia OF \
royalty. saying: THE Government shall
revert to the hands of my
sen" few months later she died in her
room at the palace. having maintained her
lueenly dignity 10 the end.
One weakness WI possessed in common
With all her sex. she showed her femininity
by her infatuation for a Buddhist priest.
while she also showed her unfeminine wis
5cm in not allowing her lover to in
iuence her public policy.
Whatever judgment may be passed upon
Ter crimes. the Empress WI must re-
;eiye the credit of having wisely admins
cred the Government she usurped. and Of
,ayins united enlarged. and strengthened
ne Empire. in other respects. that is. in
is more evil aspects, her remarkable
'areer is about OF pattern with that OF
he Empress Dowager Tsze Hsi.-New
FORK Sun.