The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-11-30
THE FALL OF Ii HUNG CHANG.

The downfall of Ii Hung Chang fur
nishes a remarkable instance of the
complete collapse of a great reputation
and the disastrous ending of a brilliant
career. 1t is not often that the tickle
ness of fortune is more con~spicuously
illustrated. For twenty years past the
international relations of China and the
progress of the empire have been mainly
concentrated in the personality and Ia
bors Of this man. In addition to being
Viceroy, with almost imperial power, of
the metropolitan province in which
Picking is located. he was Senior Grand
Secretary of State, High Imperial Com
missioner of Foreign Affairs. Director
general Of the Coast Defenses of the
North and Imperial Navy, Northern
Superintendent of Trade and Comman-
der in chief of the Army of North China.
Offices and duties enough, it would seem,
for one man, yet Ii Hung Chang seemed
to be equal to them. Until very recently
he has been rated as a great man, not
only in China, but by intelligent judges
Of other nations. General Grant pro-
nounced him the greatest man he met in
AAo JOoAh aiOala thC WOllu, LII L.
acts and achievements signify anything
he is a great man. or. considering his
present plight. perhaps one should say
he has been.
1t would be difficult to exaggerate
the brilliancy of this mans career or
overestimate his services to hin He
Is now seventy-five years ole. At the
age of twenty-eight, he had passed first
in three successive literary examina-
tons and was enrolled in the imperial
academy, the highest degree in the en-
pire. When the great rebellion of 1851
broke out. which it took thirteen years
to suppress, he entered the army and
served on the side of the government
with distinction during the entire war.
At the close of the war he was made
Viceroy n Senior Grand Secretary of
State. and began a diplomatic career
that attracted the attention Of all
European nations. Under him the do
nestle and foreign policy of China be-
came more progressive and liberal than
they had ever been before. He was in
strumental in having thirty Chinese
boys sent to this country in 1872 to be
educated. He established a modern col
lege at Picking. founded military and
naval colleges, encouraged the introduce
ton of railways and the telegraph into
China, and employed Western experts
as instructors in many branches of
science. He reorganized the Army of
North China and armed it with modern
weapons. and built up a formidable
navy. He established large and WELL
equipped steel plants and introduced the
manufacture of heavy machinery and
armor plates. All this time he was con-
Quoting diplomatic negotiations with
England, Russia, France, the United
States and other countries, and always
with honor and success. He negotiated
and signed many treaties. and looked
after the interests of China as v~igilantly
and successfully as ever did
after those of Germany. Certainly it
must be admitted that he was no ordi-
nary man.
If Ii Hung Chang had died ten, five,
two, even one year ago he would have
passed into history as one of the great
statesmen of his day, and probably the
greatest man China has produced, But
he lived too long. He has lived to be
overtaken with remediless ruin and to
be hurled from his high position to the
lowest depths of disgrace. 1t is impossi-
BILE at this distance to ascertain the
real cause or causes OF his downfall, but
the fact is apparent. Perhaps he had
lost his grip, or was undermined by
envious rivals or betrayed by secret
enemies. Perhaps he had counted too
much on the patriotism and bravery of
the Chinese people. Perhaps he under
estimated the ~our and bravery of
the Japanese. Perhaps he relied too i'm
plicitly on corrupt and inefficient subord-
mates. 1t is certain he has fallen, and
as nothing succeeds like success, so
nothing fails like failure. Six months
ago Ii Hung Chang was the main prop
Of the Chinese empire and one of the
worlds acknowledged great men. Now,
stripped of honors. Offices and decora-
tons, he is spurned by the Emperor,
execrated by the populace and ounde
by all who demand a victim n scape-
goat for China's humiliation. Latest
dispatches say that 120 high officials
nave united in a memorial to the throne
charging him with corruption and trea-
son, and probably he will be beheaded.
Nc doubt every one of the 120 officials
who demand his punishment deserves
~beheading more than Ii Hung Cham.
but the old man is down and they are
in a position to demand his punishment.