Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-22
CHINA TO BE MANCHU OR M0NG0L?

The death on the 10Th instant OF
Kwang-Hsu, Emperor of China, and that
of TEi-An, empress dow
Stirring ager, have stirred all China.
The eccentricites of this
dual government will not
be regretted by the real reformers in
China. nor indeed by those occidentals
who would see China fairly launched upon
course of commercial and industrial de-
velopment which waits only upon the
stability Of government.
An edict on the 18th instant, the day
OF the Official deaths Of the emperor
and empress dowager. proclaimed the
accession to the throne of Prince Pu-Yi,
the infant son OF Prince Chun. with
Prince Chun as regent during the
minority of Pu-Yi.
The imperial government of China is
Manchu; the people are Mongol. There
is a feeling that the hereditary race
hatred between the conQueror and the
conquered will now bs made the supreme
issue Is China to be henceforth Manchu
or Mongol?
What are to be the future relations be-
tween Prince Chun, regent. and Prince
Ching and Yuan-Sie-Kwai? Prince Chun.
Prince Ching and Gen. Yuan-Sekwai
are Mongols or Chinese and members OF
the grand council
Now are told whilst congratulatins
that there is nothing changed in China
in fact. certainly as to the power be-
hind the throne in that mysterious and
autocratic parsonage, the dowager en-
press. The dowager empress. Tsi-An. is
dead. but the Dowager Empress Yehonla
lives, and is destined perhaps to play an
important part in Chinese affairs.
The new dowager empress, who We as
sumo is either aunt Or mother of Prince
Pu-Yi, arranged with
TSl-An'S great presence Of mind that
the meeting Of the grand
council should be held in
her private apartments, where the coun-
cilors Ching and Yuan) were warned that
the regency was final; that 1000 troops
were on duty at the palace where Ye-
honla was in possession This looks as
If Yehonla is worthy successor to Tsd-
An.
Whilst this cablegram conflicts with
other declarations which would show that
both Ching and Yuan are still powerful
1t nevertheless creates a doubt which may
which We may receive from China's high
commissioner to the United States. Mr..
Tang-Shao-Yi, who will soon arrive in
Washington.
Of the Hongkong Chinese Mail. when in
terviewed at Memphis. Tenn. declares
that. in his opinion. the deaths of the
emperor and empress dowager will not
endanger China's future.
Mr.. Ii. however. points out that there
is danger bQpQnEp of tho nnlher
opposed to a continuance of the Manchu
dynasty. Mr.. Ii likewise fears that
Japan's agents in China will foment
rebellion against Manchu rule in the
throne. Mr.. Ii places faith in the
strength and stability of Prince Chun.
who. he thinks, will govern wisely and
maintain peace.
nans straits settlement, is the acknowl
edged chief of the Chinese reform move
ment. Mr.. kang was the confidential ad
wiser OF the emperor in 1898, and inspired
him with the reform ideas which drew
upon him the anger Of the dowaser en-
press. Mr.. Kang. when Informed Of the
situation. concluded that peaceful retire
ment' was the only remedy in his case.
and he fed. Kang-Yu is not friendly to
Yuan-Sie-kwai and expresses fear that
the latter will thWart the efforts of Prince
Chun.
The Hawaii Shimbo. Japanese journal
at Honolulu, publishes what purports TO
be the text Of the new treaty with the
nouncement of this treaty. 1t says. will
not be made until February. 1902 THE
treaty." according to the Shimbo, ''guaran-
tees the integrity OF China. The emigra-
ton of laborers from either country TO
the other is prohibited"
The Emperor kwang-Hsu succeeded to
the throne on the death of his cousin. the
Emperor T'ung Chin, Janu-
The Late airy %. 1875, the dowager
empress, his maternal aunt.
Tsi-An, becoming regent.
Kwang-Hsu came of age and assumed
government in March, 1887. From the
date of his marriage: February Is, 1889, to
September, 1898, he was really the head Of
state, but his rapid development of reform
ideas was too much for the palace clique,
and 1t was thus that the empress dowager
resumed the government and the emperor
was relegated to the nursery, and has
been treated since as a sick man, as he
doubtless was, both physically and men,
tally.
The Chinese imperial family is of Man.
chu origin. and the dynasty styled
ia ching chao" (great pure dynasty
dates from 1914. Kwang-Hsu Is the ninth
genealogical note he is the fifteenth In the
canonized series Of the TIA ching" en-
perors.
The imperial power in China is auto
cratic, and is manifested by DEGREES"
''edicts" and ''rescripts,' which, unless of
secret nature, are published daily in the
palace journal known as the Picking Ga
zette.
This autocracy is surrounded by multi
plicity of safeguards in the form of ad-
visory boards, the chief Of which is the
grand council, consisting of six members. !
Next in this hierarchy is the TZu-Ching-
Yuan. an advisory council a sort of SEN
atus consultus, which was established in
1907, and includes all the members of the
grand council and chiefs of the advisory
boards and members Of the grand secre-
tariale.
The boards which carry on the govern
ment are eleven in number and rank as
follows: Foreign affairs CWai-wu-pu),
commerce, civil service. finance, cere-
monies, war, laws. communications (tele-
graphs, steamships. railways and posts, |
marine customs), interior. education. de-
tendencies Mongolia, etc.). Each board |
is controlled by the edict of November 6, |
1906 and by one president and two vice
presidents. 1t is expressly understood
that there shall be no discrimination or ]
faVorit!sm shown between Manchus and
MOngols.
Aside and independent from the fore