Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-17

a.
stated that it was impossible for him
to hand over the country to the en-
peror. He pointed out that he had
been elected to his present position
republic that he would return his
trust. LANG made a further attempt
to persuade him, but the president
again refused. Apparently having
Hsun. and feeling that they were losing
valuable time. they left the president
and made their way to the part of
the palace wherein resided the imperial
family.
There they were rnet by Chang Hsun.
who, after being informed of what had
happened, went to the residence of the
emperor and awakened the household.
he had come to place the boy emperor
on the throne. and requested that he
be awakened and brought to the
throne room.
Begs Chang Not to Act.
Shu. an aged Manchu. controller of the
imperial household. pleaded with Chang
Hsun to desist from carrying out his
mad scheme. His pleadings were in
vain, Chang Hsun waving him aside.
telling the empress to fetch the en-
peror. Shin Shu. in a last attempt to
turn Chang Hsun from his purpose.
kowtowed to him. and did it so many
times that the continual humping of
his head on the stone floor caused the
blood to flow from his forehead and
nostrils.
The two expresses. Ching and Yu,
also pleaded with Chang not to sac
rifice them to his ambitions. They ex-
planned that they had lived in peace
and quiet since the establishment of
the republic. and that they had given
up all hope of ever again ruling the
country But Chang would have none
af To had fa mn q MI q r n
on the throne, and on the throne he
would be put. Surrounded by the men
who had just left the palace, and with
a few others who were with Chang
Hsun. the young emperor was taken
from his bed to the throne room and
there seated on the dragon throne
which had been occupied by SO many
of his illuStrious ancestors. including
monty known to the Chinese as the
artist emperors on account of their
great love of art.
Emperor Placed on Throne.
No. preparations having been made
for the enforcement, the ceremony
was of the simplest. All those present
went on their knees and kowtowed
nine times, then Frustrated themselves
and kowtowed nine times again, this
being done until they had repeated it
nine times. With this simple cere-
mony Hsuan Tung became Emperor of
China. not because he wished it-not
because he had any ambitions to again
| rule the people that his forefathers
| had ruled with an autocratic hand for
| nearly 2T0 years. but because it was
willed by an impetuous and over
| Jealous military leader DESTROYS. of Sc
| curing his own ambitious ends.
I am informed that the emperor hard
! ly understood what it was all about
and felt greatly relieved when he was
able to return to his chamber and
| finish the slumbe which had been so
! suddenly disturbed.
| Such is the story of the enthrone-
| ment Of China's boy emperor. The re-
| public. for which so much blood was
| split before 1t was secured, was swept
! away. The old order of things, the
! old customs and etiquette, were to be
revived. the old penal code, with it's
| beheading and torture, were to come
back into force. Chang brought off
the coup without any consultation with
| the provincial leaders, and the only
| forces to depend on were the few
troops he brought to Picking with him
and the few Manchu troops who had
been guarding the summer palace and
| the approaches thereto.
While the military governors were
strongly opposed to the manner in
| which the president dismissed Tuan
Chi-jui and the conduct of parliament
they were all strongly opposed to any
change in the form of government
| Gen. Tuan Chi-jui told the writer a
few days before the enthronement that
should Chang Hsun attempt to restore
the Manchu house or should the coun-
try be thrown into civil war that he
would come out to prevent the for
mer and to put down the latter. So
long things were quiet he did not
intend to take part in politics, consid-
ering that he had been very badly
treated by President Ii Yuan-hung
when he was dismissed by him.
procidapt We, yya,l,
The restoration was the result of
the weakness Of President Ii Yuan
hung. He was warned that if he gave
, in to Chang Hsun's demands he would
lose all power and would become a
puppet in his hands. This came to pass
President Ii Yuan-hung became a pris-
oner in the palace. Hislseal was taken
away from him and his name was at
tached to documents of which he knew
nothing.