New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-30
POTENT IN CHINESE HISTORY.
A SHANGHAI MAGAZINES DESCRIPTION OF
THE GREAT MAN TWENTY YEARS AGO.

! THE GREAT MAN TWENTY YEARS AGO.
While Ii Hung. Chang ia being feted by the United
States as the greatest Chinaman of this generation
I'm point of commanding intellect. 1t may prove in
ter ssting to turn back the pages of history a few
! years to the time when the Ambassador was not
at the zenith OF his power, when he was still srug
Cling with reactionsts and court ntriguers TO put
his country in the line OF progress and to show what
manner of he was Exactly twenty years ago
the monthly magazine. The Far East" published
In Shanghai gave brief pen picture Of the great
Niceroy and portrait which shows him I'm the
prime OF life with thoughtful face from which.
however the lines Of care absent.
Ii Hung Chang Is a native OF the district OF iofei
in tho province Ct Auhwln In the literary COM
petitions which are essential to attain high caste
rank in China showed himself proficient Of the
first order. 1t not long before his abilities were
in demand for the public service and he was APP
pointed Grain Commissioner from his province. Not
however. until 1862 he pu. into position in
which his strong personally and great mental
power could make their mark upon the affairs Of
his country. In that year he was summoned to mill
tary duty at Shanghai. and placed in charge Of the
forces that had been organized TO recapture 500
chow He afterward entitled successfully Prov
incal Criminal Judge. Provincial Treasurer and
Lieutenant-Governor.
HIS COUNSEL THE BEST.
THE Far East" in 1876 had the following to say
about his administration of these offices
He comprehended the situation and the needs OF
the service This he showed by the manner In which
their tactics and appliances When his cSef Lao
met his tragit md. Ii Hung Chang succeeded him
We ind him vceroy Of the Lang Kiang ruling from
tn ancient capital Marking In his civil a. we'll as
fdence Of court and people. and it is believed by
natives generally. as well as by foreigners who
know him. that OF Chinese statesmen he is the At
test TO counsel and guide the Empire at the present
juncture of public affairs
There are" says P Chinese proverb three
things which. in their entirety. are difficult Of a.
tainment by man-longeyiy. sons and wealth"
These have all fallen to the lot OF Ii Hung Chang.
Moreover. his elder brother enjoys vice-rega dig
nifty He is regarded as pre-eminently fortunate
Of distinguished usefulness is yet before
him. His early successes being due 10 an efficient
employment Of the army ne perhaps attaches I'M
due importance to the art of war To him the
arsenal and fleet Of gunboats owe their existence.
1t is no disparagemen OF his abors In this respe t
to point to the inadequacy Of these means OF de-
fence to resist an invader They have accom-
pccted Of them BY their aid the Chinese coast has
took this matter in hand the coast vas so infested
by pirates that the maritime commerce OF the
bottoms subsdizins class of foreigners for
its protection. who themselves became mercless
freebooters.
HIS INFLUENCE on INDUSTRY
Individually It would have conduced 70 the public
veal had large portion of the funds that were
thus expended been devoted to industrial and sci
entinc works Still. these have not escaped tho at
tention of the astute Viceroy. The educational
mission TO the United states Is fa ar en-
sition to naugurate He has called into existence
feet Of stea ners which I'm their way are power
fu educators He would undoubtedly do much
more 70 develop the illmtable resources OF IN"
Empire II he had the power but conservatism. here
as elsewhere puts a drag the Of progress.
He IS to receive divine honors from the people
Of Chilli for introducing dredging machine sim
liar 70 that which Is restraining the vdearies ot
the Mississippi. The province OF Chill has suffered
so much from floods, owing to riverine ohstrur-
ton that the work which II HI ne Chang has
taken in hand will cause him to vie with the semi
mvthic Yu who's hydraulic lahors drained China
aft,r the catacysm of more than forty centuries