The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-09-06
CHINA'S IRISH RULER
SIR ROBERT HART, WHO CONTROLS
HER FINANCES.

He Is Absolute Ruler of "A Ports and
Get the Position Man Absolutely
Honest and Fearless.
When the first Chinese loan for the
indemnity of Japan was offered, it was
noticed that the loan was guaranteed by
"Hart, I. G. c." AS the entire amount
was for e15, 100000 and $4,000, 900
is very big sum for any man to be able
to guarantee, there has been some curl
osity as to the guarantor's personality.
"Hart, I. G. g." means Belfast
Irishman known all over the earth as
the most influential man in the orient
He is in charge Of the Chinese customs,
with the title of inspector general Of
customs, which he economically cuts
down into 81. G. c." This position he
has held since 1859. Before that year
the customs system of China was just
one big steal. Ostensibly it was under
the supervision Of a great noble, who
was supposed to turn into the Chinese
treasury the entire receipts. Like most
Chinese officeholders, he 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 the treaty that fol.
lowed China agreed to pay the cost of
England's war.
The imperial customs, China's chief
source Of revenue, were pledged to Sc
cure the debt. A young Irishman named
Hart was England's representative and
was placed in charge Of the Chinese Gus
toms bureau, charged with seeing that
all the duties collected were turned into
the Hongkong bank. The entire amount
of the indemnity was collected so much
quicker than either nation had expected
that Mr.. Hart was called upon to ex-
plain. His terse explanation was Zone
third of the duties collected never reach
the imperial treasury. They are the
spoils of the officials who have been in
charge of the customs -
Somewhat naturally, this answer
created gloom in the mind of the Chi
nese emperor, and just as Hart was re-
turning to his own country he sent for
him and asked him to take charge of the
Chinese customs and do for China what
he had just been doing for England.
Harris answer was as terse as his former
explanation. He said: 81 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
viceroy, shall interfere with me or give
me any orders. must also have the
right to employ my own subordinates
and to hire or discharge whoever I
please"
This was rather large order, but the
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 % per cent in the emper-
or's revenues. The succeeding year al
most doubled the receipts, and now,
after So years Of benevolent despotism,
the most powerful man in China is the
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 as well as Sir Robert
Hart, I. G. G. When the great Chinese
council Of state gets stuck, as it fire.
quently 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 Harris success. An official who would
not steal and would not lie was a man
unknown in China before Hart went
there. For years after Sir Robert enter
ed the Chinese service the viceroy kept
tab on him, but it was soon found that
he needed no watching, his accounts
were correct to a penny, and now he is
absolutely trusted. Thirty-fve years
experience has taught the Chinese Off
cials that there is one man in the world
who will not steal and can neither be
frightened nor bribed. Chicago Chron-
icle