Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, NOV. 19, 1898. The Chinese Difficulty.

Manawatu Herald, 19 November 1898, Page 2

Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, NOV. 19, 1898. The Chinese Difficulty.

As we may soon be involved in war, the cause for which may arise in China, it is well worth attempting to solve the riddle of the personality of those Chinese now coining before thp world. The present Emperor of China is, as far as we can glean, no relation of the Emperor who died in January 1875, but is Tsai-tion, a son of Chun who was the seventh son of Taoc Twang, who was npphaw of Prince Kung. Thi3 dignitary hap held many important offices in the Empire, having been chief of the regency in the year 1865. As the present Emperor wag married in 1889, the Dowager-Empresa was the wife of the Emperor who died in 1875 and is the aunt of the present Emperor, and may have but little patriotic interest in her country. Li. Hnng-Chang in 1860 when he cooperated with General Gordon in the suppression of the Taeping rebellion, was Governor of the Thiang-Sin province. Another province having been added to his rule he was, in the year 1865, created Viceroy of the United Countries. The following year he was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary, and a Grand Chancellor, in 1868. After the Tien-Tsin massacre in which the French consul, Eoman Catholic priest", 22 Sisters of Mercy, and 80 children of the orphanage met th eir deaths, with it is said, the complicity of the authorities, he wad despoiled of his titles, but the late Emperor restored him to favour and the office of Grand Chancellor. Quite lately be was Viceroy of the Metropolitan provinces of Pechili, and as such was the actual ruler or chief administrator of the Chinese Empire. We have now Li-Hung Chang and the Dowager-Empress working together and chiefly in the Russian interest. It is well to remember that the young Emperor is practically a prisoner at Pekin, after having issued certain reform decrets, which have been rescinded since, and the Emperor apparently heard of the plot to depose him and therefore bid his trusty servant Kang»Yu-Wei to fly while there was time and to endeavour to obtain trora the British government protection for the Emperor, himself, and the reform leaders. This person is now under British protection, and, to show how the feeling lies, Li Hung-Chang's family are at Port Arthur where it will remain under the protection of Buesia. A reign of terror is said to

prevail in China for all who hold progressive tendencies and wholesale arrests have been made. Though all the Continental Powers have recognised the regime of the Dowager Empress, it is reported that Great Britain, the United States, and Japan are disposed to question the constitution of the government as now established on the ground that it is an open usurpation. The Emperor and the reform party having been eclipsed the Chinese officials who are notoriously opposed to England, are said to have sent to the Throne a strong protest against the convention with England, whereby territory was ceded for the purpose of improving the defences of Hong-Kong, and to send forces to resist occupation of the ceded territory by the British authorities-