Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-05-11
Move for Manchu
Monarchy in China
Again in Evidence

Again IN Evidence
Tien- Tsin, April 14-(By Associat-
ed Press)-Rumors Of another at
tempt to restore the Manchu mon
archy by placing the captive boy En-
peror Hsuan Tung on the throne are
in the inner circles of this
center of Oriental statecraft. Hints
come from unknown sources that
such a move is to be made within the
next two months.
Speculation on this possibility pro-
vides one of the most fascinating
subjects of conversation among the
Chinese as well as among the foreign
ers. Here is the stage and the
throneless boy Emperor a star char
acter for the development of a plot
that may yet focus the worlds atten-
ton.
Anything is possible in Chinese pol
itics for upon Peking centers not only
the Earring ambitions of Chinese mil
itarists and politicians but a large
proportion of all the diplomacy OF
the Orient
The story of Hsuan, Tung is like q
tale of the Arabian Nights. Though
he is still a boy of Is years he has
twice been proclaimed Emperor and
twice has abdicated When he was
less than two years old he was made
Emperor by edict of the dying En-
press Dowager in 1908. With his
father, Prince Ching as Regent, the
infant was nominal ruler over 400,
100000 people for q little more than
three years. Then came the republic
with a President, Yuan h-kai, and
the boy still an Emperor, retired to
captivity within the walls Of the For
hidden City.
There he remained for five years
until in 1917, when he was yet only l I
years old, he was forcibly restored to
his throne by a coup d'etat of Gen
eral Chang Hsun who, it has been
charged, was the agent of a German
plot to prevent the Chinese republic
from taking a hostile attitude toward
Germany in the war. Another pur-
pose of the conspiracy is said to have
been to stop the sending of Chinese
NooliSS " ILuIo W liiS
French workers so that they could
be put on the fighting line.
This time the boy Emperor's reign
was brief. 1t lasted less than a week
and again he went back to the palace
of his forebears prisoner, and there
he has remained surrounded by 5000
or 1000 of the Manchu adherents
princes, enuchs and whispering old
women who long and probably plot
for the time when the little "Son OF
Heaven" shall again ascend the drag
on throne.
To support him and his household
of Manchus, titled and otherwise, the
Chinese republic pays an annual al
lowance of from 100000 to $4,000,
900 in silver and thus within the
heart of the capital city of the Chin
csc republic exists a strange group
which may at any moment become
the prey of ambitious military leaders
or the fulcrum of which they may
raise themselves to power.
The boy. still possessed of the title
of Emperor, leads a secluded life. He
is not permitted to pass beyond the
walls of the Forbidden City though
his heart longs for travel to the
Western countries of whose strange
sights and customs he has learned
from his tutors, three Chinese and
one English, the latter r. f. John
ston, a scholar and author
Hsuan Tung is described by those
who come in contact with him as a
bright youth of affable manners, stu
dious and interested in the outside
world and it's political movements
With the aid of his tutors he kept ir
touch with the progress of the Peace
Conference at Paris and the change.
on the worlds map which ensued.
Naturally. the Chinese classics are
his chief study, but he also ha.
learned English and derives delight
from his skill in penmanship. He is
deferential to his tutors and strictly
observes the rules of imperial con.
duct they have taught him.
Hsuan Tung is carried in his vel.
low sedan chair by 20 attendant.
to the palace of Heavenly Purity
where his English tutor gives hin
lessons. He loves exercise but hi
has little chance to crafty his wisl
within the limits of the palac,
grounds. If he goes to ride he mus
straddle a pony led at slow pac,
about the courtyard. Though HI
longs to see the distant parts of tn.
world, he is not even allowed to &C
rowing on the lake about the sum
mer palace To the youth of Amer.
lea accustomed to it's freedom hi:
position would be intolerable. Ye'
his disposition remains unspoiled.
Hsuan Tung has reached the age
when the question of his marriage IL
looming up. When Yuan Ehih kai
became first President of the Chin.
csc republic it was reported that the
boy Emperor had become betrothed
to the Presidents daughter to pro-
mote a plan to restore a monarchica
government with Yuan as Emperor
Not long ago it was reported that HI
was engaged to marry the daughter
of the present President, Hsu Shin
chang. It is said here the girl is be
ing educated in the United States
This would be in conformity with the
Chinese fashion of arranging mar
riages between children.
nDECnEN