Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 3, 1888, Part I
No. 193.
Mr. Denby
to Mr. Bayard.
Peking, March 28, 1888. (Received May 5.)
Sir: I inclose herewith a copy of a recent decree issued by the Emperor.
I send it as a specimen of elevated Chinese composition. It exhibits commendable sentiments and is evidently intended to quiet the popular mind, which has been growing restive over recent expenditures.
I have, etc.,
future residence of empress dowager.
A decree.
Ever since our childhood, when we succeeded to the great inheritance, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has conducted the Regency with unremitting care by night and day, and during the ten years and more of her rule the Empire has been consolidated and its people have enjoyed happiness. Last year we received Her Majesty’s commands to assume the personal control of the Government, but she was graciously pleased to vouchsafe to our childish inexperience the benefit of her advice. When we reflect on the arduous exertions and the unremitting attention, extending to the minutest details, which our revered mother has bestowed on the Government of this great Empire for more than twenty years, during the present and preceding reigns, we feel night and day inward uneasiness and searchings of the heart at the thought that she had no place at her disposal wherein she might seek rest and enjoyment during the little leisure that was left after the discharge of the manifold duties of the state. The Western Park, which adjoins the palace, formed the residence at one time of [Page 285] the Emperor K’ang Hsi. Its buildings and grounds are still in good order, and with slight repairs it can be converted into a suitable retreat for Her Majesty.
The Emperor, K’ien Lung, assigned the Ta-pao-ên Yên-shou temple in Wan Shou-shan to the Empress Mother, and attended upon Her Majesty there at the celebration of three decennial birthdays. In reverential imitation of this commendable and happy precedent, we also propose to restore the grounds and buildings of the Ch’ing Yi-yüan at Wan Shou-sban, and place it at the disposal of Her Majesty for use on such auspicious occasions. Attended by all ministers of our court, we would at each decennial birthday there offer our congratulations to Her Majesty, as some slight token of our respret and dutiful affection. After repeated solicitations, Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to assent to this arrangement, and has issued the following decree:
“Ever since we assumed the Regency we have spent our nights and days in fear and trembling as if standing on the brink of a precipice. Though the Empire has now in a measure been restored to peace and happiness, still we have never relaxed our unremitting attention for a single moment. We are aware, however, that the Emperors of our sacred line have in the administration of their Government ever paid attention to the wants and sufferings of the people, and that the wanton license of former dynasties has been conspicuously absent in laying out their pleasure grounds, in the conduct of hunting expeditions, and in similar recreations. As the present proposal is intended as an expression of dutiful regard on the part of His Majesty, we can not endure the thought of offering undue objections to its acceptance, the more especially as the funds for the work will be drawn from our private savings, and will entail no expense or sacrifice on the country. Rumors, based on insufficient knowledge, are prevalent in the outside world on the subject, and suspicions are even entertained that this is the beginning of the gradual restoration of the whole summer palace. All this is very far from being in keeping with the anxious thoughts we cherish in the depth of our seclusion. The fact is that considerations of time and circumstance would not warrant a revival of the establishment of courts and the erection of public offices such as Yung Chang’s reign witnessed. Granting that the people have advanced in material prosperity, and that peace prevails within the four seas, there are still countless measures to be taken for continuing the glory of our predecessors and transmitting a worthy example to our descendants. Our duty is to select and endeavor to give effect to the more important of these, and we trust the nation will believe that our thoughts are directed to this object and not to the frivolities of pleasure and sight-seeing. The Emperor is now advancing to manhood, and the greatest respect he can pay to us will be to discipline his own body to develop his mind, to pay unremitting attention to the administration of the Government, and to love his people. Let not the present method of paying respect to us be made an opening for the gratification of future ease and enjoyment. It is our heartfelt hope that the ministers of the court will vie with each other in checking extravagance and in securing the attainment of good government.”
We feel it to be our bounden duty to pay implicit obedience and respect to Her Majesty’s commands by abstaining from the least show of laxity or extravagance. All our ministers, too, should consider it their duty to further her earnest exhortation by directing all their energies to the discharge of their public functions and the promotion of the public welfare. The works in the Western Park being now nearly finished, we have selected the 20th of May next as the day on which Her Majesty will take up her residence there. The arrangements respecting her staff of attendants and guards will be based upon the regulations previously drawn up by the princes and ministers.
Let this decree be promulgated for general information.