The daily sentinel., 1910-11-03
WOMEN MAY
SOON RULE
THE CHINESE
Associated Press.


Buffalo, n Y, Nov. 3.-Dr. Gil
bert keid of the International Insti-
tute of China, spoke at the Twentieth
Century club here last evening on the
social life of women of the better
class Chinese and Manshu families.
He said in part:
I'm America. we hear of woman's
suffrage; in China we have woman
sovereignty The suffrage has not
been discussed because the autocracy
of woman has been secured without
it's aid. For nearly half century,
strong-minded woman directed the
affairs of the Chinese Empire, in
peace and turmoil, in times of calam-
ity and of prosperity, with other ma
tions as friends or again appearing
as foes. With all these changes, 1t
was woman's hand-that OF the
late Empress Dowager held the
helm of the Ship of State. Gray
haired mandarians, aristocratic Man
chu noblemen, great scholars, re-
nowned diplomats, experienced
statesmen, entered the inner-hall of
the palace and bowed their heads to
the ground in humble obeisance be-
fore the masterful personality of the
woman sitting on the throne with
self-possession, stately dignity, and
recognized superiority. This is an
achievement realized in China, but
not yet whispered as a dream in
America.
Even now there comes another
possibility of leadership by another
Manchu woman. The Prince Regent,
while possessed with power for the
moment, must not forget that there
is another Empress Dowager presid-
ing in the inner precincts of the pal
ace. and acting as mother to the boy
emperor. She may yet choose TO
come out more openly, as did the
former Empress Dowager. into the
life of the nation, and exert a con-
trolling influence on its affalrs.
While not the strong personality OF
her aunt. the late Empress Dowager'
she may yet be induced, out OF oppo-
sition to some of the measures ana
favoritism of the Prince Regent. 10
assert that which may be regarded as
her rightful authority. There is a
strong faction in Peking today whlch
turns away from the Prince Regent
and favors the Empress Dowager.
Even without asserting her full pow
er, 1t is none the less true that she
and other. women connected with the
Court orFPeking, are Influential in
shaping public policies of that vast
Empire.
"In China, there are palace cliques;
in America, there is a partisanshlp
that is more intense in its hatred and
animosity than exists amid the rlV-
alries of Peling. In China. there
are class distinctions, but none oil
the wide separation of capltal ana
labor that exists here. In emma,
there are differences of opinion ana
mutual iealousies, which are only
made known through the quiet whls-
perings of private condolences; Dut
in the United States, we have, flashed
out before the whole world, recrlm-
ination. SANDER, libel, and false ac-
cusations. characteristic of our ma
tional politics. In China, the women
know how to gossip, as they do here
but there is less publicity and less
harm to ones self or to Others. There
may be idle curiosity among these
women of the Orient, but today TINS
curiosity is being turned into chan
nels of public service and usefulness.
I'm the rapid changes that are now
taking place, / would not be at all
surprised If within ten years, we
would see some intelligent, patriotic
woman sitting in the Imperial par
lament. and discussing questions OF
the empire in ease and fluency, with
no criticism of impropriety from any
one, Just as the whole administrative
power of the empihe has for so many
years rested solely in the hands of
woman. There may be Manchu
woman on. the throne, and Chinese
woman in the parliament"