The-Hong-Kong-Weekly-Press-1900-06-23 — Page 5

June 28, 1900.]..

THE EMPRESS DOWAGER.

[Contributed.]

The Empress Dowager of China is beginning to experience the effects of that Nemesis, which sooner or latter attaches itself to those who have disregarded the rules which nature herself has placed for our guidance. The throne of an usurper is seldom a bed of roses; and the woman who has transgressed all laws, human and divine. who, in the pursuit of the lowest passions of human nature, poisoned her first charge in the person of the unhappy Tung Chi and after setting up another Emperor whom she vainly hoped to make the creature of her crimes, has equally tried to remove him from her path, has now to learn that there is a Providence that shapes her ends, rough-how them how she might.

CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.

of

embezzlement, and determined rather

425

THE CRISIS IN CHINA.

"DAILY PRESS

11

SERVICE OF TELEGRAM).

SHANGHAI, 15th June, 6.1 p.m.

The British Legation and mission build- ings on the western hills outside Peking have been burnt down. The telegraph wires have stopped working at Tientsin.

+

SHANGHAI, 16th June, 11.5 a.m. At Tientsin yesterday three chapels were burnt down in the native city. The railway line has received further damage. The na- tives are leaving foreign employ.

occult influence being brought to bear to secure | beyond bounds, and the band of I-Ho Chuan his own degradation, the Prince, at last waking absurdly given the name of "Boxers," has pro- up to his own danger, determined to get rid ved no exception. It has had the audacity to of this shameful parasite; by what means reach Peking itself and even to nestle under the it was done is unknown, but certainly eyes of the Dowager. But the institution which the mock eunuch was one day taken suddenly at a distance was faithfully carrying out the ill. and after a few hours agony expired, and Empress's own views does not seem so pleasant almost equally quickly was quietly interred. when brought nearer her door. The I-Ho That there was little doubt that Junglu was Chuan has in fact displayed some opinions so concerped in the murder the Dowager felt, but destructive of order in general, that even the she had made him too powerful to be able to Empress is beginning to find the power she has act; urwisely she threatened him in her dis-evoked is rapidly passing her feeble means of re- tress. and Junglu, too weak for open revenge, pression; she has in fact sown the wind, and is yet now too powerful to be left out of considera- now reaping the whirl-wind. For the woman tion. remains in that most dangerous of positions, herself we have no regret; but what is to become a hated minister. Nor is this the last of the of the unfortunate Empire she has so basely be- troubles gathering round the head of the guilty trayed? Meanwhile we may ask with some per- woman. With all the craft and the ambition of tinence which is our fleet doing? Danger is the vulgar upstart the woman is yet devoid of brewing all along the Yangtsze. The crisis is these instincts of government which are especi-grave, will probably be graver, and though we Since that day in September 1898, when with ally necessary for successful rule, when the have done so far reasonably well with the forces the connivance of that other arch-enemy to his occupant of a throne has no legitimate title to at our disposition, we would like to see then con. country, the ignoble Li Hung-chang, the well- show. The Boy-Emperor had seen the folly siderably increased-both in men and vessels. meaning boy-Emperor Kwang Hsu was de- of the feeble attempts that had been made by throned from the seat of his ancestors, and his predecessors to get rid of the bugbear of immured an unhappy prisoner in his own foreign ascendancy at Peking, and had noted palace grounds, the usurper has probably that every attempt made by violence and fraud of happiness. to get rid of the approaching danger had only not enjoyed a single hour The

great Viceroys, though they fear had the effect of strengthening the yoke. At ed that greater evils might arise did they, first it was only England, but as time progressed even in the name of the Emperor, raise the the more weighty hands of Russia and Germany standard of revolt, took care that the Dowager began to press heavily. Owing to the entire should recognise their detestation of the crime; absencefany military forces, a state of affairs the foreign Powers stood aloof from the intrad- largely brought about by the unblush'ng ex- ing woman who had violated her trust; and actions al misappropriations of Li Hung-chang Japan, when she was about to strike the final and the Dowager herself, he saw tha China blow by ending the existence of the victim she

was in no position to carry on war, and that it had persecuted, boldly told her it would be at would be wiser to follow the example of Japan, the peril of another war. These troubles per who in her weakness had set herself to reform haps were foreseen and accepted; they little the evils under which she was suffering. affected her daily life, and as long as they did Japan had earned the respect of the not, the Dowager was not a woman to be cast world, and was now sufficiently strong to be down by them. Worse, however, was in store; reckoned with, while China was the sport of Peking on Thursday reported that the prisoner as he is the Emperor has not been every wind. The Dowager and her henchman Boxers rose on Wednesday night, the 13th without private friends who have been able to Li saw in this the end of their own power inst., and commenced burning the Roman make the traitress's life a misery; in hourly dread of poison or assassination she moves about to follow out the old course, which placed Catholic Cathedral, the Protestant Mission her palace, or wearied of life finds no better dis-

no restraint on dishonesty; the people at buildings, and the Imperial Maritime Cus- traction from gnawing care than witnessing large was to be made to believe itself anti- toms Mess, and killing hundreds of native those interminable Chinese plays, one of which foreign, and a crusade was to be got up against Christians and foreigners' servants. may last a week. Even here the work of her foreign innovations. Such was the new policy Further rioting is proceeding. It is enemies has found its revenge in cutting to be adopted; it answered admirably the Dowa-feared that the Imperial troops intend to off her paramour, the pretended eunuch ser's views, and justified her reactionary mea Li. for whom in proportion to his worthlessness

sures. Everything was to be restored to its oppose Admiral Seymour's column. she seems to have entertained the nearest

old position as in the days of Hiengfeng approach to affection of which she was capable. and of all the things to be restored the The use her lover made of his mistress's favours sweetest in the woman's eyes of the intruding is only too well known; the Empire indeed was Empress were the abuses. Here was a chance not rich enough to suffice his insatiable greed, for everyone to make himself rich at the expense and the amount he succeeded in piling up in a of his neighbour: the signal was made and every time of the Empire's sorest need is a fair in-official in the Empire knew that his time for dication of what China could do under even an enrichment had come; but he knew likewise Even this that those above him had first to be served, and ordinarily honest administration. poor solace to a miserable existence was, however, that his own existence depended on his ability to be denied to the wretched intruder; strong to made good their demands. A word had only for evil, the would-be Empress had not the however, to be found to bring in the people, power to preserve her own paramour-almost in

and this was quickly discovered in incit her arms the lover was poisoned, and his ing them in turn to the plunder of the mistress, knowing well his murderer, was yet foreigner, who, they were given to understand afraid to strike. Next to the lover Li, her

was robbing them of the fruits of the land. cousin Junglu was the object of this second The Dowager Empress, too ignorant to under- Messalina's attentions. Actively assisting in stand the teachings of history, and too prejudi- the intrigue by which she suppressed the ced to read aright the events of the last twenty Emperor. Junglu became for a time the re-

years, lent her weight to the movement; officials cipient of all the favours at the disposition of in secret despatches were given to understand the Dowager. How this promotion was used that it had her good-will, and that those who the world is witness; all worthy officials, as far opposed it would be treated as enemies of their as the two could contrive, were got rid of, and country. As in like appeals to the mob at all their places filled with creatures of the palace. times the effect was rapid; when the mob found Junglu is a Manchu, but had never distinguish that their first outrages met with no disfavour ed himself in any postion. He and his mistress from their official superiors, the love of blood however conceived the idea of restoring to power and plunder for its own sake was not long in the effete successors of the conquerors of three following, and the flame of disorder has quickly centuries ago, and Manchu officials, whose sole spread through the northern province. The recommendation was the name they bore, were process of bating missionaries was however slow; intruded into important positions in every pro- they were comparativly few in number and afford- vince of the Empire. The attempt was, however, ed little plunder. Christian converts there were a failure, not from any want of will, but from in greater numbers, and some of them were weal- the sheer incompetance of the intruding officials, thy enough to afford the temptation for plunder, who found themselves unequal to cope with the and it was easy to cloak the love of plunder un- more astute Chinese with whom they came in der the mask of patriotism. But even plunder- contact. But even Junglu, subservient as he ing Christians is apt to grow tedious, especially had been to the merest whim of the Dowager, as there were not many rich men amongst them, found he had to draw the line at the aspirations and as their hand was in, it was simple to turn of the pretended eunuch, who, not content with it against those who had committed the crime All this his private stealings, sought to exercise real of having something to plunder. government, and interfere in affairs of state be- might have gone on indefinately, but that these tween him and the Regent. Jealous of the subversion principles have a habit of growing

SHANGHAI, 17th June, 4.59 p.m. The Boxers have cut the railway behind Admiral Seymour's Column, stopping the Tele- provision train from reaching him. graphic communication with Tientsin has stopped.

A Chinese report is circulated to the effect that Admiral Seymour's men are en- gaged with the Chinese Imperial troops.

It is reported that the China Merchants' Steam Navigation Co. intend to transfer their steamers to a neutral flag.

MANILA, 18th June, 10.32 a.m. The Ninth Infantry has been ordered to proceed to China. More Marines are leaving Manila this week for the same destination.

SHANGHAI, 18th June, 3.40 p.m. Chefoo reports that the combined fleets occupied Taku North Forts yesterday after exploding the magazine. H.M.S. Algerine was damaged, two officers and four men being wounded.

Japan and Russia are reported to be landing a large force of troops. All is quiet

at Chefoo.

SHANGHAI, 18th June, 9.50 p.m. The Forts on both sides of the Peiho River have been captured. The Chinese fired without warning. The losses were :-Killed, one British, one French, three Germans, sixteen Russians; Wounded, four British, one French, seven, Germans, forty-five Rus- sians. Chinese torpedo-boats have been Beized.

The news to-night is that General Yu-lu has been degraded and ordered to submit