The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-08-08
different Chinese provinces are jealous

different Chinese provinces are Jealous
OF his success and great reputation.
1t is well known that the members of
the Sunny Yamen Grand Council of
the Empire), who sit in Pekin, have the
most profound hatred for the Viceroy,
and have tried several times to get rid of
him by means which would recall those
used IN the middle ages. But Ii Hung
Chang is. too well guarded in Tien-Tsin.
Every attempt has been a failure, and
after several of them the heathens in
Office came to the conclusion that the
only thing to be done was to get the Vic
eroy to come to Pekin. They demonstrate
ed to the Empe1or and his mother that
LII Hung Changes ambition might lead
MIN to overthrow the actual dynasty and
make himself monarch, and that it
was quite necessary to have him live in
Pekin, where the Sunny Yamen would
watch him. The Emperor saw the imagin-
airy danger, and ordered the viceroy to
make his headquarters in Pekin. He
did not even answer. Two other orders
were sent, the last being so imperative
that he answered at once: II am COM
Ing. Arrange quarters for the fifteen
thousand soldiers take with me-" One
can easily imagine the alarm of the
Emperor and members of the Sammy
Yamen when they heard of those fifteen
thousand soldiers, and they answered
promptly Stay where you are by all
means, and keep your soldiers away"
THE vICEROY'S FORMIDABLE
ARMY.
sThe army of Lii HUI ng Chang, composed
of about 40. 600 men nagnificentIy armed
with modern weapons and drilled accord
ing to European tactics, can be regarded
a fina hOdy. Of h.
found anywhere in the world
Ever since the soldiers have been fight
ing in the northern part of China, get
ting magnificent experience in modern
warfare, which will be great help to
them at the present time. A soon as it
became apparent that war was inevita-
BILE with Japan, the Viceroy sent his
soldiers to Chefoo, and from there
across to Corea, where they took position
in the mountains which surround the
city of Asian. The Japanese upon
hearing of this marched the soldiers
from Seoul north hoping to easily dis
lodge the Chinese soldiers
Lii Hung Chang is undoubtedly the
only man IN China able to cope with
the japanese and to save his country
command the Northern Army, and he
alone will that army obey. Should the
report that Lii Hung Chang has been dis
graced by the Emperor be true, China
may be said to have lost half of the
chances of winning. 1t would not be
surprising if the other Viceroys of the
Chinese provinces should refuse TO march
against Japan should Lii Hung Chang
remain at the head of the Chinese forces,
as i'll case of victory he would be given
all tbs credit.
Not very imposing, the palace of
Ch1na's greatest mana one story build
ing, built mostly of wood, as are nearly
all the Chinese houses, and surrounded
by several walls. The doors in the
walls looked old and dirty.
We passed through a great gate and
came into court which was full of the
servants and lackeys of madarins We
stopped for moment before pair of
large double door upon which were paint
ed two hidcous figures, which was told
were the gods of war. A moment later
we were conducted past this into an
other retinue of lackeys, all in pig
tails, and all in gorgeous uniforms.
Here my chair was set down for a no
ment, and the Chinese official from the
legation took my card, strip of red
paper about eight inches long and three
inches wide, upon which were painted
in black the two Chinese characters
"'iSh ihNiSooSNt ohS eldASldUlOu Ol ny |
name.
After entering the house proper we |
went first through number of parlors |
all furnished in European fashion, and |
had to wait few MINUTES in parlor |
next to the reception room; it was filled |
with gifts of every kind from Europe |
and America-many large chandeliers. |
vases, dozens of clocks, Edisons' phono-
graph and miniature men-of-war sent |
by all the shipbuilders of the world;
on the walls several paintings, large |
portrait of General Grant, one of Bis |
marck and one OF William I.
oh, by the way" at that moment
said the Consul. Il forgot to tell you
that the Viceroy always asks fifty ques-
fortune. salary. family, mother, father,
sisters, brothers etc. Do not be sur
prised-Chiaese politeness requires it and
then you see he always likes it because
1t taxes up nearly all the time of the in
tervlew and then you have no time to
discuss serious things"
at is ridiculous. Do people answer
him?n
well, of course. How can you help
it?"
at once made up my mind that, not
having come to speak of my own per-
sonality and business, would not lose
precious time in such foolish way.
Ii HUNG CHANG is INQUIsITIvE.
At that moment the doors opened.
several officers entered, and immediately
behind them was Lii Hung Chang-very
tall, broad and straight, a large bold
head, small, brilliant and tricky eyes. a
long, white mustache and goatee, firm
and rather sarcastic mouth, graceful
and elegant in his manners Such the
ViceroE was In 1892 He shook hands
with US, and asked US to follow him to
the next room. He seated himself at
the end of a long table and asked me to
sit at his right. Cigars and cigarettes
were presented to us by officers. while