A correspondent, who is publishing in the Times the opinions
formed during years of close observation of China, gives us on Friday some interesting details. He does not consider a ruling and active Emperor impossible, for such a one existed before the long reign of the women caused by the occurrence of two successive Regencies, during which the " Queen- Mother," described as a Chinese Catherine II., has been the ruling spirit. The present Emperor, however, Kwang-Hsu, is not of the strong type, but a sickly, melancholy lad, re- markable chiefly for fits of temper, during which he smashes his furniture. Power still remains with the Empress- Dowager, whom, however, the Emperor does not like, and with two great Viceroys, Li-Hung-Chang and Chang-Chih- Tung. The former is well known, and is a crafty self- seeker who wishes to strengthen China, though he, has- accumulated an unprecedented fortune; but the latter is a haughty Chinese Tory, who became almost crazy with rage when peace was signed, and is entirely incorruptible, spend- ing, indeed, his own fortune in the public service. He rules at Nankin, and has, it is believed, a special hatred of Europeans. The war, says the writer, has produced no new man whatever, and he defines the total situation as "a moral bankruptcy." The only hope for China would be a Diocletian, and there is only Romulus Augustulus.
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