The Portland daily press., 1900-06-26

months before as Special Envoy at the
Queens jubilee, was banished 10 Turkes-
tan, having been hardly saved from
death, it Is believed, by the Interpolation
Of her Britannia Majesty's Minister High
wers dis6acea RIGHT AND left
and their places filled by Manchus and
reactionaries. 1t was frankly anticipated,
at the time, that drama which opened
with such amenities wouldbe consum-
mated by Kwang Su's death; but an
explosion of remonstrance from the PROV
inces combined with representations by
her Britannia Majesty's Minister OF the
evil impression that would be produced
by such an event to arrest the design. lie
was allowed to live, under close tute-
lage and control, and the Empress Tse-
hsi has ruled openly In his stead.
Having turned the tables on her adver-
saries, and recovered the power which
those who have once tasted IL are reputed
to love, the Empress might have been
content; though even she might grow
weary Of combating the hostility to her
regime which centers round the personal
ity of Kwang Su. But the reactionary
clique was not happy. All was safe for
the moment, but their mistress Is adj
vanced in years. and what would happen
at her deathf II the Emperor regained
power, there would be a fresh era Of re-
form, and not OF reform only but OF the
REVENGE p9TnuDS. lOT NTOHkb buutItu
and indignities imposed. SO q fresh
combination was devised. The promise
of adopting posthumous son to Tung
Che had never been fulfilled, rs kwaDg
Su has not fulfilled his share by provid-
ing the child. Ii was consistent, under
these circumstances, TO propose that one
should be selected from among the
younger members Of the Imperial Clan.
A son (adopted or otherwise) Of Tung
Che would stand out as heir to the
throne, and whols vista Of possibilities
were opened upl
1t is part of the irony of things that,
in January, 1900, the result was an
nounced (as follows) in the Emperor's
own name:
While yet in our infancy we were by
grace of the Emperor Tung Che chosen TO
succeed him in the heavy responsibilities
of head of the whole Empire, and when
his Majesty died we sought day and night
to be deserving of such kindness by ener-
gy and faithfulness in our duties. We
were also indebted to the Empress Dow
ager, who taught and cherished us assid-
uously, and to her we owe our safety TO
the present day. Now, be 10 also known
that when we We're selected to the throne
it was then agreed that If ever we should
have a son, that son should be proclaimed
heir TO the throne. But ever since last
year (lS9Sl we have been constantly i'll,
and IL was for this reason that, In the
eighth month Of that year 1.-THE date OF
the coup d'etat), the Empress Dowager
graciously acceded to our urgent
prayers, and took over the reins of gov
eminent in order to instruct us in our
duties. A year has now passed, and still
we find ourselves an invalid, but ever
keeping in our III ind that we do not be-
long TO the direct line of succession, and
that, for the sake of the safety of the
Empire of our ancestors, legal heir
should - selected to the throne, we
again prayed the Empress Dowager to
carefully choose from amongst the men,
bers of the Imperial Clan such a one;
and this she has done in the person OF
Pu Chun, son offsai vi, Prince of Tuan
We hereby command accordingly that
Pu Chun, the son of Tsai vi, Prince
Tuau, be made heir TO the late Emperor
Tung Che.
Now the bearing of these utterances de-
ponds, like those of Capt. Bunsby, on
the application OF them. The meaning
read Into them by all China seems to
have been that the Empress intended to
depose kwang Su, make Pu Chuns En-
peror and constitute herself Regent dur
ing the new minority. The anticipation
evoked an outburst of loyalty to kwang
Su which surprised those who had doubt
ed the existence of any public opinion
among the Chinese. Such an explosion
OF remonstrance seems to have caused as
tonishment, as well as alarm and anger
at Pekin. But the Empress was shrevd
enough TO perceive reason for pause. In
stead of deposing the Emperor, she re-
quested the board of ceremonies to decide
upon fitting manner of observing his
birthday, and acquiesced in demand by
foreign ministers to be allowed TO pay
him their compliments ON Chinese New
Years Day February l9). But she
turned her rage against the Reform par
ty, who are held responsible for the oppo-
stion.
One consideration might induce the
Empress to desert the Reactionary cause
and throw her influence into the oppo-
site scale. 1t has been suggested that she
is being carried farther than she intend
ed, having had no conception of the
forces that are at work. The last thing
she desires is to endanger the dynasty.
If it could be brought home to her that
the present reactionary policy constitutes
danger for the dynasty and the EN-
pire, she might be induced, yet, TO
change her course ana support the EN-
peror in policy of reform. Her halt on
the threshold of what was intended,
clearly, to be fresh coup d'etat, two
months ago, goes to prove that she is not
imperyious to manifestations OF popular
sentiment, but many well qualified to
form an opinion are persuaded that she
is kept In ignorance OF the real import
and magnitude of the crisis by which the
the moment. by the volume Of remon-
STRANGE her project has evoked, although
she wreaks, woman-like, her spite on
those whom she singles out as opposing
her will. The present advice of the En-
peror' friends at Pekin to their partisans
in the provinces is said to be not to press
her too hard, but to let her escape. II she
will, by the loophole which the protests
have left her in laying the blame on her
advisers. The primary object ais to save
Kwang Su. The great fear of the Re
form party is that he may be made away
with. So long as he Is alive, they are
contending for the rightful sovereign,
but his death would undermine that
standpoint of objection to the Empress
regime. 10 oppose her, If she were rul-
ing legally as Regent for a new Emperor
would be TO rebel, and rebellion is as the
sin Of witchoraft; the Chinese have IL In
superstitious dread.
r.. b. GRUMPY.