19th October.
AccorDING to the most trustworthy information, from high officials xt Hsian and other sources, that we have been able to collect during the past summer, the intention of the Court is to proceed as far as Kaiféngfa on the homeward journey, and there establish a new capital whence China is to be governed, only the relations of the Empire with foreign Fowers being transacted at Peking by the transformed Tsungli Yamen, the Wai-Wu-Pu. A foreign dipiomarist of high rank who recently left for home did not hesitate to say that he would be glad to hear that the Court remained firm in its refusal to return to Peking under the present conditions; this would show, he said, that there is a little backbone in the ruling Manchu clique, the great difficulty in dealing with the China Government being its invertebrateness. It is impossible to negotiate with any satisfaction with such a weather-cock as the actual Government of China.
There is no doubt that it was decided in a secret Council held not long ago that the capital should be transferred to Kaiféngfu. The depattare of the Court from Hsian may in accordance with this decision but it is equally possible that the Court, yielding to the urgent representations of the Peace Plenipotentiaries and the Yangtze Viceroys and other high officials of the Empire, has reconsidered its fixed and final decision, and will make ten or twenty more definite resolutions in as many weeks. All signs point now to the return of the Court to Peking; but those who know China know that when all signs point to a certain course, it will probably be rejected. A valued correspondent in the north, than whom no-one has a clearer insight into the political situation, sends us twelve good reasons for expecting the Court to return to Peking: but it must be remembered that good as they are, the passing mood of the Empress Dowager is stronger than all of them. The first is the discredit it must bring on the Court to refuse to return after having repeatedly fixed dates for going back; but it- is not to be expected that the Court will ever definitely refuse openly to return; it-will probably go on postponing its return on various pretexts as it has done all this year. The second is that there seems to be no satisfactory reason to give for failing to move. As to this, it may be remarked that a great many foreigners themselves hold that the fortification of the Legation area, however necessary it may seem after last year's experience, is a good excuse for the Empress Dowager to decline to return. Thirdly, it is known that the Court dreads the certain consequences throughout the Empire of continuing the present uncertainty and, fourthly, the Court dreads the uncertain consequences of the delay. Considering the crass ignor* ance of the ruling Manchu clique, the Court. probably dreads the uncertain more than the certain consequences. But these apprehensions would be equally dispelled by the Court's really finally making up its mind to remain at Kaiféngfu; only,.as we have said already, the Court is too gelatinous to finally make up its mind at all, The fifth reason given is the unsuitability of Kaiféngfu as a capital; acd though measures have been taken, and taken very forcibly and on a large scale, to dispel! this unsuitability, it is given us as the sixth reason that the so-called palaces at Kaifeng cannot possibly be prepared is time," Chines palases, however; can be eected much more quickly than European buildings for the same purpose; and under any cirenmstances, there is sufficient temporary accommodation atKaiféug. Seventhly i urged that there are definite signs of activity en route for the return; but when we consider what splendid pickings there are for those who are entrusted with the preparations, we cannot be surprised at these preparations being vigorously undertaken on the, slightest. hint that they are required. The eighth reason given is found in the repeated and precise assurances from Chinese, public and private, to officials and to private individuals that the Court is coming back. Every endea-your hasbeen made, we know, all along to persuade the foreigners in Peking that the Court is returning, and Peking isin the unique position among all the foreign centres in China of believing that the Court is coming back; and Peking ought to be well-informed.
Ninthly it is pointed out that considerable' sums are being expended in Peking on the repair of walls and buildings, especially in the Forbidden City. Our remarks on the seventh reason are equally applicable to this, and there are no doubt many honest and loyal officials to whom the; destruction wrought last year in Peking chiefly by - Boxers, and! Yung Lw's and lung Fa-hsiang's troops, is such a source of real sorrow that they are only too glad to see its evidences removed. The tenth reason given us is a really forcible one; it is, that the Tombs, Tablets, and Temples of the Dynasty clamour for the return of the Ru'er of the Chinese people. The rulers themselves are doubtless anxious to yield to this on to believe that they are preparing to give up to Russia the! Lambs, Tablets, and Tem. ples of the cradle of the dynasty, Moukden. The eleventh reason is the general expectation of the event on the part of the Chinese at Peking, public and private, and the twelfth is the like expectation on the part of man haps most—foreigners in Peking, arising from the foregoing. But in China as in the West it is true that "blessed are they that expect nothing, for they shall not be disappointed."
We published on Thursday morning a letter from our very well-informed Peking correspondent, dated the 8h instant, which contained the following paragraphs in reference to the return of the Court; they are worth reprinting here in connection with the twelve reasons given above:—
"There are more in ations that "the Court is really to return. Already several hundred carts have arrived from Hsian, carrying baggage and personal effects of the "Empress Dowager, the eunuch Li, and others, Notwithstanding the famine of i, not i ins, even by those who did nob openly enter on war. It may be assumed that officials desiring to be in favour with the Empress Dowager will fill her cof with wealth, and seek to make her days Prince is intending to start on the last of the month feng to he present, 1's birthday and to natiains of State. The return or non-return of the Court will depend very much on the advice given by hun, Tt bs expected that he will urge an immediate return, but he may be w in what ho w to say concerning the danger to the pa int proximity to the Legntion suns and fortifications, "Li Hung-chang is also hoping to meet the two Rulers, either going all the dis-more prob-far way extend:
Iso phinning to send of officials and two_ secretaries jostles their best wish Notwithstanding all these good reasons, we can only conclude that the Empress Dowager may go back to Peking, but that there is no certainty that she will, The reactionaries, knowing what they deserve, cannot but fear that when they pass through the Peking gateway, they may be walking into a trap; and it will be a triumph for the more enlightened members of the Government ifthe Court does return. That the Emperor longs to return is very probable; but for him the For-hidden City must be full of very unpleasant recollections. 1t has been his prison; we hope it will be soon again his throne.
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Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.