Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-25


IN kSe1ll old. His son. a baby boy only
HIN ks<< 3 years old, is the emperor of
lIAszesNlssl China, the Son of Heaven
But until the baby reaches
his majority his father Prince Chun,
Is practically the absolute ruler of the
empire, China is the oldest and most
conservative of nations. 1t has seen
Egypt and Babylonia, Greece and
Rome, Persia and Parthia rise, flour
ish and fall Through crumhling ages
| ii alone has endured. And now the
time has come when the continued eX-
istence of this empire must be JUSTIFIED
in the eyes of the world by good works,
or China itself shall be rent into pieces.
AT this crisis in the tragic history OF
nations-tragic it is, however common
place may be the political terms which
define 1.-THE whole burden of respon-
sibility is cast upon the shoulders or
this young man of o.
China is to have a constitutional
! form of government. Reluctantly forced
to acknowledge that tie outside world
contains some people and some ma
tions equal to the Chinese and China,
concession after concession has been
made to western opinion The great
est of these concessions is the consti-
tuition a change in the fundamental
system of government where changes
have not been made for centuries,
change by which China hopes to knit
| its divided provinces together and pre-
sent q united front against the en-
croachment of the foreigners. Prince
! Chun, in all human probability, Will
decide what that new constitution shall
change and what it shall conserve.
Upon his decision may depend the
| course of international politics in the
whole world.
Naturally the world would like to
know what sort of man is this youth
| full prince who must face and attempt
to solve these difficult problems. He
has had less than year upon the
throne and much of that time was
given UP to official mourning and to
the necessary detail of reorganization
of his palace staff. He has not as yet
developed a definite policy by which
he may be Judged, yet there are many
! incidents which indicate that the
| prince regent is a sincere friend OF
| progress and reform.
! Prince Chun is the first man who has
sat upon the Chinese throne for CEN
turies who has been outside of China,
and he is the very first who has be-
| held with his own eyes the wonders OF
the modern west. He was sent to
Germany after the Boxer rebellion to
apologize for the murder of the German
minister, Baron Won Ketteler, who was
! killed in the streets of Peking. On
this mission he visited Europe and, 1t
is said, used his eyes and his brain in
seeing things and storing them away
! for future use. That was part or
the course of education which the en-
press dowager gave him in preparation
| for his task of succeeding her as head
of the empire. For six years she Kept
him close to her, and consulted him
freely. She made him her personal
representative, or the representative
of the government, whenever oppor-
tunity presented to have him meet
foreigners of ability or distinction.
Under her instruction he thoroughly
familiarized himself with the railroad
system of the country and it's proposed
| extensions, with the mines and min
eral lands of the empire and with the
condition of industry generally. he
| closely watched the foundation ana
opening of the new imperial school sys-
| TEN, and visited and studied the eX-
cellent missionary schools which were
! convenient. go
This special instruction, together with
the advice which the slillful empress
| dowager was so competent to lmpart
i'm the conduct of intrigue and counter
| intrigue, constitutes Prince Chun s
equipment for the position he holds.
Added to that is MS ndIuIdl elluo"i
of a high order of mental ability, and
| his reputation for honesty and sin
cerity of character.
Prince Chun is thoroughly committed
to the reform policy as a policy, al
though what ends he hopes to serve
no man may dare to say. At any rate
he appears to believe in the const1tu-
ton as the chief end of his rule Some
idea of his attitude toward the people,
according to his own professions, may
he obtained from the edicts which ne
has issued with such great freedom
| In one of these he says;
"Since their late majesties entrusted
me with the administration of the en-
pire. I have been most careful IN the
performance of my duties, always
| fearing that I could not satisfy the
souls of their late majesties and the
people Fortunately, l know the hard
! ships of the people and sympathlze
with them. and shall always endeaVor
to improve their lot. Mencius said that
the government should protect the
people, and I would never lose sight
of this great saying. I do not possess
anv extraordinary talent, but | nope
that NV officials and the people VIII
helm me in the government of the em-
pire and the removal Of abuses ana
corruption. If they will do TINS the
empire is safe"
And in another edict dwelling upon
7 - ,esff a. Ion