The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-30

WASHINGTON, May 2O.-The Chinese
minister to this country regards tho an.
nual pilgrimage to New York as no un-
important part Of his duties here,
The custom OF the decoration OF Gen.
erRl Grants tomb by the Chinese gov
eminent on Memorial day came about
in the following manner;
In his journey around tho world
after the close OF his presidential terms,
General Grant met the great Chinese
viCeroy, Ii Hung Chang, and it is said
that he pronounced him to be the
greatest man he had met on his travels,
Many public men know OF the formal
oalhs taken by these two men.
Papers were exchanged between them
giving the lineage OF each for three
generations, accompanied by sworn
statement as to their truthfulhess,
A written compact Of friendship was
also exchanged between theul, which
not only holds good during the lives Of
the contracting parties, but its obliga.
tons take IN the children and the
children's children OF both the vlceroy
and tho general.
The two men swore In this compact
to be in tho highest sense "brothers,"
TO take upon each the sorrows and bur.
dens OF the other, to befrlend each and
his in any misfortune or peril in peace
or in war.
The Chinese minister hero tolls mo
that this bond was not entered into
lightly, and that to-day tho name Of
Grant is an open sesame to Chinese
favor throughout the empire. So great
il the Chinese veneration for him that
IL would scarcely DO within tho power
OF any OF General Grants sons to make
a request in tho whole Of tho empire
that would not at once be fulfilled,
This Chinese Viceroy, Ii Hung Chang,
is now a man OF seventy. He gained
his high rank not by birth, but through
his intellectual endowinents. As one
may conclude, he IL man Of great
dopth OF feeling and affection. When
the tomb OF his American "brother"
was dedicated he contributed large
sum from his private fortune TO the
monument fund
With this liz the Chinese minister
then here received his instructions to
70 in person to the dedication.
The Uhinese minister wrote: During
his visit to Chlna GoneraI U. s. Grant,
ex-l'residcnt OF tho United States, was
much respected by both the officials and
people OF China.
Ills liighnoss, tho Viceroy Ii, held
the general in special esteem, and tho
general, considering tho viCeroy hero,
expressed his great pleasure in making
his acquaintance.
Upon my appointment as minister
pleniuotentlary to the United States Of
America, and on the eve OF my de.
par;uro from China, l did myself the
honor OF calling upon his highness,
who said to mo thus: Being myself d
great friend Of the late U. s. Grant, OK.
President OF the United States, you will
please on your arrival there to present
in my behalf my respects to Mrs. Gen.
era U. S. Grant, inquire after her
health, and on Decoration day sec that
the grave Of tho ex.President be deco.
rated with flowers. The request ever
since l came to this country Ihavo com.
piled with without fail, and have per.
sonally visited the Generals tomb"
This is why each Memorial day may be
seen all tho members OF the Chinese
legation making q pilgrimage to New
York city, and in full dresa going to
General Grants tomb to lay thereon O
magnificent floral tribute.
Undoubtedly this custom will always
be kept up, certainly during the life oil
the vieeroy; and as reverence is such {
strongly developed sentiment in the
Chinese nature it will probably never
die out,