New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-19
THE BISMARCK OF CHINA.
OPINIONS OF THE vICEROY UPON POLYG AMY
THE WORK OF FOREIGN MISSIONARIES
AND TIE SITUATION IN BURMAu
Ills APPEARANCE AND

|
HIS APPEARANCE AND
CAREER.
Among III" most Interesting Oriental characters Of
'he present day IS Ii Hung Chang the yIceroy Of
| 'hnn. Who has often been called the "Chincsc Els
| mhf'h The sobnqnet IS well deserved. as the
careers. characters and ambitions Of the Eastern and
western statesmen, failing into consideration fine dir
| recent environments Of the two men, show srca' SINH
| Iarliy TIL" cX Chancellor Of Germany IS an srdcnf
HnAhsr TOO II lis Chinese aniltypc. who will rank;
with N" great historical he1Ire, Of the century.
Herr Otto +. Ellcr'. the German explorer who has
travelled over the greater plrt Of Africa and the
Orient recently had tn good and rare fortune TO he
received by the Ncrroy. and sent to relatives IN the
rath"rland m interesting account Of the Interview
| ION ~" day following my arrival in Tcnt.ia. s.
write, the explorer. II received letter from W. 10
| Icne Lob. secretary Of the Admiralty and OF the
Niccroy, III Hung Chang. saying that Iii, Exccllcncy
wss greatly Interested In my travels IN India and
| Indo China and wished 10 receive me-. lI9ppy over
| the possibility .; becoming acquainted with one Of
| the greatest statesmen 81 th" century the most
| prominent citizen Of China tn, cOnqucror of the
| TAPPING and the Nicnpe rebels. the general pro
tcctor Of sciences In the I1owery Kingdom. to vllm
h!na her military and naval schools. her fleet,
Of war and commerce. her railroads and telegraph
ha>t"nodtt TO VI. Lo reng Lob arrange an audience
| on the next day at ) o'clock
III Hung Chang. despite his seventy years and
slightly bent frame. Is Imposing In appearance. Iii,
eyes slant only 4 littlc thu long mustache and chin
whkrr5 gray I, also tho pcat Of hair hanging
| down his back. He wore n dnrk..uc sill. robe.
| black Chine" cap. with rcd tasscl. After TIE
crcciIng' he SHOOT. my hand In friendly Euro
pcan fashion. Ills attention n once attracted by
one ~ my GccOritlons ana lie asked me. without de
| lay. through Lo F'n- Lob, how much II had cost
Int had been prepared for this Herr Dlcring had
told m" that the vlccroy loved to ask IN" most
prsrc questions In order To cmbarrass hi, guests.
| / had decided. therefore. not 10 lose my head
1.-TWO years Of work and want I replied and llis
Excclcuoy laughed heartily, In addressing few words
| To- the secretary.
as an Introduction to further conversation. was
obliged to submit 10 n genuine crosse xaminaton !
bad 10 say how old I was whcnc" came, whore
was born and whether bad been sent by The Ger
man Government 10 acquire new colonies. In III"
mean time. tea and cigarettes served. The
viccroy lgltcd n cigarette but after n Few moments
exchanged 1t for long Chimes" pipe. which. already
lighted was handed to him hy Chinese servant
Audiences In Yamcn. oven those granted TO foreign
diplomats take place with open doors Servants and
officials to flc astonh hment ~ Credentials. stand
about 50 that possible conclusions and discussions
cannot remain secret.
~ lille III EVc"llcncy occupied himself with the
pipe. hnd time 10 examine the vice regal study IN
which sat. TIL" furnishings arr simple. almost
poor. From the ceiling hang, n cheap lamp. The
few pictures and maps. Al"v" III" chair Of In" lord
81 the house are varlou, photographs. among them
being those ~ Emperor william and Molk" the latter
bearing an photographic dedication from The II Id Mar
shall In Ia" cour." ~ III" conversation | learned
that IN" Niccroy sent his Photograph 10 Count Won
Moltr the occasion 81 the latier'S ninrtleth birth
day. The Count lad pr. scented the Nlceroy with his
own likeness In return. The picture had arrived TO
II Hung Chang's great regret almost AT the
time with the tlesraphlc announcement Of Moltkes
death.
After I had traced the course Of my travels on
one " the wall maps and related th" details Of my
encounter with Chinese troops on til" upper part Of
the Mekong HIS Exccllcncy asked me how II was
possible to make ones way through the country with
out an interpreter II Interested him especially to
learn how 7 succeeded In getting food. Then was
Obliged describe Burmah. H. exports and Imports
to tell whether had visited the Jade mines above
Ehamoo, and whether the people were content with
the rule OF England 10 say whether there were many
roblD rs I'm the land and whether there Chinese
among them The conversation then turned to my
Journey through the Shan States TO Tonquln
".What do the Tonquinrse think OF French rule p
he asked
81 answered that had not any signs Of dis
content. lie then wished To know II ! had spoken
with any mandarIns. to which replied ahirmatvcy.
".What did they say about the French was the
next question.
81 said that they seemed 10 have become reconcllcd
to the situation But the Niccroy gave Il look
which plainly said. You know little Of that
"Wlc making preparations for my call | had been
told that during the Interview | would De Thoroughly
drawn ont by the old gentleman without getting an
opportunity to learn the least thing from him. Eut
was not discouraged, and decided TO try my fortune.
".Docs the Chinese Government intend To do any
filing 70 stop the continual raids Of Chinese robbcr
bands In Burman territory or in Tonqu.n = asked.
"Thc Niccroy smiled and replied why should
Eurmali and 1onquin concern u.s. Every country
should adopt It's measures 10 conquer its robbers.
".Eut.' | answered. according TO my obscrva- |
ions in Tonquin the robbers principally are Chinese
soldiers who Instead OF receiving Governmental pay.
receive ravcs Of absence for ia" purpose Of paying
themselves at the expense OF the French In Tonquin.
His Excellcncy did not answer this time with Il |
smile but with loud outbreak Of laughter and asked
leaving the topic, II | had seen the King Of siam |
a, | replied in the affirmative and told OF the |
numerous descendants OF His Majesty. III Hung Chang
remarked
-. .Dd yon not tell the King that monogamy Is
better than poygamy y
/ answered In the negative.
49, WHY not . came the question.
"Bccaiise In the first place. did not feel calico
upon to give III, Majesty my opinion upon the subject.
and as far rs | was concerned. had objection t.
the numerous wives OF the King Of SIAM smiling,
the old gentleman asked ne II the Germans believed
I'm polygamy. | answered that the Germans for the
most part, were glad enough be- able to pay the
dres bills for one wife, Then he wished TO know. |
as did not object To the numerous wives OF the |
King OF SIAM whether ! had several wives myself |
lie seemed surprised to learn that had not.
"In the mean time the Viceroy had worked himself
into an excellent humor. A bottle OF champagne had
followed the tea and the long Chinese pipe had been
filed at least six times.
~Aner saying that knew the Emperor and Bis
marck. / was forced TO answer numerous questions
regarding His Majesty the Imperial family the six
princes and Prince Bismarck.
Finally he said Formerly. they called the
Bismarck OF China. To-day nm more than that
for I an still I'm Office and the Prince Is not. But
spite that. h. remains II great man..
In answer 10 his question whether | filed any
Office In Germany. | naturally replied In the mega
five lie could not understand how that could be,