Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-31
HAPPENINGS IN CHINA
Inside Facts Concerning Re-
cent Events.
CHUN JEALOUS OF YUAN
His Eventual Restoration to Power
Is Expected.
STORY OF ISL ANS CAREER
True Account of Late Dowager EN-
press Life as Told by
Chinaman.
RY WILLIAM L. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM Z. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
The --latest mails b. ing a blu get Of infor-
nation and gossip concerning recent
events in Picking. IT comes from Chinese
sources of the most reliable character
from natives who are in a position to
learn of inside incidents and appreciate
their significance.
In the first place, it is now definitely
known that Yuan Shi-kai. the greatest
man in China. was removed from the
grand council as commanderin-chief of
the army. president of the foreign office
and from other high offices held by him
because of the jealousy of Prince Chun.
the new regent.
After the death of the empress d)wager
and the Emperor Kwang Hsu, and the
designation of the child, Pu Vi, as en-
peror. there was struggle between the
factions at court over the selection of Il
regent who should rule in his name.
Yuan Shi-kai, the most trusted adviser
of the late dowager, and altogether the
most influential man. at court, selected
Ya-hono-la widow Of Kwang Hsu aad
daughter of the late Jung-lu, predecessor
OF Yuan as comma nder-in- chief OF the
army. SO that he could continue II control
of affairs. But his selection was not APP
proved by the princes ami other members
of the court, who preferred Prince Chun,
younger brother of the late emperor.
To his surprise Yuan found the opposi-
ton to his choice insurmountable. When
Prince Chun was firmly installed in the
regency the latter retaliated by dismiss
ing Yuan from all his offices, depriv!ng
him of all his honors and commanding
him to retire to his home in the interior
of China, where he must remain half
recluse and half prisoner, indefinitely.
1t is believed that sooner or later uan
will be stored to power. like his famous
predecessor Ii Hung Chang, who had his
ups and downs, and was Sc e al times re-
moved from Office. and sent away in dis
grace, and as often recalled with in
creased power and additional nonor.
Deposition of Kwang Hsu.
There is, no reason or excuse for the
widely published stories that Yuan Shi-
kai was deposed because he betrayed the
late emperor at the time of the coup
d'etat in 1898. The true story of that
event is as follows:
Kang- Yu-wei, the impetuous reformer
who gained the confidence of the emperor
in 1898 persuaded him to issue edict after
edict, overturning the institutions. Gus
toms. precedents and traditions Of the
empire. He persuaded kwang Hsu tc
abolish bureaus and Offices by wholesale,
and to dismiss a large number of the
poor relations Of the imperial family and
the sons and dependent connections of
venerable mandarins.
Three old councillors had the courage to
demonstrate. The emperor rebuked them
by dismissing them from the public
service and stripping them of their Of
fetal honors and perquisites.
In their indignation over this treatment
they hurried to the country PALACE where
the dowager empress WAS living in retire
ment, threw themselves at her feetEA and
besought her to return to the capital and
rescue the empire from the recklessness
o. the emperor, who was oVerturning and
aboishing everything that was old and
sacred and introducing innovations and
experiments that would destroy the gov
eminent.
Isl An had relinquished her authority
in favor of the emperor with great re-
luctance only few months before and
had regretted it daily. She accepted the
invitation eagerly, hurried back to Picking
and compelled her nephew to sign an
edict. begging her to resume supreme
power as before.
In this paper. which she prepared, he
confessed his inability to govern and
begged her to teach him his duty.