August 18, 1900.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
NEMESIS AND THE RULERS OF his degradation at the vice-regal post of the
CHINA.
(Contributed).
More skilled in the
With
who
121
which more than anything else has turned the tables on the ignorant and fanatic Manchu. faction which has made its last bid for supre- macy in China.
THE CRISIS: TELEGRAMS.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS.]
SHANGHAI, 10th August, 10.10 p.m. A riot is reported at Tatung on the Yang- burnt. Probably the trouble is only local. tze River. Å telegraph station has been
The Pioneer reached Ichang on the 5th
refugees. instant from Chingkiang with a hundred
Liang-Kwang, where it was foreseen that success or failure would be equally fatal. That Li himself has been personally cognisant of the fact that the relegation to the Vicoroyalty of the Liang Kwang was intended as no honour has been apparent by his acts to all who knew It is indicative of the generally low organisa him personally in his powerful days; and there tion of the Chinese system of government that is no doubt that it was this feeling of sullen the present practical effacement of Peking as acquiescence in a fate that he knew was degrad- the governing centre of the Empire seems to ing that rendered his conduct at Canton so ut- produce no inconvenience in the provinces at terly inexplicable to those who did not understand large. This condition is, of course, not altogether the character of the man. peculiar to China, but is shared in a greater or routine work of government than his predecess- less degree by all Asiatic monarchies; but or, Li diminished, if he did not suppress, the China may fairly be said to represent the sys- external phases of open piracy, but he exhibited tem in its fullest development. To find an ana- logue we have to go to the lower forms of animal in his government, and indeed seems to have been little intention of restoring order generally with life, where as yet the cephalic system is imper- rather organising the elements of disorder, so fect, and where without inconvenienc to the life as to be useful to himself in case of emergency. of the organism the head may be completely Such is the only natural explanation of his severed from the remainder of the body. This parting arrangements with the well known curious break in the continuity of the body po- Black Flag leader Liu Yung Fu and others of litic, though it in the long run is likely to delay less respectable antecedents. In Chekiang or throw impassable obstacles in the way of res- province again, usually the quietest of the toring the Imperial power, has in the meanwhile whole eighteen, an incapable, or ill-affected, proved advantageous to hina at large; as where the local administration has been in the almost under his eyes, with the natural result governor permits outrages to be committed hands of capable men it has permitted the or- that the easiest governed province in the dinary functions of government to be carried on
Empire is in a state not far from revolt. with the least expenditure of friction. This is that peculiar infatuation, however, whià has more particularly the case in the great Yangtsze ever had the worst results for the common Provinces, where the presence of two able and interest it is noteworthy that men honestly disposed officials in the persons of their have had reiterated experience of thes facts Excellencies Liu Kung-Yi and Chang Chih- should, instead of communicating with those Tung really saved the Empire from shipwreck officials who, in very trying circumstances have at the hands of the truculent and ignorant Pe- been faithful to their trust. have preferred to king faction, who have taken their cue from deal with a man of such shady antecedents as the late Empress Regent. Turning from Li, and should thereby still further complicate these capable Satraps, there is a vast and an already sufficiently embarrassing position. steep decline to the other governors, ending in Of Li's present post we have absolutely no the sink of degradation into which the cunning, knowledge, and the assertion made by himself but otherwise incapable, Li Hung-Chan has and entirely unsupported by any evidence, would. permitted himself to be involved. Li's career be- even if substantiated. point him out as gan with an instance of cold-blooded and use- cipator in the treasonable plot of the ox-Regent. parti- less treachery, which, had England been fitly re- In spite of all this it is not reassuring to find presented at Peking, would for ever have barred that certain of the Governments interested have his further employment in public affairs. On been actually weakening their own position by the strength of Colonel Gordon's plighted word lending ear to these wild statements of a man the principal leaders of the Taiping rebels had whose least crime is that he is a deserter. Li consented to deliver up their last stronghold in has enjoyed the rôle so long of self-appointed the city of Soochow, thereby closing a move- mischief-maker-general to Peking that not un- ment that had devastated nearly one half of the naturally he has come to look upon the tenure Empire, and had but for the interference of the of the office as permanent, and has been trying English extinguished the Ta Tsing dynasty. with some success to represent himself as the Unfortunately, Gordon, not yet realising the accredited agent of the Government, whatever faithless character of the man, permitted the that may mean, at Peking. Of course, the prisoners to pass into the hands of Li Hung- majority of the Consuls in whose hands is placed Chang, who instantly, notwithstanding the the responsibility, in the absence of any accre- pledge of their life given by their real captor,dited ministèr, of carrying on negotiations have had them beheaded. What followed was char- recognised the true position, and have gradually acteristic of both men; while Li aware of the relegated Li to his proper position of a nonen- punishment due to the atrocity of the crime tity who has lost entirely the confidence of alunk away to avoid its falling upon his craven party; but meanwhile much damage bas been person, Gordon, it is well known, went about done by the shifting diplomacy of one or two armed for some weeks in the hopes of meeting amongst the number. Practically Li is at the with the ignoble perpetrator. Unfortunately moment a sort of prisoner on discret on, and if the British Minister. from motives of misjudged the powers hold together in regarding him in expediency, condoned the offence, and China
this light, little harm may eventually result from has ever since had to bear the burden of her old
the initial mistake; but unfortunately Li is a man of the mountain, in the person of the false, past master in the art of dissimulation, and has and as recent events have shown, traitorous Li.
80 many times succeeded in effecting a rift in It is edifying, in the light thrown on the situa- the councils of the European Powers, that he tion by the conduct of the angtsze viceroys, conceives that a similar victory is yet within to see how very different has been the action of his power of accomplishment. Meanwhile if Li. The Liangkiang have of late years not the European Powers can be content for been fortunate in their viceroys. An incapable, the moment to work together, and avoid the whose rule was marked by wide spread disaffec- temptation of seeking to enter into separate tion, was succeeded by Li Han-chang, an elder negotiations, there is now no real danger in brother of the object of our notice, of whom it sight for the common interest. The great body may be said that he possessed in the highest of the people have no stomach to be led into a degree the besetting sin of the Li family, an crusade against foreigners, which they already inordinate acquisitiveness, without their redeem.
see must result in an entire defeat. The cap- ing point of astuteness. Li the Elder's rule ture of the Taku Forts, and still more the des- was disastrous, and even Peking in spite of his truction of the proud city of Tientsin, has acted fat offerings found itself compelled to dismiss with infamy the too dangerous Viceroy. It, is the prevailing factor. There are now few as a powerful deterrent, and fear, not confidence. however, but substitued a king Log for a king ports that are not covered by one or more men-of- Stork in the person of the corrupt and incap-war of sufficient force to render all attempts at able Tan Chong Lin, whose neglect left the hostility hopeless, and the tacit support, which provinces in an equally explosive condition. at the beginning was afforded to the anti-foreign Li Hong-chang, who, in return for his share in party, is now rapidly changing to the more the Palace Revolution that had suppressed the practical feeling that after all there may be Emperor, and placed the truculent ex-Regent worse evils in store for its inhabitants than are virtually on the throne, had been relegated to concerned with the peaceful residence of a few the part of the fifth wheel of the governmental thousand foreigners scattered through the Em- coach, kept pressing his services on the new pire. This result was from the first foreseen regime. He was ignominiously sent to complete by the Yangtze Viceroys, and it was this fact
every
The Russians have defeated the Chinese attack and taken possession of New- chwang. The Taotai has fled westward.
Yangtsun on the 8th instant and is still The allied expedition to Peking took advancing.
It is reported that all the telegraph lines have been destroyed in Honan.
SHANGHAI, 12th August, 8.50 p.m. Chungking telegraphs to-day that the Viceroy is in receipt of stringent orders from Peking forcing all foreigners to leave Szechuan promptly.
There is a gathering rabble of soldiery at Chungking. Bishop Cassels and sixty re- fugees are expected daily at Chungking. Assistance is urgently required there.
It is reported that the Hunan troops who were going to Peking have been diverted to Shensi to protect the Empress Dowager.
SHANGHAI, 18th August, 7.54 p.m. The Szechuan Viceroy is much disgusted at the stories about the critical position of Chungking. He earnestly requests the Customs Staff to return, promising spcial protection.
There are grave fears that French jealousy prevents the landing of any Indian troops at Shanghai.
SHANGHAI, 14th August, 8.56 p.m. 10th, and Anping on Saturday, the 11th The Allies reached Hosiwu on Friday, the
instant.
Shanghai have arrived, but have not yet The British transports with troops for
lauded their men.
Chapels have been attacked at Hanyang and Hankow. No personal injury, however, has been inflicted on the Christians. The Viceroy promptly sent troops to suppress the rioters.
An ambiguous anti-Christian placard has been issued by Viceroy Chang Chih-tung but it has been removed on the Consuls making a protest.
SHANGHAI, 15th August, 8.40 p.m.
board have been ordered to sail for Weihai- The transports with the Indian troops on wei to-morrow (Thursday) morning, but there is still some hope that they will be allowed to land their men here.
The
Relief Column is approaching
The Allies will probably find that Little opposition is offered to its
Manchus have escaped from the
Peking. advance. the hostile
| city.
SHANGHAI, 16th August, 9.36 p.m. with the Emperor as her
It is reported that the Empress Dowager panion left Peking on the 6th instant for unwilling com- Hsian-fu, under the escort of Prince Tuan and General Tung Fuhsiang.
The Allies reached Tungehou on Monday, the 18th instant. The Chinese troops and the Boxers are much demoralised.