The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-10-25
THE eELpAmE ON DECK.

cable Announces that the evil genius of
China is still at work seeking to ar
rest the progress of reform in China.
The empress dowager is trying to
have the son of the bloody Prince
Tuan, who is Pu-Chun, declared the
heir to the throne, a choice which
bodies no good for China, as the youth
assisted the Boxers in their hellish
work last year and is as pronounced
an enemy of reform as is the dowager
empress herself. 1t is said that the
reform element will try to stiffen their
backbones sufficiently to make a fight
against this selection. It remains to
be seen whether they will succeed in
taking a bracer For the task. The
emperor has been issuing some re-
form DEGREES, but, SO far, the govern
ment has done little except order the
decapitation of a few scores Of Boxers.
The powers have subsidized, having
forced a promise from China to ar
range a new ceremonial for the recep-
ton of foreign ministers and dismant-
led the Taku forts and other d~efenses
OF Picking. secured China's 1. O. U.
for 100000 90 taels and strongly for
titled the legations at Picking so that
they resemble fortresses commanding
the city.
Although it has been announced
that the empress and Kwang-Su have.
left Singanfu in great style and their
objective is. Picking, they have halted
at Kaifung, capital OF the province of
Honan, on the Yellow river, a con-
siderable distance, south Of Picking,
where a conference is to be held
touching the affairs of the empire.
1t Is by no means certain that the
court will return to Picking, which
is practically under the guns of the.
foreign legations. The court at kai.
Flung is accompanied by the best
troops in China, and, in spite of the
prohibition of the Importation of fire
arms and ammunition, by the terms of.
the protocol, these articles are large
ly imported and the Chinese interior
arsenals are reported as being very
Not a step has been taken
or will be taken to Dust Russia from
Manchuria by the powers and that
willy power is arranging a treaty with
China which is adroitly worded SO
as to make it appear that Chinese
suzerainty is yet acknowledged, while
has planted herself solidly in
the big province and will stay there,
and after while she will forget her
open door" promise and hut out our
Newchwang cotton goods trade which
amounts to about five, millions a year
and is increasing.
The new tariff, which excerpts rice,
and flour from duties, will go
into operation on November 25, and,
if the old empress is muzzled and
.amstrung by the reform party, there
will be a steady increase of American
trade with China. Our trade there
amounted, for the eight months end
ing August 81, to $15,421,255 last year
and for the same period this year it
was SIG, 455, 532, there being an in
rease this year Of Fl, 10000 yards OF.
goods over the amount export
ad there last year, same period, and,
an increase of kerosene oil exports
same PERIOD, of more than,
| $4,000, 900 gallons. Flour being now
On the free list there will probably be.
a large increase in our -four exports,
China.
A number of articles of American
which have, been on the free,
list have been placed on the dutiable,
list and among them beer, butter, cut
cry, window glass, soap and tobacco
It is a provision of the p%ortocol that
opportunity shall be afforded to nego-
late with China for amendments to
The tariff. Our government will look
these commercial interests. It
cannot afford to neglect them. The
ate allied powers have something to
10 besides looking to China for the
of the big indemnity and
Certifying the legations at Peking and
a few Boxers decapitated. 1t
S their duty to encourage the reform
in China and stop land-grabbing
here and stop FORCING concessions,
~ which Russia, France, Germany
Great Britain have disgraced
themselves in the past.
In the matter of piling Ossa on Pc