The Indianapolis journal., 1883-05-31
A Chinese Diplomat Says the Empire Is
Thoroughly United and Prepared to
Wage Vigorous War.
Changes in English Society and Gov
ernment During Victoria's Reign.
A Ride with an Egyptian Column Through
Wilderness to the Regions of
the Upper Nile.
THE WAR IN ToNQUIN.
Great Excitement in Paris and Through
France

0Ecdb GAcltOAncnb IN fariS auS
France.
PARIs, May 30.-The death of Riviere, who,
with gallant little band, held his own for
months against over 10000 Annamites, has
aroused all the traditional French chivalry,
and kindled the martial ferver of the nation
Meanwhile events in China show what a hard
nut France has undertaken to crack The
fact of the famous Ii Hung Chang coming
into power was pretty sure sign that John
Chinaman is on the war-path 1t is Lii Hung
Chang-astute, never rash, a thorough Op-
portunst, in fact, the Tslleyrand of China
who is always placed at the helm when things
in the Celestial empire look squally.
The following interview between a distin-
guished European dIplomatist who recently
filled an important post at Pekin and the
chinese charge d'affairs now head of the
Chinese legation here, is published in the
French papers, headed The Rumored Re-
call of the Marquis Tseng"
European Diplomist-Have you read what
has been telegraphed from st. Petersburg to
the Times about the recall of your brother
in-law, the Marquis Tseng, the Chimes charge
d affaires?
Chinese charge d'affaires-Yes; but I re-
place the Marquis Tseng during his absence
from Paris at the coronation of the Gar, and
nothing has been dispatched from my gov
ernment that would lead to the supposition
of rupture of diplomatic relations
What does the Tsu Ii Iamien, the COM
miJtee of Mandarins, presided over by Prince
Kung, the Supreme Court of all Chinese for
eign affairs, think of the French expedition
to TonquinH
'The TsU Ii Iamien considers Tonquin as
Vaeco1 Of ha Gar Of
that it is the bounden duty of China to pro-
tect her vassals. 1t is also of the opinion that
had France any grievances she should COM
plain through diplomatic channels and not
with arms in hand. To-day it is the sacred
duty of the Celestial empire to help the peo-
pie of Tonquin.''
I'm case of war is China prepared to hold
her own against FranceT'
Certainly. We have armaments of the
highest order-Krupp guns in the fortresses
and q feet of ships constructed in the best
arsenals of Europe and in our Foo Choo ar
senal, which has been for several years di-
rected by engineers of the French navy
"All homage to the patriotism of the Chi
nese people-but are you sure of the discip-
line of you army?'
You notice 1 smile at your question. All
you Europeans believe that China to-day is
in the same state of disorganzation as in
1860 1t is a great mistake. If at that time
Montauban and the English admiral were
able to disembark at Takow, invade our ter
ritory, pass by our forts on the Peiho, and
enter Pekin it was because China was then
in the throes of terrible civil war. The
Taepings had made themselves masters of
the whole eastern portion of the empire
Our Emperor could scarcely count upon
three provinces To-day there is not single
rebel throughout the length and breadth of
our empire. Over 400, ,000 900 of souls are de-
voted to our august Emperor, and we have
an armament and military organization ca
pable to set any foreign invasion at de-
fiance."
What are the pavillons noirs who we're
the cause of Riviere's repulse and death?"
They are not pirates or undisciplined
bands, as Europeans pretend, but are regular
soldiers of the kingdom of AMMAN, mobilized
by order Of the King Tu Due"