Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-08-17


TAPPING rebellion, which had then lasted
about II years and threatened the over
throw of the empire. Later another prov
incc was added to his rule, and he was
created viccroy of the united provinces in
1865. He has since become the most pow
erful viceroy in the empire and is practi-
cally prime minister, viceroy of the great
province of Chill, with its 40, 600, 600
people, superintendent of the trade Of
north China, director general of the coast
defense of the north, administrator Of the
imperial navy, commander in chief of the
army of north China, and these high Of
fees, together with dozens of Others of
less note, constitute him sort Of Chinese
Poo Bah of wonderful power and inilu-
ence He is senior member of the impe-
rial council, composed of four grand secre-
taries-a body that is next to the emperor
in the government of China.
Unlike the emperor, who is a Mantchoo
and descendant of Shun-chi, whose peo-
pie conquered the Chinese in 1914, Ii
Hung Chang is Il full blooded Chinese.
He was the first great Chinese to urge a
more friendly policy toward foreigners,
and to him China owes her progress in
civilization from a European standpoint.
He speaks English and is close student
of the world affairs. To him China owes
her modern navy and the modern weapons
now in the hands of SO many of her sol
diers Without him military reforms
would never have taken place. and in the
present difficulty with Japan China would
have been utterly unpreparcd for war had
not the viceroy built shipyards, arsenals
and ironclads and employed European Of
ficers to drill Chinese soldiers and sailors
At the close of the TAPPING rebellion the
viceroy, who had been greatly impressed
with the efficiency of the troops Differed
by Englishmen and Frenchmen, recruit
ed many of Chinese Gordons disbanded
veterans, armed them with modern weap-
ons, engaged European instructors and
speedily organized an army of about 3d.
coo men, who are garrisoned near Ticn-
tsin, the home of Ii Hung Chang, and
the seaport Of Picking, which is 30 miles
farther up the Pei Ho river These troops,
which are the flower of the Chinese sol
diery and compose what is called the
Black Flag army, guard the approach to
Picking in time of peace, but at present
many of them are in Korea exchanging
compliments with the mikado's soldiers.
The viceroy has also strengthened the
customs department. which is the back
bone of China's credit, and he has intro
duced the telegraph and built the only
railroad in the empire All these innO-
vations have been made in the face of the
most pronounced opposition on the part of
the influential grand council of the en-
| pire.
Several years ago the viceroys enemies
endeavored to convince the emperor and
dowager empress that Ii Hung Chang
meditated using his great power to seize
: the government and that the viceroy
should be compelled to live in Peking,
where a closer watch coul be kept over
him. The emperor ordered the viceroy to
move to Pcking, but when Ii Hung Chang
announced that he proposed bringing To-,
600 troops with him the emperor hastily
told him TO remain in Tientsin with his
soldiers. About the same time Il body of
200, 600 rebels marched upon Picking 10
overthrow the government The emperor
sent his best Pcking troops TO meet them,
and the rebels gave them an unmerciful
trouncng. Then Ii Hung Chang proved
his loyalty by taking the field with his
well drilled troops who speedily routed
1Ae rebels and restored order.
Ii Hung Chang is very polite to for
eigners and seems to enjoy learning what
he can from them. He invariably asks his
visitor how old he is, how many children
he has, what his income is and numerous
other questions that are considered imper-
tinent in America and polite in China.
He shakes hands in the American fashion,
patronizes an American doctor and is
said to have accumulated fortune of
about 500, 900, 900 by means that many
American politicians are not unfamiliar
with.