14th May.
Twere is a growing conviction among the more enlightened Chinese that the flight of the Court from Peking was a mistake, and the only prospect of settlement lies in its speedy return, We heard that the mpetor was very unwilling to leave the capital, and there seems little doubt that he is anxious to go back. Unfortunately the movements of the Court are controlled by Lu Chuanlin and his faction, and personal interest, combined with hatred of the
hope that a further attempt at resist-foreigner and probably some wild ance may still be made, decides such men to keep the Emperor in his present helpless captivity. It is imfir the Empress Dowager is aware possible for foreigners to know how
of the true situation, and to what extent she was responsible for the shocking events of last year. The channels through which all information reaches her are so tortuous and infected that it is very possible she is still kept in ignorance of the real causes that led to the taking of the capital, and is under an altogether false impression as to the designs of foreign nations. The hardships of the journey to Hsian, and the dreadful stories she has been told of the doings of foreign troops, make her shrink from leaving her present haven. But it is evident that the situation is becoming impossible, and some decisive movement on the part of the Court is necessary to save the dynasty. When the country is in danger or distress the Ruler who consults only his personal security instead of coming forward as the leader of his people, shows himself unfit for his high responsibility and runs a great risk of losing his throne. What we hear of the course of the negotiations in Peking goes far to show that the Foreign Powers are
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.