Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-09-03
The Predicament Of Prince Chun.

his suite VINO are stopping dt baSit'
Switzerland, find themselves in
very uncomfortable predicament. AS
the Journal pointed out several weeks
ago the Chinaman. in his supreme is-
norance and self conceit. holds all
other nations TO be inferior and
subordinate to the Celestial empire.
this attitude has been at the base of
his former superclious and insulting
method of dealing with foreign repre-
bic vassals of colonial de-
Tendencies. and referring them to
the colonial department for the trans
action of all their business with the
imperial government Diplomats who
came into'the august presence of the
Chinese Emperor or, as he is called.
to kowtow to shim-kneeling three
times in the royal presence and touch
ing the ground with the forehead three
times after each kneeling. 1t is amaz
ing that the great powers have so long
submitted to these indignities; but
the Chinese government now under
stands clearly and definitely that the
day of them is past.
Not only have recent events in China
taught the people of that country many
new things about foreigners: but
it has taught the great civilized coun-
tries many important lessons regard
ing the existing conditions in the celes-
tial empire. and the character of the
people there one fact has been thor
oughly imprs ssed upon all observers by
the immense impoI Itarce which the
Chinese people attach to matters of
ceremony ard form. 1t is this newly
acquired know ledge of what appeals
the most clearly and the most power
fully to the Chinese understanding
that has lead Germany to make its
present demands upon Prince Chun
TO Europe is as is we'll known, TO
make a personal apology to the Ger
man empire for the brutal murder of
the German minister. Baron Won ket-
teller by a Pekin mobawhile in the dis
charge OF his official duty.
With knowledge of the most prac
teal way of making that apology
convey lasting lesson. which was
doubtless derived from the personal
observations of Count Won Waldersee,
the commander-in-ch chief of the allied
fcrces in China. Emperor William has
laid down certain methods of proce-
dure to be observed by the visiting
ese government had planned for Chun
and his accompanying mobiles to ap-
prOach the Kaiser and express the re-
gret of China for the death of Baron
Won Kettelel,
Germany however has prepared a
somewhat different program The
Kaiser is to meet Chun and his COM
panions seated upon the German
throne. Upon being admitted to his
presence they are all to kowtow.
and from his hees the visiting Prince
is expected, III behalf of the Chinese
empire. to beg 4 humble pardon for
the murder of Baron Won Kettler
These conditions are Indignantly re-
fused by Prince Chun and his cOmpan-
ions. They assert that, rather than
submit to each indignanties. they
would prefer to..die. They claim that
the kowtow is special honor reserved
for the Son of Heaven, the emperor OF
China. and that. for them to offer it tC
the Kaiser would be equivalent to ac-
knowledging hin equality with their
own temporal Lord and Master. r.
If Emperor William were to go tc
Pekin and enter. the presence of Prince
Chun's brother he would he expected
to kowtow to the great Son of Heaven
as mark of his inferiority and de-
pendancy. In fact all the heats of the
great civilized nations have in years
ing-humiliating as it was-in tn.
persons of the eminent diplomats who
have represented them at the Chimes,
capital. 1t is understood that the al.
lied powers have served definite not.
ice upon the Chinese government thai
this practice. SO far as the represen.
-tatives of foreign governments are
concerned, will be discontinued in tn,
future
1t must not be supposed that tn,
German Emperor lays any stress up
on this particular ceremony in itsel
considered. Doubtless it appear
quite as silly and senseless to him a
IT would to Journal reader It's i'm
Importance at this time lies wholly /,
its Chinese Significance. The momen
the brother of the Chinese Empero
acting as his personal representativ.
kowtows to the Kaiser, ne foreye