CHINA'S RULERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 277, 17 November 1908, Page 2

CHINA'S RULERS.

empress also dead. *OIL PLAY SUSPECTED. Received 10, 9.35 p.m. Pekin, November 10. 1 he Dowager Empress of China died 011 hundHj. No trouble is anticipated owi her ucmise. Her unexpected death so s„on n ( tc r the issuing of a decree appointing p U yi Emperor and Prince t'nun Regent excites suspicion of foul play in Pekin. According to Prince Chun, shortly before her death she advised him to consult the new Empress on all serious questions, but all accounts agree that this lady is a complete nonentity. THE LATE EMPEROR. VIOLATING PRECEDENT. EXTENSIVE MOURNING.

Received 10, 0.35 p.m. Pekin, November Id. The late Emperor apparently died of neurasthenia. After lying in a state of coma since Thursday, he recovered consciousness 011 Saturday, and refuted to be removed to the "Pavilion of Peaceful Longevity," thus violating precedent. He expired without donning the proper robes or indicating the site of his mausoleum. A hundred days' mourning will be observed for the Emperor, and twentyseven months in the case of the Dowager Empress. FROM SLAVERY TO A THRONE. THE DOWAGER EMPRESS.

Tsze llsi, Empress of China, may fairly be called one of the most wonderful women in history. A female ia & country where girl iiabiea were generally killed, and* where it is an undisputed proverb that "the most ideally excellent daughter is not equal to a splayfooted son," she yet rose from abject slavery to wield despotic power over an empire of four hundred million subjects. Her father was a Manchu official | who fell on evil days, and the girl Tsise, according to the common story, told herself into slavery to keep the family pot boiling. Her opportunity came in 1818, when the Emperor Hien Fung, like King Ahasuerus of old, issued a proclamation that the fairest virgin in hie kingdom should be brought before him, in order tliat he might choose ft secondary wife who perchance would bear him a son. Out of -thousands oi candidates the ambitious slave girl was chosen as one of ten. Like Esther, she went in uuto the Emperor and found favor in his sight. She was then 17 years old, and she was not more than 20 when the birth of Fung-Chi gave her the proud .position of mother of the

future Emperor of China. There have been different estimate! of her moral character, but small dissension on the subject of her greatness. "She is one of the great women of the world, and will go down to history at the compeer of Catherine, Elizabeth, and Victoria," said on American statesman, formerly Minister to China. Da the death of Hien Fung, In 1859, the was joint regent with the late Kmperor'a prinoipal wife during the long minority of Fuug-Chi, who was only five years old when he came to the throne. When he "became the guest of Heaven," without issue, in 1876, his cousin, Kwang-Si, became Emperor, at the infant age of three, and the joint regeutship was continued, with Tsie Hsi as the predominant partner. In 1881 the other regent died, and Tsze Hsi ruled alone. Nor, when the young Emperor attained his majority, was Jier strong grasp of .power disturbed. She was the power behind the throne till 1898, when Kwang-Si, having imbibed notions of reform, broke loose from her restraint and endeavored to inaugurate a new era.

Within a few months iliis vermilion pencil gave the imperial sanction to a succession of edicts which, had they been carried into effect, would have effected u transformation in China as complete as that which happened in Japan. Naturally there were loud murmurs from the official classes at these suggested innovations, and the Emperor, suspecting Tsze Hsi of fomenting 'he discontent, took steps to seize her person and deport her into the interior. He had reckoned without the army, which was favorablo to the reactionaries. By a clever slroka the Dowager Empress lmd tho Son of Heaven arrest* cd by soldiers in hU own palace, and while he was in her .power a decree was issued in his name declaring that he waß iiMiapablo of governing, a nd begging her to resume the guidance of affairs. Despite her years, she has ruled in undisputed power ever since. THE DYNASTY. The Chinese Imperial family is of Mttiiclm origin. The dynasty, i n fact, dates from I(H4, and is styled' Ta Ch'ing Ch'ao ("Great Pure Dynasty"), and Kuang-hsu is the ninth of the line; but the official genealogy is carried back six generations earlier than the real founder. The rule is that a son or nephew or mule relation of the next younger generation, designated by the Emperor just deceived, shall succeed.