may be remembered that, owing to the lack of finances and sinews of war, a number of Viceroys and Governors secretly memorialised Peking to be allowed to keep back for the time being the annual instalments for the payment of interest and capital on the various Foreign loans, According to news from reliable official sources we learn that this was refused and that large sums have since then been paid by the Viceroys {and Gorernors to the M, Customs toward the above purpose.
A LIBERAL MANCHU, According to the narratives of missionary refugees from Shensi province who have arrived here, it appears that they give unstinted praise to Tuan Fang (Manchu), Acting Gosernor of that province and Provincial Treasurer of the same, for the care and protection he gave to them en route from Shensi to the borders of Hupeh province. From what we already know of Tuan Fang during the attempt at reform of the Emperor at his action during the present crisis, as he roved himself an earnest Reformer and one of the Emperor's right-hand men amongst those of his race, very few and far between it must be confessed. We give below a summary of the official record of Tuan Fang: 1896, Senior Secretary of Board of Works. April 1898, appointed Taotai of the Pa-Ch'ang Intendancy of Chihli province. Aug. 1898, given tank of 3rd Metropolitan grade and made Administra-for-General of Board of Trade and Agriculture in Peking, which immediately after the coup d'état, September of same year, was suppressed, though Tuan Fang was allowed to celain his 3rd grade (equivalent to rank of Provincial Judye). Tu October, 1898, was accordingly appoint ed to the Provincial Judgeship of Shensi of which he was appointed Acting Governor only 13 months after.
This brief record may also show the great difference the Empress Dowager has shown in her treatment of Manchus and Chinese since the coup d'état, for it will be remembered that when the Board of Trade and Agriculture was inaugurated by the Emperor, his Majesty appointed two Chinese as Tuan Fang's colleagues holding the same 3rd Metropolitan rank, one of whom was Wu Muo-ting (Wu Jim-pah) an ex-Compradore of the Hongkong ant Shanghai Bank. When the above Board was suppressed the two Chinese colleagues were cashiered and dismissed, while Tuan Fang was allowed to retain his 3rd Metropolitan rank and was rapidly promoted afterwards that within 13 months he had become Acting Governor ofa province. This is only one instance amongst many which can be cited of the extreme partiality of the Empress Dowager and her Manchu counsellors for their race since her usurpation of the Government in 1898, the permanent fruits of which will soon be seen, matured as they have been by the recent cruel troatment suffered by members of the Chinese Party at Peking.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.