Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1896-09-09
LII Hung Chang.

The great Chinese statesman, III Hung
Chang. arrived in New York on Friday, and
was received with high honors. Eleven
war ships were in review and the harbor
was crowded with craft, big and little. The
distinguished visitor was escorted to the
Waldorf Hotel by U. 5. troops and became
the guest of the National Government
The receiving party was headed by General
Ruger. On Saturday President Cleveland
arrived from "Buzzard's Bay" and gave
formal reception st the palatial re-idence OF
Hon. VIM. G Whitney. These formaliIies
occupied only thirty minutes. and Mr..
Cleveland returned to "Buzzard's Bay"
Ii HUNG CHANG's GREETING.
After the formal greetings Ii HING Chang
addressed the President As follows:
''Your excellency, it affords me great
pleasure to have the honor to be presented
to your excellency. The reputation of yoar
highly esteemed virtues is widely known
throughout the world, and in you the citi
zens of the United States Of America have
invariably placed their confidence; conse-
quently both the interior administration and
the exterior relations of this great republic
are in a state Of prosperity.
"It will always be the desire Of my august
master, the Emperor of China, to maintain
the most cordial relations with America,
whose friendly assistance rendered to the
government of China after the China Japa-
nese war, and whose protection for the safety
of the Chinese immigrants in America are
always to be highly appreciated.
81 am now sperially appointed by my au
gust master, the Emperor Of China, TO pre-
sent to your exceIlency the assurance of his
most friendly feelings toward the United
States of America in hope that your excel
lency will reciprocate bis sentiments aad CO.
operate with him to promote the friendly
intercourse between our two countries Tor
the cause Of human kind.
81 trust that your excellency's government
will continue to afford protection and kind
treatment to the Chinese immigrants in
Americs and to render friendly assistance to
the Chinese government when rcquired.-
May the peoples of our two nations enjoy
the benefits Of perpetual peace"
MIR. CLEvELAND's REPLY.
Mr. Cleveland replied thus
Your excelency, it gives me great pleas.
ure to receive from your hand the personal
letter from your august sovereign and TO
greet you SIS his personal representative.
"Snce our two countries became better
acquainted, many incidents have occurred
calculated to increase our friendly relations
and not the least gratifying Of these are the
friendly expressions contained in the letter
of your Emperor and the visit to our coun-
try of his most distinguished subject who
has been so honoraby and prominently con-
Dec,cd with public affairs in his own coun-
try and with all that has been attempted in
the direction Of its advancement and i'm
prOvement.
"Your visit to Us at this time is made more
impressive by the thought that it serves to
ioin in one suggestion the most ancient civ
ilizarion Of the East and the best type Of a
newer civilization in the Western world.
Notwithstanding the widely different
characteristics of the two countries, the well
come which is rendered you by The govern
ment and citizens Of the United States illus
trales in the strongest possible manner the
kinship of nations. We feel that in the ar
ranrement for your tour you have not ailot-
ted to your sojourn among Us sufficient time
to gain an adequate observation OF all we
have accomplished AZ nation. 1t will not
however. escape your notice that rich and
fertile domain has here been quickly created
by those who were assured that they would
reap where they had sown; that strong
aud benefcpnt government has been hei'
established by those who loved freedom, and
that We have generous and patriotic Peo
ple who love their government because It II
their.-contracted by them, administered fol
them and protected aud saved from harm by
them.
1--WE heartily wish that your stay with III
may be most pleasant and that at IT. clos'
YOU may enjoy safe and agreeable relurr
to YOUR home and your field Of duty and use
fulness"