Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-10-02
PROUD MANCHUS Of
ANCIENT CHINA IN
Dire STRAITS NOW
Republic Promised Old Royal Family
$3,ooo,ooo, But So Far Ha.
Failed to Provide
Money. IN

Picking, China.-Despite the promise
of the Republic OF China thai the de-
throned imperial family of China
should have So, 900, 900 a year for the
maintenance of its establishments and
servants, actual poverty has invaded
h household of the great Manchu
family that fer TWO centuries and a
half ruled China and knew only mag
nificence and luxury. The dethroned
child emperor, the three women named
as dowager expresses since the death
OF the remarkable dowager empress
who so long held iron sway in the last
decades of the empire, their courtiers
and servants nave been for many
months virtually dependent upon the
private charity of President Yuan Shl
Kai.
OF the 49, 0o, 900 annual income prom,
ised the Manchu family on ~abdication
nearly two years ago, only about $780,
time of abdication and was swiftly
swallowed in h paying OFF Of old re-
tatners in the course of reducing the
huge imperial establishment.
lmperia; Treasures l~mpounded.
The Manchu family might still face
the world without thought of poverty
II 1t could gather it's entire possessions
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 the same con
dition exists at the other palaces, al
Mukden. Jehol and elsewhere.
The Manchus Were ousted from the
palace of the Forbidden City, Yuan
Sht Kat having decided to move this
presidential quarters there. The royal
establishment has been removed, or. II
might be said, practically driven to the
Picking. Were it not for the donations
of President Yuan from his personal
fortune actual starvation would cor
tatnly invade the household of the de-
throned child emperor.
Inside information has come to light
regarding the negotiations by which
the Manchu dynasty vas brought 10 an
end. The dowager empress. who took
h reins of government after the
regent resigned, grimly resented all
suggestions of a%bdication fov a long
time while revolution and turmoil
sense Of personal injustice in conse-
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-
gu d certain loyalty u tle, LHTOIle. lIldt
Is to say, he declared that, while he
favored the establishment of q 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
q 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 h greatest confidence. II
is declared that this old retainer was
bought over to the side of the repub-
licans by the payment OF $500, 900. and
that he earned this by ~persuading the
empress that tie Manchu dynasty, for
all Its long and wonderful history. had
come to an end.
One condition Of the a%bdication re-
served to the Manchu family all Its
possessions Of Jewels, tapestries, cera-
mics and things of gold; its palaces
and gardens. But with government.
soldiers guarding them and refusing
the representatives of the Manchu
family access, n with the govern
ment utterly failing in It's promise to
pay an annual income of So, 1000, 900, the
plight OF the former imperial family
may soon become pitiable.