The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-15
PITY THE SON OF HEAVEN.
KwANG-sU NARRATEs HIS OWN
TALE OF WOE.
He Regulates the "Wicked Part
ners" Whose Acts He DeplOres.
OmciaIs' Programme of Reform.
From the London Standard.

officials Programme of Reform.
From the London Standard
Tien Tsin, March 2.--Among the many
DEGREES issued of late from the imperial
court not the least curious and important
is the one which I append a free but cor
rect translation. 1t would seem TO be-
not, as it processes. the composition of
the Emperor himself. but the work of the
Empress Dowager and her friends. They
have shown themselves on previous OF
casions adopts in this particular kind of
fraud. 1t is a very clever attempt to
evade responsibility for what has taken
place and to regain face" both with the
nation and with foreigners. Like most
defenses in bad cause, however, it
abounds in contradictions, and gives the
court away badly in one or two places.
A perusal of the precious document will
afford quite an insight into Chinese meth
DDS and lines of argument.
Edict Issued Feb. Il, 1901.
1.-The revolt of the Boxers last summer
was the cause of much bloodshed between
hitherto friendly nations, and led to the
fall of even our, seat OF government, When
the capital of our empire was attacked, 1
escorted the Empress Dowager, and es-
capped to the westward. We subsequently
appointed Prince Ching and Ii Hung
Chang to be our plenipotentiaries to dis
cuss terms of peace with the foreign
Powers Yesterday we received kilograms
from these statesmen saying Chat the
twelve general terms of peace had been
agreed to, and we ordered them to care
fully negotiate the remaining articles in
such a way that China might be able to
bear the burden of satisfying the foreign
Powers. The time has now, therefore, ar
rived for us to explain to the country and
publicly bemoan all that has occurred,
and we have no recourse but to reveal
to the officials and people all that we
have endured and how wrongly we have
been accused. Those who have failed TO
appreciate the true causes of the Boxer
rebellion have hastily accused us of negli-
gence in allowing the Boxers to become
so powerful. They do not appear to real
lie that we issued many edicts during
the Fifth and Sixth Moons, ordering the
suppression of the Boxers, and the pro-
lection of the Christians. But the peo-
pie were self-wiled and uusubmissiVe, and
the court was powerless. At that time
we were in serious dilemma, our author
ity being set at naught, and we feared
for the security of the dynasty. on the
2lst of the Seventh Moon July la the
kim. l and the Empress Dowager We're
then prepared to offer ourselves as sacri-
fees to appease our wrathful ancestors,
but while we cried and abased ourselves
the princes and ministers came and in
sisted on our escaping, and forced us,
against our wills, through the fires and
conflict to escape to the westward. Pal
aces around us were in ruins and officials
killed. All this was the work of the Box
ers. How, then, can it be said the court
helped the Boxers?
The real reason of the Boxer rising is
that the timid officials, when dealing
with lawsuits in which native Christians
We're concerned, were afraid the foreign
consuls would impeach them for injus-
tice to the Christians, and others who
wished to find favor with the people al
ways sided with them again the Chris
tians, so that bitter feeling grew up
between the people and the converts. and
this gave the Boxers an excuse for mis-
chief. This was entirely the fault Of the
local officials. When the Boxers had de-
stroyed churches and railways, we order
ed the reserve forces in Chi Ii to sup
press them, but the imperial forces were
very badly controlled. They prosecuted
the good people and the Boxers proclaim
ed that they were only against the Chris
tians and would do no harm to the peo-
Pile This caused the people to fear the
troops and turn to the Boxers for pro-
lection. and the Boxer force thus became
stronger and stronger. This was the fault
of the military officers, who did not ex-
ercise proper authority over their soldiers
The Boxers spread wild rumors that they
could perform great deeds by means of
charms, and excited the ignorant peo-
pie, and even the ignorant and conserva-
tive officials and Princes fell into the
snare These Princes and officials who
for many years have beheld with envy
the power of other nations, foolishly hop
ed to strengthen our nation by the help
of the Boxers, and caused Boxer driI to
take place in every house and palace.
Seeing this l and the Empress Dow
ager ordered Keng vi to dispense these
people; but instead of dispensing, they APP
peared upon the walls of Picking in red
belts and turbans, and attacked the for
eign legations The Empress Dowager
has been Regent and adviser for forty
years. and have been in
huenced throughout by her teach
ing to protect the Christians and
be friendly to foreign nations What
faithful and loyal people would burn
houses and kin people, and what govern
ment would break peace with other ma
tons and support rebels? During the trou-
BILE the leaders were backed by somebody,
and l and the Empress found ourselves
deprived of all power and I'm great per-
sonal danger. This was the fault of the
princes and officials. At the time when
abe legations were besieged, we several
times ordered the ministers Of the Tsung-
li-Yamen to stop the attack and to visit
the foreign ministers. but were prevent
ed by the firing on both sides The court