The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-04
FOREIGN OFFICIALS IN CHINA.

1t Is stated that the diplomatic demon
stratlon made by China in the Siamese
imbrOglio was the work of Sir Halliday
Mccartney, an Englisbman who has been
for many years in the Chinese service.
Sir Halliday comes of family which has
made Its mark in bis history of China.
He was one Of the foreign officers who
were summoned with Gordon to assist the
empire in putting down the rebellion of
1S55-1S65.
That movement, though 1t was without
a competent leader, without means, and
without any hold on the sympathies Of the
Chinese people, very nearly overthrow the
Manchu dynasty. Nearly ten years
elapsed before it could be suppressed. and
then it was done only through the aid of
foreigners. When it was put down. it
became apparent that it was essential Tor
China to enlist permanently the services
OF foreigners who were abreast OF tEe
times. II was then that Mccartney was
selected. and after some service in high
official posts in China. he was sent as Sec
rotary Of legation to London, and clothed
with general supervisory auth ority over
all the Chinese legations in Europe. He
is in London still. and throughout this
Siamese controversy has been in close per-
sOnal intercourse with the British Govern
ment, and in constant telegraphic inter-
course with his own Government at Picking.
His influence with the Chinese Govern
ment has never been as potent as that
which was welded by another British
subject-Robert Hart. This was an Irish
man who went to China some forty years
ago. and from small clerkship in the
customs department rose to the sole COM
missioner of customs. No native China
man possessed the power which was
grasped by Hart. He collected the rev.
enue of the empire and held its purse in
his hands. No loan was contracted with
out bis sanction. Bankers would not
touch an issue of Chinese bonds until he
had Endorsed them. He discreetlv kept
out of the court Qussrels at Peking; he
cared n OF who was in power so long as he
was molested in his department. And
the board Of finance at Picking were SO
satisfied that it was impossible to find
native Chinaman who would administer
the customs without stealing that they
never disturbed Robert Bart, and did not
grumble when he retired with couple OF
million, which he invested in estates in
Ireland and Austria.
Another British subject who drifted
into the Chinese service was Captain Hunt
of the British navy. He was appointed
superintendent of the navy yard and
arsenal at Foochow. He drew the plans
for the Chinese gun boats and men-Of-war
which have been built in England and
Germany; he built several vessels himself
on the river Min. He may be said to have
been the father of the present Chinese
navy, which embraces six ironclads and
twenty-three partly armored cruisers Of
modern type. all armed with modern guns.
Had he lived he would have commanded
the Chinese navy in the event of war.
The Chinese have always sought 10 find
foreigner to command their army. The
post was Informally filled at one time by
Gordon. 1t was occupied for few years
by Mccartney. But thoagh the lire off,
GERS of Lii Hung Changes army are chiefly
Germans and Danes, the Bismarck of
China does not seem to have been able to
find foreigner who could replace General
Tso. High military circles in China reek
with corruption and intrigue. When Gen.
eral Tso, on his return from victorious
campaign in Mongolia. was refused admis-
sion to Picking until he paid $40, 600 to the
bannermen, he declared he had not so
much money. which being repeated to the
Empress. she replied: He must be pretty
fool after commanding armies for SO many
years not to have made fortune"