CHINA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 105, 6 May 1933, Page 13 (Supplement)

CHINA

THE RULE OF THE MANCHU (R. S.) The Manchu, or Manchoo, family were shown to bo descended from the Kin dynasty of about 400 years before this period. With the advent of this Ta-tsen dynasty camo the querie, the hirsute appendage better known as the “ pig-tail ” symbolical of Manchu dominion —recently abolished by the council of the Chinese Republic. Tho first Ta-tsen Emperor, Sunche, reigned for 17 years through stormy weather. He was a well-informed man anxious for the prosperity of his people, but narrow-minded and jealous of any imagined offence against his own regal dignity. A Russian envoy was sent to his Court, but, refusing to humble himself at the feet of the Chinese potentate, had to return to Russia without obtaining an audience. Suncho’s high estimate of his own importance failed to unduly extend his tenure of life and his son, Kang-he, became emperor in 1661. This celebrated ruler, the greatest of tho Manchu sovereigns, applied himself vigorously to the tasks of improving tho commercial outlook and strengthening the defences of China. A famous scholar and statesman, ho also shone as a soldier, though ho avoided warfare whenever possible to do so without compromising the honour of his government. He had, as he well deserved, a long reign (.1661-1721) and did much to promote tho security and prosperity of the country. The great Pekin earthquake, in which nearly half a million lives were lost, occurred in this reign. Kang-he’s son enjoyed the after-benefits of his father’s wise administration in a quiet, peaceful occupation of the throne for 14 years, dying in 1735. No two men could be more widely different in all mental attributes than the last Emperor and his son and successor in office, Keen-lung. Warlike, aggressive, and cruel, the new Em.* peror immediately summoned to his standard a formidable army and started on an offensive against the neighbouring nations. He succeeded in again annexing Turkestan East. Ho then unsuccessfully invaded Cochin-China and Burmah, where the natural defences of hilly country and heavy forest seem to have successfully baffled the attempts cf Chinese armies on many occasions. Keen-lung, on some pretext, declared war later on against the Gurkhas in Nepaul, and defeated and subjugated them. Meanwhile, his subjects within the empire limits were roused to rebclmany parts through cruelty and oppression. When Kansuh province, a stronghold of Mohammedanism in the north of China, rebelled against his authority tho rebels were severely defeated, and. Keen-Jung commanded that every Mohammedan over J 5 years of age should be executed as a reprisal.

. Keen-Lung exhibited extraordinary contrasts of character. A cruel and merciless tyrant, he was all through his life an unwearying writer of prose and poetry, much of which showed literary genius of a high order. Owing to complaints made by the East India Company of gross injustice to their agents and merchants in Canton King George 111. sent a representative, Lord McCartney, to enquire into the alleged grievances. Tho ambassador was well received and entertained, but no remedial action followed; tho evils continued.

Kca-King next reigned for 25 years. He was a prince of mulish obstinacy, quite unfitted for the exalted position. His bad government raised rebellion against his authority and encouraged a swarm of pirates .to start pillaging the littoral towns and districts. In 1816 another British ambassador, Lord Amherst, was sent to Peking; but, indignantly refusing to prostrate himself at the feet of this miserable effigy of imperial supremacy, he was ordered to leave Peking at once, to the malicious delight of the mandarins. Kea-King died, in 1820, leaving a disturbed and faction-torn empire to the care of the next Emperor, Taou-Kwang, whoso bearing, and many promises of reforms in government, raised hopes of better times in the breasts of his subjects. These were doomed to disappointment. Immediately Taou-Kwang ascended tho throne he laid aside all the cares and worries of his responsible position and devoted himself to pleasure and dissipation. He grievously upset the confident hopes of his people, and conditions, already bad, dropped to zero. In the island of Formosa, in the provinces of Honan, Kwangse, and in other parts of China, the fires of insurrection broke out, and the Imperial generals found the forces under their command quite inadequate for the emergency.

Again many complaints wore being made against the treatment suffered by the British at Canton. Tho Charter of the East India Company had expired, and next year (1834) Lord Napier was sent to superintend British interests at Canton. The fiendish ingenuity of the Chinese mandarins was at once put in operation to vex and harass Napier, who was probably as irascible and impatient of being obstructed as the other members of the great Napier family. Prostrated by fever brought on through the incessant scheming and devilry of those creatures the British representative died in a few months.

At last, in 1839, came the British war against China—too long delayed, but now started under circumstances that were far from creditable to the British Cabinet. There had been a constant and increasing import of opium into China through tho agency of the East India Company, and British merchants at Canton. The Chinese mandarins had protested and opposed this trade and at last, by permission of tho British agent at Canton, they seized and destroyed 20,283 chests of opium. When it came to the question of the agreed compensation being paid to the merchants the Chinese refused to pay up, and the British Government, being unable to obtain settlement in any otherway declared war. In the ill-treat-ment and insults to which their merchants and representatives had been

subjected there hud been ample cause given for war against China, but the justice of the teasons fur the declara-

tion of war in 1839 is, at least, questionable.

Hong Kong fell into the hands of tho British, and immediately after Canton, Amoy, Ningpo, Shanghai, and other ports were taken by our troops uu lej Sir Hugh Gough. When it became evident that Nanking, the southern capital, would soon follow tho fate of the other cities the (hinese hastened to arrange peace terms. H? ng Kong had to be cede a to the British, and four ports —Amoy, Foo-chow, Ningpo and Shanghai—were declared open to foreign trade and an indemnity of 21 million dollars (the American trade dollar of 420 grains was formerly coined ifi the States for export to the Asiatic nations).

In 1850 Taou-Kwang “ascended on High” and was succeeded by his son, Hoen-Fung. Unfortunately for the Chinese people the new Emperor possessed all the tyrannical and sensual cravings of his father to an intensified degree. The limit had been reached—the patient endurance of the people was exhausted, and the flame starting at Kwangse, spread to the great centre provinces, Hoo-pih and Honan, and for want of a capable leader languished for a time; but the embers smoldered on—waiting opportunity. A youth entitled Tecn-tih, “Heavenly Virtue,” had been proclaimed Emperor, but ho proved incapable and for a time it seemed likely that the revolt would be effectually stiffled by the imperialists through superior strength of arms and bribery. Suddenly a real leader, Scw-Tseuen, camo to the rescue of the rebels, and soon became the recognised leader of an enormous following. A man of energy and determination he declared himself a convert to tho Christian faith, and loudly announced that he was sent by Heaven to drive the Man chu Tatar rulers, and tho hordes who followed them, out of China. He assembled his rabble army at Kwangse, and marched through Honan and Hoopih, defeating every arm sent against him. Not satisfied with the capture of a number of important cities Hung made Nanking, the southern capital, his next, objective and, after a fainthearted show’ of resistance, it surrendered and the rebel army took possession.

Hung now had himself proclaimed Emperor under the title, Tccn-Wung, “Heavenly King.” He inaugurated the Taiping dynasty. For a few years tho self-elected Emperor seemed to have established himself firmly on the throne; his armies were victorious to the Yellow Sea on the east and northward to Ticn-tscin. The outlook seemed fairly free from stormy clouds but it was a deceptive lull. The British Lion had allowed petty insults and injuries at tho hands of the Chinese authorities without exhibiting any signs of resentment: and so it was that, the Chinese, true to the traditions of their race, mistook apathy for timidity and committed several outrages on British residents and travellers, that could no longer bo disregarded, and so, in 1857, war against China was declared.