THE REAL LORD OF CHINA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3088, 9 January 1909, Page 4

THE REAL LORD OF CHINA.

It would be interesting to know what part was played in the successful intrigue against Yuan-Shi-Kai, by the notorious eunuuh Li-Lien-Ying. One of the first important acts of the new regime was the arrjst of Li for meddling with affairs of State, and Li would take the first opportunity of retaliating against Yuan, who was doubltess at the back of his arrest. The palace eunuchs have bden one of the curses of Chin?. For a thousand years their intrigues and treason have inflicted incalculable misery on the millions of China, and have brought monarchs and dynasties to the ground. Li. by acquiring supreme influence over the Dowager Empress, was the real ruler of China for nearly thirty years. The Dowager Empress entrusted everything to him, and never was a person punishe 1 in any way within the Forbidden City without his approval. No appointment could be made without money being put into the pocket of Li and the Dowager. Li sowed the saeds of enmity between the Emperor and the Dowager Empress, and the Emperor's imprisonment and deposition was carried out by Li's orders. With Yuan-Shi-Kai, a sworn eaemy of the eunuchs, out of the way, the debasing influence of these men may again mould the destinies of China. Quite a number of them are said to have graduated in Li's school of evil.