The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-13

fact that it quiet there was no dis play or
parade. no crowd of dusky servants and retainers
hanging around and looking as though at a
comedy. didn't think the Prince himself cared much
about eating. because he merely dawdled over the
birds nest soup aud did not touch the sharks fins.
Nor in fact did any of tho ministers, except one.
vino. in default of our remembering his Chinese
name and rank one OF the party called Ben Butler.
The dinner. as far the General was concerned.
merged into cigar. and the Prince toyed with
the dishes as they came and went. and smoked his
pipe.
THE PRINCE OF CHINA.
As princes go suppose few more celebrated
than Prince Kung. He is Prince of the imperial
house Of China. brother of late emperor and uncle
of the present He wore no distinguishing button
ON his hat. imperial princes being of a rank
allied that even the highest honor known to Chinese
nobility is too low for them In place of the latter
he wore y small knot OF dark red silk braid sewed
together to resemble a crown. His costume
of the ordinary Chinese. palmer if anything than
the officials His girdle was trimmed with yellow
and there yellow fringes and tasses attached to
his pipe. his fan and pockets Yellow is the impe-
rial color, and the trimming mark of princely
rank. In appearance the Prince of middle stature,
with sharp. narrow face, u high forehead-nade
more prominent by the Chinese custom of shaving
the forehead and changing. evanescent expression
of countenance. He has been at the head OF the
Chinese government since the English invasion and
tho burning OF the Summer Palace He was the only
prince who remained at his post at that time. and
consequently when the peace it devolved upon
him to make it. This negotiation gave him Euro
pean celebrity and knowledge of Europeans that
was Of advantage. European Powers have preferred
to keep in power prince with whom they have
made treaties before. In the politics Of
China Prince Kung has shown courage
died in 1861. council formed composed of
princes and noblemen of high rank. This council
claimed to sit by the will of the deceased Emperor.
The inspiring element hostility to foreigners.
Between this Regency and the Prince there
The Emperor was child-his own nephew; just
the present Emperor is a child. Suddenly decree
coming from the child Emperor reaa. dismiss
Ing the Regency, making the Dowager Empress Re-
gent and giving the power to Prince Kung.
ENERGETIC PRINCE.
This decree Prince Kung enforced with vigor deci-
and He arrested the leading members OF
the Regency. charged them with having forged the
will under which they claimed the Regency and SEN
fenced three Of them to death. Two Of the regents
were permitted to commit suicide but the other was
beheaded. From that day under the Empresses
Prince Kung has been the ruler Of China Under
the last Emperor the party in opposition succeeded
in degrading him. have read the decree Of degrade
ton as it appeared in the Pekin Gasete The prin-
cpal accusation against the Prince that he
had been naughty and overbearing-which
I well believe. The decree
sweeping and decisive The Prince was
degraded. deprived Of his honors and reduced to the
common Lowell. But the power of the Prince was
not to be destroyed by decree In few days ap-
peared another Decree saying that the Prince had
crept to the foot OF the throne in tears and contr
ton he had been pardoned. The real fact. suppose
that the young Emperor and the Empress found
that the Prince was power whose wrath it was not
wise to invoke. Since his restoration to his honors
his power has been unquestioned. and one or the
recent DEGREES conferred new honors upon himself
and his for their loyalty to the Empire aud espe
eay for their ferven prayers at the ceremonies to
the names of the dead Emperor.
CONVERSATION PRINCE KUNG.
There were some points in this first conversation
that gather up illustrative OF the character OF
the Prince and his meeting with the General. give
them in the form Of Q dialogue
General GRANT, have long desired to visit China,
but have been too busy to do SO before have been
received at every point Of the trip with the greatest
Kindness and want to thank your Imperial High
ness for tho manner in which the Chinese authori-
ties have welcomed me.
Prince KUNG--when we heard Of your coming we
were glad. We have long known and watched your
lea. America has never sought to Cypress China.
and we value very much the friendship of your
country and people, The viceroy at Tientsin wrote
Of your visit to him.
General GRANT-I had very pleasant visit to the
viceroy. He was anxious for me to visit Pekin and
see you. do not wish to leave Pekin without say
ing how much America values the prosperity Of
China. As said to the viceroy. that prosperity will
be greatly aided by the development of the country.
ONE THE MINIsrERs-we know of the
wonderful things your railways have done.
- AMERICAN RAILWAYS
Prince KUNG-I suppose your railways and roads
have been long time building?
General GRANT, am old enouRh-almost old
enough-to remember when the first railway was
built In the United States and now have $4,000
miles. do not know how many miles there are
under construction. but. Notwithstanding the
Of our industries by the and tine recent de-
preston of trade. we have continued to build
railways. naat
Prince KUNa--Aro your railways owned by the
State?
General GRANT-It is not our policy to build roads
by the State The State guaranteed the building of
the great road the continent; but this work
the result of private energy and private capital
To IL great part OF material prosperity.
II is difficult to say where would DO in the
rank of nations but for railway system.
Prince KUNe-China is not insensiblo to what has
been done by other nations.
A MISIsrER-China is q conservative country, an
old Empire governed by many traditions. and with
q vast population. The policy of China is to
move without elaboration.
General GRAST-The value of railroads is TO dis
sominate n nations wealth and enable her to
centrate and use her strength We have country
large China-I am not about the figures
excluding Alaska but think practically large.
We cross II in seven days by special trains in
emergency IN much less time. We can throw
the strength Of the nation upon any required point
in short time. That makes us as strong in one
place another. 1t leaves vulnerable points
We cannot be sieged broken up and destroyed in
detail. has happened to other large nations. That
however. is not the greatest advantage. Tho wealth