The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1892-11-17
mR GRElTEr OF OaHlIEI INSANE.
NE Was . Natural BoFn DIpIOmas,
and HIs Less Will Ds . severe
BlOW % Ohlnas

Chang, the great Chinese minister and
diplomat, following 90 close upon the
heels Of the celebration Of bis SEVENTEEN
birthday, draws the attention Of the
world again to one Of the most remarka-
bic men Of modern times. After bis tour
around the world General Grant said the
four greatest men he had met were Glad
stone, Gambetta, Bismarck and Il Hung
Chang, and Of the four he ranked the
Chinese second IN ability. In an empire
In whose Official service there iS no more
red tape than perhaps in any other in
the world, and among people where caste
is almost iron bound in its limitations,
this man has risen from q subordinate
position, withoG: the advantage Of high
birth or great wealth, to the foremost pO-
sition In the Chinese empire a. general,
as diplomat and a. practical admin
istFatoE.
His father was an ofieiAl Of one Of the
lower ranks, and was unable to afford
his son many advantages Of an education (;
but the young man was ambitions and
ind uStTious. He studied hard after the
Chinese fashion, with the idea, at first,
Of becoming q professional literary man.
Success In literature in China, however,
where they do everything exactly unlike
our way Of doing Il, depends upon an ex-
tSnsive acquaintance with their classical
WTiters, an acquaintance not to be had
without many years Of severe study. Be-
ing Of practical turn Of mind, Ii Hung
Chang decided not to waste bis time and
talents In gTubbing among ancient man
uScripts. He. therefore, gave up litera-
ture aud began to study for the army.
His opportunity came in the TAPPING re-
belliOn. It was LARGELY through his ef-
iorts that the famous Ever Victorious
Army" was raised, in comm and Of which
General Gordon so distinguished himself.
During this war Ii iung Chang came in
contact with = number Of foreigners, and
from them obtained many useful hints
a. to European methods Of administra-
ton. After the war was over, his mill.
tATy services were acknowledged by the
appointment 10 the governoFship Of two
large provinces.
II was while he was governor Of Kiang'
81 that the massacre in Tientsin occurred
and this proved 10 be his opportunity Of
showing himself to be q master Of diplo-
macy. He constituted himself the Chi
neSe plsnipotentiary for negotiating with
the French and English governments
and by making prudent concessions he
succeeded In avert:Hg war. Since that
time he has been the virtual ruler ol
China. To him are due the new Chinese
navy, the establishment Of naval schools
under the direction Of American and Brit.
iIh officers, the building Of q torpedo fac
tory and dock yard, and the erection ol
extensive Notifications in some Of the
principal Chinese haFbors. To him are
due also the reorganization Of the Chi.
nese army, the establishment Of water
works and electric light plants In many
Of the principal cities, the construction Ol
. system Of telegraphs, uniting all the
principal parts n the empire, and the
undertaking Of the great railway now un-
der construction, which :==salIels on Chi
neSe ground the Siberian railway con.
stTucted by Russia, and connects all the
large cities and garTisons alOng the north
oFn frontier.
The loss Of such \ man will be q seri-
Gus blow to China-hoW serious, We can
not yet tell. Some Of his pupils may
perhaps be found vino are able to carry
forward his great projects In internal ad'
ministTation. II is doubtful, however, Il
any Of them will prove his Equal either In
administration or in diplomacy.