Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-16


After the suppression of the uprising
and the departure of the foreign troops.
however Isl An appears to have seen
great light. She at last came clearly TO
realize that the time when foreigners
could be regarded and treated as devils
was past forever.
From that day dates the development
Of the new China, which has since then
been progressing at such a pace as to
amaze all western observers.
In the program of the doWager en-
press for new China, while the safety
of foreigners has been better guaranteed
than ever before, the ruling industrial
motto seems to have been China for the
Chinese
One remarkable feature of her policy
has been the total suppression of the
traffic in and the use of opium through
out the empire.
In carrying out her program the chief
lieutenant of the dowager empress has
been Yuan Shih kai, who was until re-
Gently viceroy of Pechi-li province. Re
Gently he was recalled from this province
to occupy an important post at Picking.
but he still retained his favor with the
aged empress.
Though for many years the dowager
empress had been a sort of female Chi
nese Bismarck. her later years had been
beset with many difficulties. Perhaps the
chief among them had been the wide
spread agitation and plotting for the res
toration of the real Chinese dynasty as
opposed to the Manchu or Tartar dynasty
represented by the present emperor and
his predecessors since 1914.
Successful Against Plotters.
These plottings and incpient rebellions
have been most serious in Yunnan and
other provinces in southern China along
the Anamese border. Up to the time OF
her death Isl An was successful in keep
ing the conspirators from any successes
of Importance, and in this she was greatly
helped by Yuan Shih Kai. who was the
first to organize a Chinese army along
modern lines of discipline.
Now that this extraordinary woman is
dead many students of Chinese history
and present conditions will look for a
general uprising, whose object will be the
Ousting of the Manchu dynasty.
In accordance with the China for the
Chinese" policy the dowager empress
within the last six years revoked or re-
deemed many foreign concessions. espe-
cially railroad concessions to Americans.
British. French and Belgians. About all
the railroad lines now projected are to be
built by Chinese capital and constructed
by Chinese engineers.
In government reform. too. the dowager
empress had been most active. Two years
dSO SHt utlSrinlneu upon the auOptlOn or
a constitutional government to go into eff
feet within ten years and appointed a
commission to visit foreign countries and
study their constitutions and methods of
government.
Several members of this commission Wis
tied this country in pursuance of this mis-
sion. Progressive steps have been taken
from time to time to put the plan into
execution.
Though of such masculine strength of
character and intellect, the dowaS GER en-
press was truly feminine in her love of
dress and regard for her personal ap-
pearance. To the last she devoted several
hours daily to her toilet, and her ladies in
waiting had no easy time of it.
Severe puniShments were administered
when they failed TO rejuvenate her ap-
pearance sufficiently to satisfy her In
recent years she made a practice of CIV
ng receptions to ladies of the diplomat tic
corps and last year she had her portrait
painted in her mos: gorgeous robes by a
woman artist from Paris.