The Foreign Powers have been equall surprising, complacent, and respectful, Not a word has appeared in print from any Minister addressed to the Plenipotentities which could be construed asa rebuke to the Dowager Empress:. Her satellites have been. denounced; the Chinese Government has been blamed and the Emperor has been required by the Protocol to make apology but the one deserving denunciation, meriting blame, and standing forth as. the conspicuous one who ought to apologise was at first unnoticed, and now is comprehended in the expression, "the Court," or "the two Palaces." It is taken for granted that she is the real Sovereign, the undisputed Regent. Some of the Legations are even speaking of guards of honour to escort her from the station to her palace.
There is one difference between the Chi-nose and foreign attitude to the Dowager Empress. The Chinese acknowledge that she is supreme, address her and speak of her as such; but the representatives of the Powers, while knowing that she is the reigning Regent, yet speak only of the Emperor, and hold relations or have audiences with him alone. If her Regency is to be allowed, the audiences and banquets should be with her, rather than the powerless Emperor.
A pitiful tale.
Itis to be feared that the gentleness of the Allied conquerors in their treatment of the Dowager will not be appreciated. Every writer from Peking, Dr. Martin, Dr. Morfison, Dr. Coltman, Dr. Reid, and Dr. Arthur Smith—with the exception of Sir Robert Hart and Mgr. Favier—has laid the blame for last year's calamity and out. rage other door. She knew what was bein, Tine Emperor wept in deepest regret, and hanned; she approved; she commanded. disapproved with all his heart. "Bub. the solace of time has come; those who suffered nothing have filled the places of the besieged; political motives prevail, and so she returns in safety, in honour, with banners flying, streets covered with' yellow dust, the Imperial gates repainted, the palace rooms cleaned and refurnished, and. the son of Prince Tuan, the Heir Apparent, Parracksand before the Legation spectators, passing under the walls of the Legation
into the palace.
The revenue, moreover, needed to meet an international indemnity, is turned into the Dowager's coffers or used -for- her glorification. Were the Emperor alone entering Peking, there would be no. sch expenditure; he would forbid it, and his word would he known to be sincere. Now he may head the procession, hut the Power will be still with her who for forty. years has had the dominating will in the Manchu Court at Peking. She has "pulled the wires" so well that now China and the world bend to her in the hour of, peace, though they fought her, plundered her, in the hour of conflict.
22nd November.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.