literati throughout the Empire, even in Canton and the
southern provinces, where, at the moment, Her Majesty was
not personally popular. The vernacular Press claimed it
as the most striking Edict in Chinese history. It combined
an eloquent appeal to the people to accept the principle
of reform together with a masterful justification of
China and her people vis-ὰ-vis the outside world.
It was most skilfully worded so as to placate all parties
in the State and thus to enhance the reputation of
the Old Buddha. The "Young China" party was particularly
enthusiastic, for by this Decree Her Majesty definitely
abandoned the principle of absolute autocracy which had
been for centuries the corner-stone of the Chinese system of
government. It was realised that so complete a departure
from the traditions of the Manchu Dynasty, of the Imperial
Clan and of all her previous convictions, could not have been
attained but for the bitter lessons of 1900, and, admiration
was therefore the more keen for the skill and courage with
which, on the verge of old age, she resumed the burden of
government in her ravaged capital. It was the ruling
passion bravely asserted, and the sympathy of the nation
could hardly be withheld from a ruler who thus bore her
share in the national humiliation, who so frankly accepted
responsibility for past errors and promised new and better
methods for the future.

It was, of course, inevitable, in the light of all experience,
that many of her subjects, as well as most foreigners, should
doubt her sincerity, and should regard this Edict, like many
others, as a case of "when the devil was sick." But gradu-
ally, after the return of the Court, as it became clear to her
immediate retainers and high officials that this self-confident
woman was really in earnest, and as she continued steadily
to impress her new policy upon the reluctant Clansmen, her
popularity with the people at large, and especially in the
south (where it had been much damaged by her fierce
suppression of the Cantonese reformers of 1898), was gradu-

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