The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-08
HE IS THE LION.
Ii Hung Chang FeaSted
and Praised.
British Commercial Men Dine
With the Visitor.
Chinese Empire Depends Much Upon
British Attitude Toward II.

London, Aug. S.--Li Hung Chang con-
tinues TO be the center of marked at
tention from commercial and social cir
clcs, and the government is apparently
making every effort TO do honor TO the
nations guest. The famous Chinaman
was the guest OF the China association
at banquet at the Hotel Metropole last
night. Ii made his appearance at the
banqueting board in his yellow jacket
and peacock feather. The skirt Of his
dress was blue, and he wore the riband
and star OF the Victorian order.
The usual toasts of loyalty and courtesy
were drunk To the queen and to the En-
peror of China, after which came the
toast TO the guest of the evening. Sir
Cecil Smith, who was chairman OF the
evening, in toasting Ii Hung Chang,
said that he was heartily welcome, IL for
no other reason than that he had been
the lifelong friend OF Chinese" Gordon.
LII Hung Chang was governor of the
province of Kiang- Gee in 1860, when GEN
eral Gordon entered upon his work of
suppressing the TAPPING rebellion i'm that
province, and the two men were always
afterward friends.
to the toast, and il was read to the COM
pany by an interpreter He expressed
his sincere pleasure at the reception ac-
corded him. lie said that the difficulties
between China and England were the
result OF Misunderstanding To Eng
land, he continued, was mainly due the
merit, of bringing the leading CONNER
cial people OF the west into fruitful in
tercourse with what he might venture TO
call, without arrogance, the leading
commercial people of the east, thus
gradually leading China into the uni
vcrsal comfy OF nations. The road TO
great achievement. his speech proceeded,
sometimes leads to rough passages in
the intercourse or nations, but England
had been considerate and fair and had
therefore gained China's confidence He
added, however that there remains still
something TO be done TO maintain good
relations, and he hoped that his visit
would remove all difficulties in the way
OF complete harmony. He said that his
eyes had been opened to many things
since he had been I'm England, and he
hoped that the English would take a
warmer interest in the affairs Of China
and in her commercial prosperity. A de-
sire for peace. he added, dominates all
the efforts of China.
IF we have relied overmuch," said Ii.
upon our pacific feelings. to save us
from unprovoked aggression, IL is fault
engendered by long course of national
custom. Nobody is so sanguine as to ex-
pect TO change the current of thought
of people so numerous as the Chinese
In a single generation. Time much
patience and forbearance must be al
lowed before China can be brought to
regard international affairs from the
same point of view as do the western
peoples. The basis OF all real progress
in this direction, strange as ii seems. is
conservatism, and especially that
Chinas integrity should be preserved:
for IL that be threatened the prestige OF
the government will be impaired. and
we shall have no alternative but an
archy."
He then recalled the struggle in which
Chinese" Gordon was concerned, when
England's farseeing policy of support OF
the constituted authority in China was
rewarded by 30 years of successful COM
merce. British interests, he said, were
now precisely the same. Trade is free
10 ALL and untrammelled commerce is
the common ground. Our interests"
said the Chinese diplomat, run parallel.
We should like TO bable to reckon upon
We should like to be able to reckon upon
thu support of the commercial powers
should our independence ever be threat
ened from any quarter"
In conclusion, he offered his congratu-
latons on the admirable work OF the
China association in clearing away the
difficulties to intercourse between the
two countries.
George n. Curzon, in replying TO the
toast OF The Guests" alluded to the in
tellectual vitality and physical courage
which enabled Ii Hung Chang to under
take his journey. No spectacle, he con-
tinued. was more pleasing than TO see
China rising phoenix like from'the ashes
of her inmemorial past to devote her
self to the energetic development Of her
Incompatible resources.
The Times announces that Lord
Rothschild and the manager of the Nor
denfelt Guns and Ammunition company
had an interview with Ii Hung Chang
Eogfaf.HnN