Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-04
Believed In Shanghai.

peror mas Invested Viceroy Ii Hung Chang
or the order Of the yellow riding coat,
which is the highest order in China, al
lowing the wearer privileges next to those
or royalty. The emperor, the dispatches
say, has freely expressed his anger at the
V1ceroys having allowed Japan to get ahead
OF China in preparing for war. The act Of
me emperor in divesting the viceroy of
deposition from office
The action of the emperor in divesting
viceroy LII Hung Chang of the order of
the yellow coat has fallen like a thun-
derbolt In Shanghai, as it is feared that
the incident will lead to his complete over
throw. he is regarded there as the only
leader capable of coping with Japan in the
inevitable long war. A crisis is regarded
imminent
The emperor has been Influenced in his
action by members of his family. hostile
to the viceroy's European policy. 1t
Is expected that Sir Robert Hart, the Brit
ish representative, will assert his author
ity and support Ii Hung Chang.
Sir Halliday Mccartney, councillor of the
Chinese legation and the new Chinese min
lister called at Osborne House, London
yesterday, and the minister presented his
credentials. While at Osborne the minister
received Pekin dispatch which announced
the degradation of Ii Hung Chang.
The bismarck of China.
The services rendered to his country by
Ii Hung Chang have long since earned for
him the title of the Bismarck of China. The
news of his disgrace at the hands Of an i'm
perious and impetuous emperor Of twenty
three might suggest yet closer parallel
between the statesman to whom China
owes the great Importance she undoubtedly
possesses among the powers of today and
the fallen statesman of the west, who was
the maker of modern Germany.
Ii Hung Chang Is not merely viceroy of
the metropolitan province of Petchili, but
grand secretary and thus a member of that
INN tet Ia. tc
Tsungli Yamen. and which represents, If
any single body does, the responsible gov
eminent of China. This body-termed in
Chinese Niu Koh-is composed of four
Chinese-and two assistants. 1t used to be
always considerd necessary that the senior
grand secretary should be Manchu. and
Ii Hung Chang enjoys the distinction of
being the first Chinese accorded that pre-
eminence.
Famous Through the Civilized World.
His career. in it's main features, is known
throughout the civilized world, and he is
the only Chinese statesman, living or dead
whose name would be recognized in any as
semblage of people. He has earned this
widespread fame by the practical services
he has rendered his own country and by
the exceptional purposes to which he has
turned lis influence and position as the head
viceroy Of the empire. as we'll as by the con-
spicuous ability and tact with which he has
conducted the relations of his country gen.
orally, and on more than one critical occa-
sion, when only his presence averted war
with the treaty powers.
Nobody can question the statement that
emma owes her modern army and navy to
Ii Hung Chang. Without him military re-
forms would never have taken any practical
form. and the ironclads. ship yards and
arsenals which now make such an imposing
array would never have been created AT
the close of the Tapping rebellion in 1895
Ii Hung Chang then viceroy of the Two
Kiang. recruited many of Chinese Cor
don's disbanded veterans, and so formed
the nucleus Of his present armed force
This army, which Is not to be confused
with the territorial armies of Manchuria
and elsewhere, is the pick Of the Chinese
army.
DisErnced Once Before.
1t is to be noted that this Is not the first
time that Ii Hung Chang has been depriy-
cd of the yellow jacket. That distinction.
together with the hereditary title Of the
third degree, and the double-eyed peacocks'
feather, was conferred upon him before the
end of 1865 for his services in clearing a
province of the rebels, and for his opera
tons before Nankin. But In the following
year the growth of his power excited sus-
ptcion against him at the court. His eabo-
rate preparations against the insurgents
were construed into determined design on
the throne, and when he allowed number
received the following severe rebuke from
the throne:
I'VE trusted Ii Hung Chang with the
high office of imperial commissioner for the
suppression of the rebellion. How has our
confidence been rewarded? In spite of our
urgent commands that he should take i'm
mediate action against the body of rebels
marching north, he has not attempted to
hasten his subordinateS in their operations
and has left our capital exposed. Let him
be deprived of the peacock's feather, the
riding jacket and the hereditary ranks"
Not only did he, however, get back all
these titles and nonors by his ultimate sue
cess in routing the rebels and capturing
their chief, but gained even higher ones.
1t will be perceived from this that on the
present occasion the viceroy is by no means
irretrievably disgraceS, Should success
crown the arms of China in the war
against Japan he would probably be re-
Ceived back into higher favor than ever.
The Chinese Method.
The emperor's action in striking at his
viceroy in this fashion will not cause any
surprise in the minds of those conversant
with the methods Of Chinese administra-
food or fire the governor Is held person.
alIy responsible and accordingly when the
Chen Yuen received her rough handling at
the hands Of the japanese war ships, the
emperor would feel 1t the most natural
thing in the world TO look around for some
one to punish. Ii Hung Chang, who is the
soul Of the modern army and navy, must
Inevitably be the scapegoat the more so
as his enemies at court are numerous and
never lose an opportunity of endeayoring
to injure hi n. The fact that he is a pure
blcoded Chinese, while the reigning dy-
nasty Is Manchu or Tartar has often caus
ed him to be accused of aiming at supplant-
ing the reigning house but there seems no
reason to believe that the great ylceroy
even when his temper was tried to the ut
most by the intrigues Of his enemies has
ever used his vast influence throughout
China in any manner unbecoming a loyal
servant of the throne.
Personally the viceroy is, or was, a re-
markably fine looking man, big of frame
bold Of mien and Of an almost handsome
cast Of countenance. He is seventy-one