The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-09-10

statesman, had just arrived in this
country on his tour around the world.
The following account of the meeting
Of President Cleveland and the emf
nent oriental representative will be
read with pleasure. The meeting took
place at the residence of Hon. VIM.
c. Whitney, in New York City. The
account says:
Ii Hung Chang and his suite, upon
entering the Whitney mansion, were
ushered into the drawing room at the
lett of the entrance. President cleve-
land, and the members of his Cabinet,
who were present, took positions in
the centre of the ballroom, the Presi-
dent standing beneath group of Chi
nese flags, draped on either side OF a
gilded American eagle, above which
were the Stars and Stripes. When all
was ready for the presentation, Pri
vate Secretary Thurber notified the
guests of the fact. Ii Hung Chang
and his secretaries, and members of his
suite, then entered the room. Secre
tary Olney introduced the Viceroy to
President Cleveland. The Ambassa-
dor, who wore a new and far more
gorgeous yellow jacket than that worn
upon his arrival recently, bowed low,
and shook hands with President
Cleveland. All present were standing,
and so remained throughout the cere-
mony, which was very formal.
The secretary of Ii Hung Chang,
I.o Fung Luh, handed to his Excel
lency a letter from the Emperor of
China to the President Of this nation.
1t was very elaborate affair, done in
Chinese, on parchment, and wrapped
in yellow silk covering, upon which
was the Chinese dragon, worked in red /,
blue, green and while. The parch-
ment resembled large music roll. Ii
Hung Chang presented this letter to
Mr.. Cleveland. He then made an
address on his own account, which was
interpreted by Lo Fung Luh.
LIS sHEECH.
The translation of Ii Hung Chang
remarks is as follows:
"Your Excellency: 1t affords me
great pleasure to have the honor to be
presented to your Excellency. The
reputation of your highly esteemed
virtues, is widely known throug hout the
world, and in you the citizens of the
United States of America have invari-
ably placed their confidence. Conse-
quently, both the interior admlnistra-
ton and the exterior relations of this
great republic are in state OF pros
perity.
"It will always be the desire of my
august master, the Emperor of China,
to maintain the most cordial relations
with America, whose friendly assist.
ance, rendered to the government oI
China after the China-Japanese war
and whose protection for the safety OF
Chinese immigrants in America are tc
be highly appreciated.
"I am specially appointed by my
august master, he Emperor of China
to present to your Excellency the let
ter of credence, and to convey to youl
| Excellency the assurance of"his mos
friendly feelings toward the United
States of America, in the hope thai
your Excellency will reciprocate hi:
sentiments and cooperate with him te
promote friendly intercourse between
our two countries for the cause O.
human kind.
81 trust that your Excellencys gov
ernment will continue to afford pro
| lection and kind treatment to th'
| Chinese immigrants in America, ane
| to render friendly assistance to ths
Chinese government when required.
I "Nlay the people Of our two grea
nations enjoy the benefits of perpetua
peace" ;"
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
Mr.. Cleveland replied as follows:
"Your Excellency: 1t gives m
great pleasure to receive from you
hand the personal letter from you
august sovereign, and to greet you a
his personal representative.
"Since our two countries beCam
better acquainted, many incidents hav
occurred calculated to increase ou
friendly relations, and not the leas
:gratifying of these are the kindly eA
pressions contained in the letter
your Emperor, and the visit to OF
! country of his most distinguished sut
ject, who has been SO honorably an
prominently connected with publ
affairs in his own country, and with
that has been attempted in the diret
Il ton of its advancement and improve
): ment.
"Your visit TO us at this time is mad
more impressive by the thought that
! serves to join in one suggestion II
most ancient civilization Of the Eas
and the best type of the newer clvlliz
ton in the Western world.
Notwithstanding tie widely diffe
ent characteristics Of the two countrle
the welcome which is rendered you t
, the Government and citizens Of II
i United States illustrates in the stroni
: est possible manner the kinship of Il
, { nations.
:: ave feel that in the arrangement
your tour you have Tot allotted TO yo