The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-10-02
PROUD MANCHUS or
ANCIENT CHINA IN
DIRE STRAITS NOW
Republic Promised Old Royal Family
$3,ooo,ooo, But So Far Has
Money. IE.

Picking, China.-Despite the promise
Of the Republic OF China that the de-
throned imperial family OF China
should have SO, 900, 900 q year for the
maintenance OF its establishments and
servants, actual poverty q invaded
the household of the great Manchu
family that for two centuries and a
half ruled China and knew only mag
ntficence and luxury. The dethroned
child emperor, the three women named
as dowager expresses since h death
OF the remarkabi9 dowager empress
who so long held iron sway In the last
decades OF h empire, their courtiers
and servants have been for many
months virtually dependent upon the
private charity Of President Yuan Shi
Kat.
or the 100000 o annual income prom,
Used the Manchu family on a~bdicatiog
nearly two years ago, only about $780,
time of abdication and was swiftly
swallowed In the paying off Of old re-
tainers In the course OF reducing the
huge imperial establishment.
imperia; Treasures lmpounded.
The Manchu family might still face
the world without thought of poverty
II 1t could gather Its entire possessions
Of Jewels, tapestries and gorgeous fur
nishings. But the treasure room Of the
imperial palace in the Forbidden City,
which contains diamonds, emeralds,
rubies, articles In wrought gold and
other exquisite and antique articles OF
virtue, Is guarded by armed soldier
OF the republic, and tho same con.
dition exists at the other palaces, at
Mukden, Jehol and elsewhere.
The Manchus were ousted from the
palace Of the Forbidden City, Yuan
Shi Kai having decided to move this
presidential quarters there. The royal
establishment has been removed, or. Il
might be said, practically driven to the
summer palace, some miles outside OF
Picking. Were It not for the donations
fortune actual starvation would GER
tainly invade the household Of the de-
throned child emperor.
Inside information has come to light
regarding the negotiations by which
the Manchu dynasty was brought TO an
h reins Of government after the
regent resigned, grimly resented all
suggestions Of abdication fov a long
time while revolution and turmoil
swept the land. Yuan, having a deep
n Of personal injustice in onse-
quence Of the, disgrace into which he
had been flung by the royal house,
nevertheless, when called by the en-
press and the public jointly to give adj
vice. made suggestions which indicat-
ed a certain loyalty to the throne. That
Is to say, he declared that, while he
favored the establishment of a republic
eventually, he did not think the
Chinese people were ripe for self-gov-
eminent.
Old Retainer Bribed.
But when conditions SO clearly point
ed to the fact that the Manchu dynas-
ty would no longer be tolerated by the
Chinese people, Yuan planned to effect
O peaceful abdication. He made, how
ever, no Roadway until he won over to
his side an aged retainer Of the dow
age empress, In whom she was known
to repose the greatest confidence. 1t
Is declared hat this old retainer was
bought over to the side of the repub-
licans by the payment of 5000, 900, and
hat he earned this by persuading the
empress that the Manchu dynasty, for
all its long and wonderful history, had
come to ar end. @.t# .
One condition Of the ~abdication re-
served to the Manchu family all its
possessions OF Jewels, tapestries. cera-
mics and things of gold: it's palaces
n gardens. But with government
soldiers guarding them and refusing
the representatives Of the Manchu
family access. and with the govern
ment utterly falling In its promise to
pay an annual income Of 50, 900, 900, the
plight of the former imperial family
may soon become pitiable.