The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-28
Ii HUNG CHANG.
The Chinese yiceroy Talks of the Exclusion
Bill and the Future of China.

F. G. Carpenters Letter in st. Louis Post-Dispatch.
1t does not take more than two sentences
to show the person who talks with Lii Hung
Chang that he is in the presence of no or
binary man. His words come out quick
and sharp. He asks the most directO Of ques-
tions in tones which show that he expects
an answer, and while he demands all kinds
of information from you, he gives you just
about what he pleases in return. His figure
is a most impressive one; well formed. he
stands six feet two in his stockings, and his
long silk gown makes him look like giant,
while his hat, which he wears at all times,
adds to his stature. His shoulders are broad
bur slightly STOPPING. Still in his sixty
seventh year his step is springy, and his
only signs of age are in the gray of his hair
and whiskers His yellow complexion shows
a few wrinkles, and his twinkling almond
eyes look ont through black spectacles. He
shaves his head like all Cinnamon, and his
long cue is as white as the driven snow.
His sparse mustache and his thin whiskers
are also gray but his face is thin, and he
has nothing OF the round, fat appearance of
the Cinnamon of America. Still, he is a
pure Chinaman. with no Tartar blood in his
veins. and he comes from one of the old aris-
tocratic families of the country.
Harrison. He wanted 10 know If / knew
him, and told him did. He then asked
/ as to his profession, and how he stood in II.
He vas especially solicitons as 70 the Presi-
dent Harrison's views on the .ChIneSe ques-
tion, and he requested me TO tell the
American people. through my pen. that he
did not at all approve of the exclusion of
the Chinese from the United States. He
said:
.sThe passage of the exclusion act is en-
To. fbsac tpif nf "
relations between the two countries. 1t is
an outrage, and hope it will be repealed;
and wish You to tell the American people
for me that if il is not repealed propose to
Americans from China, and think it will
be no more than right If wedO so. You may
amplify this as much as you please, and L
trust that you will put 1T in so strong
light that the American people Will do JUS
tice TO our nation"
These were the words of the Secretary of
Foreign Affairs of the Chinese empire. :!
write them here not more than One-half
hour after they were uttered. do not
think it necessary to amplify them. and it
seems to me that they are strong enough III
the words of the Viceroy himself.
The conversation next turned TO railways,
gard the Yiceroy asked me If knew Mr..
Wharton Barker, and as TO what was his
profession. l told him that was not per
sonally acquainted with him, but that
knew him to be banker of high standing
aud great wealth. He then asked as to
Count MitkiewicZ, said that he did not .le
Mitkiewicz, and that ''he was no gentle
man."
The scheme, however, / understand, of
founding an American bank with the great
powers spoken of in the Mitkiewicz cOmbi-
nation, is by no means dead. 1t will probably
be revived again with the Russian count
left out, and l happen to know that the
Viceroy is very anxious that Mr.. Wharton
Barker should come to China, and also that
Mr.. Barker has signitied serious intention
of so doing at no distant date: The Viceroy
brought here. He was disappointed when
the other scheme fell through. and he
would like nothing better than to see it put
on sound footing and to redeem himself
as having been the part OF an enterprise
which failed. In our conversation, how
ever there was no such talk as this. The
fact, however, that the scheme is not
dropped still stands.
asked the Viceroy as to what he
thought of the future Of railways in China,
the world. He replied:
Before half century has passed China
will be covered with railways as with net.
It's immense mineral resources will be
furnaces in many parts. OF the, country,
| and it is not impossible that
| it may do the manufacturing for
| the world. 1t seems to me that the most
serious question which menaces the work
| ing people of your country and Europe lies
| here. The Chinese have shown themselves
| to be as skillful and intelligent as any peo-
| pie in the world. They viii work hard and
| they can live cheaper than your people,
| and when our country is open to railways
| and it has turned its attention to supplying
| the markets of the world, ] believe it can
supply them better and cheaper than you
| can. This is a question that you will have
| to face"
Il think so, too, your Excellency," said /.
''Then / wonder,n replied the VicerOy,
| "that you wish to have China come into
| competition with you. Do You not consid-
| er us dangerous competitorsp
"Yes," replied, 1--WE do. But if the time
| ever comes when Chinese labor thus work
ing in China comes into competition with
| American labor, we will build a wall OF
protection about the United States so high
| that none of YOUR products can come in."