Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-06

He is an old friend of Secretary Gresham's.
and he was for years known in Indiana as
a great lawyer before he was made minis
ter to China. AS lawyer he often came
into contact with Benjamin Harrison. and
at the time of Harrison's election to the
presidency DENLY thought he would have to
leave China. He and Harrison had had some
little trouble during lawsuit some time
previously and DENLY knew that Harrison
strongly believed that republicans should
be the leading officials in republican adj
ministration. He was aware. however. of
the infexible honesty of President Harri-
sons character, ard he knew that If he
could persuade him that he was the best
man for the place. and that he could fill the
office better than any republican, he would
probably hold it. He attempted to do SO
ard succeeded AS soon as Harrison's cleo
ton announced, letters began to come
to Indianapolis from China. The business
men of the different ports wrote asking the
Presdent-eect to retain Minister DENLY.
The American missionaries sent in long pc
titions. and both Protestants and Catholics
requested that Col Denly be retained LII
Hung Chang wrote a letter through his
private secretary. and high Cinnamon in
Pekng got down on their knees, metaphor
ically Speaking. and wrote to the President.
At the same time the campaign was car
RED on all over the world. Every foreigner
in China who had friend likely to help
Col. DENLY at once wrote to him and had
him write to the President. Some of the
highest church authorities of England-I
am not sure but that one was not the arch
bishop of Canterbury-sent in letters in be-
half of DENLY. and such spontaneous up
rising in favor of this foreign minister APP
pe AIRED that President Harrison very wisely
concluded that there must be some founda-
ton for the desire for his retention, and he
said that he should stay. At any rate, he
was held on and on until the time or the
ir judicious appointment OF Blair OF New
Hampshir e. who had made speeches against
the Chinese in the past, and who was not
acceptable to the Chinese government. Al
kp President Harrison
cluded to let Col. DENLY stay the remainder
of his term, and President Cleveland very
wisely continued him to the present time.
Our Legation at Pelsin.
The position of minister to Picking is by
no means bad one The pay is 1880 a
year, and at the present value Of silver
this Is equal to nearly S35.OOO year. as
far as spending power is concerned. l was
told in China that the position could be
kept up very comfortably on about $1,000
a year, and if this is true there is clear
annual saving of $4,000 in silver, or more
than $1,000 in gold. Peking is off of the
regular lines of travel Only few Ameri-
cans get to it in the course of year, and
service and eatables are cheap. Wines are
much cheaper in Shanghai than in Wash
ington. and YOU can give a dinner in Pel-
ing for half the sum that the same feast
would cost here ! am not sure. but
think the government pays the rent OF
our diplomats in Picking.
The legation family consists of the min
ister his secretary OF legation and of the
official Interpreter. The first secretary Is
Col Denby's son. Mr.. Charles DENLY. jr..
who has dore very COCO work during the
present trouble, and who has been acting
minister 10 China during the greater part
of last year. He is young mani judge
not more than thirty years Of age but he
has been with his father during the whole
of his service in Picking. and he is.t is said,
a good Chrese scholar. The salary Of the
secretary is S2,625, which at the present
value of silver is more than $1,000. There
is a house in the legation compound for
the use Of the secretary. and the position
Is by no means a bad one. The interpreter
OF the legation is Mr.. Fleming ID. Che
shire, who Is somewhere between forty