University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1908-11-17
THE SPIRIT OF
THE NEWS

brings her life and it's influence Ovel
China into the center of the world.
gaze Born in Pekin on Nov. IL, 1884
of poor, Manchu parents, she rose to the
position of greatest power in her coun
try through the remarkable steps OF
slavery. At an early age, she was
sold into bondage by her parents be-
cause of their poverty. She became
the property of prominent general
who, struck with her great beauty, of
fcred her as present to the reignine
emperor, Hsien-Feng. He so admired
her that he made her his secondary
wife and when she bore him a son, he
raised her to the first rank. Upon his
death, she became the regent OF the En-
pire and after the death of the Eastern
Empress" real wife Of Hsien Feng
she was autOcrat i'm name as we'll as
deed. During her life three nominal en-
perors succeeded to the title held by her
husband, but she was responsible for
them and she ruled them.
In all of her fOrtyseven years of
power she showed herself to be ty-
rant. She ruled 10000, 600 people with
rod of iron. Slaughter was to her
an eminent means for accomplishing her
ends. Though a gifted woman in per-
sOnal qualities, as a ruler, she was way
ward and often uneducated. 1t is not
thought by most of the progressives in
China that she had any idea of the real
significance of constitution. Her man.
agement of the Empire, though perhaps
better than that of any man who sat
upon the throne, was characteristically
Chinese. She clung to the past and rul-
ed according to the past.
In fact, the most beneficial and prac-
tically the only reforms of her long rul
ership were those relating to a eOnsti-
tuition, to a better educational system
and to the unbinding of women's feet.
Yet in her death hour, We see old China
still cropping in the darkness of the
past. The whole nation is thrown into
a superstitious mourning. For a hun
dred days men cease to shave and wOm
en- to wear head dresses; the cOlors
of garments alternate from white to
black; and for a year no betrothals
take place, while all entertainments are
for the same length of time.
China is still far behind in the onward
march of the nations. A much greater
leader than Tsze Hsi An must arise to
guide that country out of its night.
At home, We can Join Oklahoma in
a celebration. Our sister state is hav
ing her first statehood anniversary. She
is one year old. Perhaps no state has
ever tried as many important expert
ments in government as has Oklahoma. |
Looking over her years history, if that |
is a sufficient time in which to Judge. |
some of her new ideas are good and |
some poor. A 'dispensary system for
the sale of liquor has fallen through and
the anti-saloon league is trying to get
another kind of prohibition bill passed.
The guaranty of bank deposits has in
,reased the deposits of state banks 81
,6.6442l while it has reduced the de-
,osits in banks not under the guaranty
aw $2,l76 ,6442l. The corporation com
mission seems to be doing some good
work. 1t has secured reductions in a
number of freight rates. There are
many experiments which cannot yet be
allied either good or bad. On the whole
he state seems to have made fair prog
ess in material development. in educa-
ion and statecraft.
The news of death brings ever with
warning voice. From figures just
it is seen that foot ball has
aiken its victims of killed and injured
his year, too. Ten have been killed
nd two hundred and seventy-two have
zen hurt. Will those in authority fail
o realize their responsibility for these
eaths? Will they perfect game which
'ill not be modern Jaugernaut!
The crimes committed in Okmulgee.
kla., and St. Louis by the negroes .
tho attempted to resist arrest, while
evolting beyond measure, bring with
hem also a message of heroism of the
ighest type. In Oklahoma, the sheriff,
ssistant Chief of Police and two negro
equities gave up their lives in the ser
ice of their fellowmen; while in St.
ouis a police sergeant overcame the
nemy of the law after he had received
bullet wound in the head. How often Il
eopIe allow themselves to look too t
luch on the dark side of such events
nd how seldom on the heroic side. :
Tho n,,,S Clnb, Dou,ooro@ |