The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-08-28
.CH|HA' 5 GREAT IRISH RULER
Sir Robert Hart, Who Con rolls Her
Finances.
He is Abs olute Ruler of "a Ports and
About 5000 Officials. How He
Game to Get the Position. A
Man Absolutely Honest
and Fearless,

When the first Chinese loan for the
Indemnity Of Japan was offered, il was
noticed that tho loan was guaranteed by
Hart, l. G. c." As the entire amount
was for el5, 900, 900, and So, 900, 600
!. very big sum for any man to DO ablo
to guarantee, there has been some curl
osity as to the guarantor's personality.
Hart, l. q. c. means Belfast
Irishman known all over the earth Us
the ncst influential man i'll the orient.
He is in charge of tho Chinese customs,
with the title of inspector general of
customs, which he economically cuts
down into II. G. G." This position no
has bold since 1859. Before that year
the customs system OF China was Just
one big steal Ostcnsibly it was under
the supervision Of great noble, who
was supposed to turn into the Chinese
treasury the entire receipts. Like most
Chinese oficeholdors, nc kept three
fourths Of the receipts for himself
About 1858 there was war between
England and China in which China got
the worst of it. In tho treaty that fol-
lowed China agreed to pay tho cost Of
England S war.
The imperial customs, China's chief
source of revenue, were pledged to &C.
cure the debt. A young Irishman named
Hart was England's representative and
was placed in charge Of tho Chinese Gus
toms bureau charged with seeing that
all the duties collected We're turned into
the Hongkong bank. The entire amount
of tho indemnity was collected so much
quicker than either nation had expected
that Mr.. Hart was called upon to OK
plain. His tcrse explanation was Cone
third Of the duties collected never reach
the imperial treasury. They are the
spells of the officials who have been in
charge of the customs -
Somewhat naturally. this answer
created gloom III the mind of the Chi
nese emperor and just as Hart was re-
turning to his own country he sent for
him aud asked him to take charge of tho
Chinese customs and do for China what
he had just been doing for England
Hart answer was as tcrse as his former
explanation. Ho said: Il will under
take this work upon three conditions
The first is that | shall have absolute
authority over the entire system, and
the second Is that no one, not even the
yiceroy, shall Interfere with me or give
mo any orders. | must also have the
right to employ my own subordinates
and to hire or discharge whoever
please"
This was rather large order, but tho
emperor of China agreed TO it, and
Hart was placed in control The very
first years work with the old staff gave
an Increase of 20 per cent in the cmpor-
or's revenues. The succeeding year al
most doubled the receipts, and now,
after 80 years of benevolent dcspotism.
the most powerful man in China is tho
little Belfast iriShman, who is absolute
lord and ruler OF "a treaty ports and
5000 officials. Probably no man liv.
ing knows the Chinese character and
the Chinese ways rs well as Sir Robert
Hart, l. e. {. When tho great Chinese
council OF state gets stuck, rs it fire.
quontly does, Hart is called in, and it
is his pride that he has always pulled
the council out OF these troubles.
Absolute honor has been the keynote
OF Hart's success. An official who would
not steal and would not lie was IA man
unknown III China before Hart went
there For years after Sir Robert enter
ed the Chinese service the viceroy kept
TAP on him, but 1t was soon found that
he needed no watching his accounts
were correct to penny. and now he is
absolutely trusted. Thirty five years
experience has Taught the Chinese Off
Gals that there is one man in the world
VINO VIII not steal and can neither be
frightened nor bribed. Chicago Chrop.
icle.