THE COLONIST. Published Daily —Mornings. Nelson, Saturday, October 1, 1898. THE POSITION OF CHINA.

Colonist, Volume XLI, Issue 9291, 1 October 1898, Page 2

THE COLONIST. Published Daily — Mornings. Nelson, Saturday, October 1, 1898. THE POSITION OF CHINA.

As long ago as December last a residen fc of Shanghai wrote to the 'Spectator' commenting upon changes that were taking place in China. He said, " there are more evidences now of China's awakening than ever before. ... The awakening is coming, and the way in which the Chinese are holding out their hands asking help to the foreigner in their midst is very touching. But it must not be forgotten that Russian advisers have been urging upon the young Emperor, the duty of strengthening his position by supplanting all Chinamen in positions of trust by Mantchus or Tartars, and that the last appointment to the vice-royalty of Bzechuen, a province of the size of France, looks as if he were about to follow their advice, to do what must of itself, one would think, bring about a revolution. Also that this year, on China's New Years Day, the greatest of all the Chinese year, there is an 6clipse of the sun. The stars seem fighting in their courses against the Mantchu Dynasty." The writer of the letter urged England to show herself the true friend of China, and said the people all along the Yangtse Valley had long been looking for a saviour of society, and askingwould not the English rule over them ? He then referred to a prophecy contained in the "T'ui pei t'u," a bcok published some five hundred years ago, but at present esteemed so dangerous. a possession that not a printed copy is to be had — Europeans having been known to burn copie3 rather tha.n run the risk of having one found in their possession. The prophecy was to the effect that in the year that began in last January China was to be partitioned among five people, and the correspondent quoted stated the Chinese, in their pigeon English, were saying " Russia have top side, and Frenchman he wantohee more Tonquin side, now German man he take Chowchow Bay, Mellican man and Englishman must wantchee something. So fashion five people." It certainly does look very much as though the prophecy in question is about to be fulfilled, and Russian intrigue seems to be hastening the breaking up of the old Empire. The young Emperor has not proved sufficiently plastic in the hands of the Russians, and since the dismissal of the crafty Li Hung Chang a plot has been successfully carried out to wrest the power from his hands. It has been said that sometimes the mere fact that a prophecy has been made, leads to the verification of the predictions and it is interesting to observe that the coup in China followed an interview between the Marquis Ito, the Premier of Japan, and the Chinese Emperor. There may have been a dread lest Japan might prove the fifth Power to participate in the partitionment of China, but however that may be the Dowager Empress boldly unsurped the positiou of the Emperor, by proclaiming restoration of the Regency. The Emperor Euang fisii succeeded when he was little more than three year 3 old, and thereupon two wives of the Emperor Hienfung were ap- j pointed Regents. One of these Dowager Empresses has since died.

and it is the other who was mother of the last Emperor, who has now declared the Regency restored. Tbe step is a preposterous one, seeing that the Emperor is now twentyeight years of age, and a married man \ but the Dowager Empress is a woman who maintained control over the young Emperor— though of late years he Bhowed a desire to throw this off — and she is a wonian of considerable force of character and ability. She has always regarded Li Hung Chang as her right hand supporter, and to his recent dismissal may doubtless be traced the step which the Dowager Empress has taken. Li Hung Chang has shown himself favorable to Russia, and antagonistic to British interests, therefore deyeiopinenta will be watched with keen interest.