The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-10-02
GHINA'S NEW SCHEME
ORDERS FOR PUNISHMENT OF LEADERS
o. THE BOXERS
IMPERIAL PRINCES DEGRADED


Prince Tuan Deprived OF His salary
and Official servants New Align
ment of the Powers on the Chinese
Question Gdrmany's New Proposal
Not Yet Made Public waIdersee to
uOnsr ieward for Tuan, .'Dead or
Alive
Washington, September 29-Impor-
tant news came from China at the end
of the day, which in itself tends to ad-
vance materially the effort for a final
settlement. China has accepted the
suggestions of the United States con-
tanned in the answer to the German
proposition and has begun voluntarily
the punishment of the reactionary
Chinese leaders who were responsible
for the Pekin outrages.
The department of state was inform
ed by Consul General Goodnow, at
Shanghai, that Sheng, Chinese direc-
tor of railways and telegraphs, has
handed him a decree of the emperor
and empress, dated at Taignan, Sep
tember 25tn, blaming their ministers
for encouraging the Boxers. The edict
orders the degradation of four princes
and deprives Prince Tuan of his sal
ary and official servants. He is to be
brought for trial before the imperial
clan court.
1t will be recalled that in our an
swer the state department was careful
to state that while it did no believe in
demanding the surrender of the Chinese
ringleaders as a condition precedent to
negotiations, it was resolved firmly,
as Secretary Hay had said in his note
of July 3rd, that in the end the guilty
parties should be held to the uttermost
accountability. The Chinese govern
ment has taken this intimation to
heart, and perhaps hastened in it's ac-
ton by the recent manifestations of
dissatisfaction by the United States
government at the reported promotion
of Prince Tuan, already has begun the
punishment of him and the other Chi
nese leaders who are held guilty.
The decree recited by Sheng is felt
to be of the utmost importance as in
dicating complete change of heart on
the part of the reigning dynasty. 1t
means that reactionary influences
which have been dominant in Pekin
throughout the uprising and have even
continued of late days, have suffered a
complete overthrow, and that their
most conspicuous figures are degraded
and on trial. 1t is believed here that il
this action is genuine, it will be hard
for any of the powers to find a reason
able pretext for longer refusing to heed
the appeals of the Chinese government
for the opening of negotiations looking
to a settlement.
The Importance of the action is shown
by the determination to try Prince
Tuan before the imperial clan court.
This is the supreme judicial tribunal of
China and is the only one having ju-
risdiction over the members of the i'm
perial family. 1t is presided over by
Prince Ii, with the well known Prince
Ching as first vice president.
PRINCE Ii is the first of the eight
princely families of China, ard is re-
garded as friendly to the progressive
element. The attitude of Prince Ching
has been notable throughout the trou-
BILE as friendly to foreign interests.
There are five other members of the
court, all of them high personages.
They occupy a building at Pekin and
are in regular session for the trial of
cases affecting members of the nobility
and the highest personages. Chinese
officials here say that the reference of
the case to this high court is of itself
the fullest assurance of the gravity
with which the throne regards the mat
ter. 1t is noted also that even before
the trial Prince Tuan is stripped of his
salary and official servants. Being a
man of large and independent means
the loss of salary would not amount
much if it were not that this and the
loss of the servants is special means
of humiliation. The names Of the four
princes who have been degraded are
not known here either by the state de-
W.
The action of the Chinese govern
ment in overthrowing the reactionaries
is likely to give the most intense graft
ficati n to the friendly viceroys of the
soutl- of China and TO the ministers
here. in London and il. Europe, who
have so strenuously resisted the Boxer
NOV sment. 1t may be specially noted
that only today Minister WI received
information that these viceroys, includ-
ing Ii Hung Chang, had memorialized
the throne to punish the very element
which has now been overcome.
THE ALIGNMENT OF THE POWFPS
The alignment of the powers on the
German proposition to make the pun
iShment of the Chinese ringleaders a
condition precedent to negotiations
may now be stated as follows: Great
Britain, Russia and France stand with
the United States regarding this prop
osition as inexpedient. Japan occupies
a middle attitude; she is willing to fol-
low the German lead II all the other
powers are agreeable, but only for the
sake OF preserving harmony among the
powers and not from a belief in the
wisdom of the German proposition.
Austria and Italy stand shoulder to
shoulder with Germany, making the
dreibund a solid front. The first named
two powers Go not attempt to argue the
German proposition and their answers
make it apparent that they have ac-
cepted it without much consideration.
Nothing is known here officially OF
| the alternative proposition which is re-
ported to be preparing in Europe. II
| 1t contains the same feature as TO
prior punishment, as the original prop
| osition, it is not likely to receive ap-
| proval here.
The fact that Secretary Hay Is ex-
| pected to return to Washington next
week will not change in any way the
| policy OF the state department. The
secretary has been in the closest sym
pathetic touch in all that has been done
respecting China, and the stories print
- a.