The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-03-15
cHInl'S UmcaoNnED KING.
An Interview Wifk the Statesman
Ii Hung Chang.


lie ENF$tEF ~ - xtAts& - IA kSzAzN ~
any barbarian ere. and II be we're not
he is stu but . boy and probably
knows less about his country than the
least OF his officials. The real emperor
u the enpress-his aunt. and her
proud and determined personality IS
known 70 the outside world chiefly
through Ii Hung Chang Between the
empress and the great viceroy there %
close political partnership and an
offensive and defensive alliance
Therefore the presence Of the viceroy
Is the nearest possible approach for a
foreigner TO the shrors of Gaina- And
all the world knows that he Is one OF
the most interesting and powerful men
In Il. viceFoy OF the province of
chihli. hence sx e6seie the guardian of
the gate Of China, senior OF the four
grand secretaries Of state. formerly
grand guardian Of the heir apparent,
president Of the board OF war. superjn-
fendent OF the North Sea trade, count
shinu-ki of the FIRST rank. special Plen-
ipotentiary times without number;
practical owner OF an army OF IS 90
men and feet which. so far as wood
and iron 90, is second TO none in the
East; immensely wealthy, preternatur-
ally astute, utterly unscrupuious, hay
ing at last overcome all his enemies
and even able 20 laugh calmly at the
dreaded censors themselves, Ii Hung
Chang may be fairly looked upon as
the ruler OF these $50 ,00e 000 of shayen
heads and plated tails. at least so far
as the outside world is concerned. If
/ had a chief object in my journey
round the world, il was 70 interview
Ii Hung Chang. And ! have just
talked With him 70 nearly two hours
Ii Hung Chang is pure Chinaman.
not Manchu, like the dynasty he
serves. He is very tall for Chinese.
Eve feet eleven. / should guess. and
must have been powerful man in his
youth. His face is the most strongly
nodded | have seen in China - not
fat. "a they usually are. but with all
the features distinctly marked and
the lines broad and deep. face that
would hold its own III comparison with
any foreign face Three or four attend
ants did nothing and did ii well, simply
listening to the conversation, while /
sa. in the background that another had
opened the window an inch and was
listening from outside. These attend
ants are always present at official in
feryiews. extraordinary as such habit
may seem to us, and the natural re-
suit Is that most of the foreign repre-
sentatives have one at each yamen in
their pay, and that there are few
secrets which money will not buy.
The viceroy hopes you are in good
health and that you have had pleas
ant journey" Reply taken for
granted. Where have you been7r
and nWhere are you going?" Easily
answered How old are your" This,
/ afterwards learned, is an inquiry es-
seniiai TO politeness in China. fought
J to have returned the compliment.
What is the circulation Of your news
paper7'' THE largest in the world, "
was the natural stereotyped reply, but
the next question was a staggerer.
What is your yearly income from
writing for newspapers" | remem-
bered, fortunately. THAT our debating
society at college had decided on one
occasion that il was sometimes justiti-
able 10 deviate from veracity, and ]
replied accordingly, with the natural
result that the next remark was, His
/ excellency says you must be very
| skilful writer to earn so much money
I eould not observe whether he also
winked under his goggles. "You
have made long journey - have
| you no companion None
| whatever. Are you not afraid oil
| being stabbed 7" ''fn dangerous coun.
tries-not, of course, in China--I carry
means of defending myself 1.-THE
viceroy says you must have been in
very great danger. = Not to my
| knowledge. The world is fun oil
wicked people. His excellency is
evidently well acquainted with it. :
Are you going to Thibet2' TOOK
| this inquiry for a Joke, as no one
l knows better than the chang Tune
that il almost as easy to go TO the
| moon, so ] re piled in the same spirit
Yes, and L have specially to beg from
his excelleney the favor of safe-con-
| duet and letter of recommendation
| to the grand llama himself But il
was no joke ut ALL Impossible !" ex.
claimed the viceroy. sitting bolt mp
| right so suddenly that the
4
prodding him in the eye with
| the mouthpiece. '.Impossiblel Ger
tainly not, I cannot do anything oI
| the kind. 1t would be most unwise oil
him to think of going" | did MOI
dare 10 admit that / had ventured Il
| Joke with the great man, SO | said
| perhaps his exceliency will tell me the
1 y. ..t.r aVrs - .asf
The people of Thibet are very fool
ish, !" was the reply, but l have sem
"A commissioner 90 them. who is al
this moment comforting with the Eng
lish. and there will be no more fight
ing" tried to look like person who
believes what he is told. As matter
of fact, LII Hung Chang as has much
power over the Thibetans as the sultar
has over the mahdi, but Thibet is 1
very sensitive spot with the Chinese
authorities, aad they will probably d,
anything. even To declaring war, t
keep IL out of the hands OF the bar
| barians.
From tbs Tsi.s.t the conversation, o.
rather cross-examination, became yer,
serious. When you were in Seou
did you see the Chinese Residen
| Yuen ?" II did not. did YOU se,
Judge Denny p Frequently. " "wh,
did you not call upon Yuen % s'Be
cause my time there was very limited
aud knew could learn the Chimes,
side of the dispute better here. Ant
now that | have the honor of convers
ing with his excellenev perhaps he vii
permit me TO ask him" Vain at
Tempt Did YOU see the Russian
| Minister there?'' Frequently.
land the British Consult" Il wa
his guest" Were you presented {.
the king?" Il was. What Is h,
going 10 do?" Il have little notion
probably nothing" What are tn,
| Russians going to do2" Nothing.
Have you any good reasons for think
ing so2" Many" win Won pleas,
lenumerate them % We'll, first. be
Ieause they don't want korea-I doub
il they would take il rs q gift s'Bu
Is it NOT essential 10 them that the,
should have a port on the Pacif,
from which their ships can issue II
winter ?" They can issue in white
from the port they have already. ,
1.-The viceroy says he does not under
stand you. They have an ice break
ing machine which can cut way In o,
out at any time. When this reply wa,
translated 20 him the great Chinamar
half rose FROM his sofa, drew both hi,
hands from his sleeves, waggesl them
at Mr.. 10, and grnntea vociferouslv
Are Won agite sure 80 Quite - ssIlf