Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-03

latter was the guest Of Ii Hung Chang.
who ordered royaaehonses to be paid him on
meeting of the tWe meM.
There was a cutaoua interest in the meet
Ing. The vieeroEg as boon as he knew of
orders that he shoaldsthave royal honors.
AS the man-of-@Ar passed up the Peiho
river the troops iwere tparaded and every
fort fired twentyi0ne gahs. The 1unks were
ned yards. The cannon, the flags, the col
ors. the banks et thst river lined with
dense multitude blended into a picture
worthy Of the shniusdof Turner. AS the
man-of-war approached Tien-Tsin the vice
regal yacht approached. Grant advanced
quarter deck. II TSere e'S VAS the dense back
but none the less significant, background
OF our own. Tho viceroy studied Grant
lcng and curiously. We had tea and wine
and cigars. Then came In that touch OF
oriental poetry-imagination. perhaps
which enters into the viceroy's character.
They were friends, he said; they would be
in accord. The stars had said It. They
were born In the same year, 1922 Grant
had commanded the army which had sup
pressed the southern rebellion, Ii had COM
manded- the army which had suppressed
the Tae-Ping rebellion. Yes. they We're In
accord. And how strange that Grants IL
!ustrious opponent, like himself,was named
Lee.
well remember the interview, it being
my privilege to share in it. The v1ceroy
was then in the splendor of health age
hity-seven, the embodiment of agility and
ability, not, as now, stricken with years
and wounds, but dominant, masterful
spirit, tall, quick, decisive, large head. eye
keen. looking you directly in the face. and
perfect in that courtesy seen nowhere to
such degree as in the east.
Grant returned the call the next day and
was received with pomp-a guard from the
man-of-war. The viceroy sent his yacht
q superb vessel-and as we steamed up to
the viceregal palace the banks OF the river
We're lined with troops at present, cannon
firing, and behind the soldiers dense null
ttude. The ceremony ended by the V1ceroy
asking General Grant to sit with him and
be photographed
1t was here that the viceroy received
Gen. Grant, and won his commentator as
world, and laid the foundation of friend
ship that lasted to the end of the generals
life. and has since been extended to mis-
family.
His Recent Journey.
The coronation of the young emperor and
empress at the ancient capital of all the
Russias was one of the greatest functions
of the kind that has taken place in the
modern world. 1t was necessary for every
potentate, prince and president, the en-
peror of China included, to be represented
there in person or by proxy. There was no
precedent for selecting prince or the I'M
perial family, and there was no subject eX-
cept Ii Hung Chang sufficiently well
known, or who had filled a station sgtti-
ciently important, to entite him to this
exalted piaees' Hence in spite OF his ad-
vancing years, he was selected. His hon
ors' and HH6corations wdFe- given back to
him. and. with the title of earl and the
high office Of ambassador he was sent
forth with his son and great retinue to
represent his country and his august mas
ter
What his instructions were must remain
for the present largely a matter of con-
lecture. ard the conjectures which have
been gwen TO the. world by the journalists
and reporters of the day cover every con-
ceivable question which might arise be-
tween China and foreign nations. 49,
So much is certain After attending the
coronation, participating in its ceremonies,
and attracting almost as much attention
as the emperor and empress whom he went
to honor, he has made the tour of the chief
countries of Europe, and is now on his way
back TO Picking. where he will arrive to-
ward the end of October. He will have
travelled completely around the earth from
east to west, covered some thing over thirty
thousand miles by Sea and land, traversed
+ne richest countries of Europe and Amer
lca.,t and have seen their chief cities. He
will have conferred with emperors kings
'presldents prime ministers, seera taries of
state. statesmen, warriors and lesser digni-
tarles, and men of note impossible to name
or enurerate. He has everywhere been re-
ceived with the greatest respect and con-
sideration. Crack troops and military or
CARNATIONS have passed In review before
MN, and each Huropean power has We'd
with tfe other in showing him how potent
1t is for war and how rich 1t is in peace
Great Britain, although somewhat tardy
In her welcome, did not fail to exhibit a
great fleet of ironclads to impress him with
the belief that she Is Still mistress of the
seas and the greatest Asiatic power in ex-
1Stence.- 1t is Surmised that he talked with
his RUSSIAN hosts about the Trans-Si berian
railroad and its connection with Chinese
railroads yet to be built, IL not about the
diplomatic and commercial relations of
Russia, China and Japan. -,
1t IS reported that he asked Lord Sails
bury to consent to the increase of the duty
on merchandise imported into China per
cent, as fixed by the present treaties to 10
per cent ad valorem, not as matter Of
bargain, but as a matter of right, and that
Lord Salisbury declined because no equlva-
lent had been offered to Great Britain In
exchange for 1t.
European statesmen probably will not
forget that in one of his conversatio with
Count Ito during the negotiations of the
treaty of peace, Ii Hung Chang suggeste ed
that '"tfle- policy which should rule the
Asiatic continent is that we should estab-
llsh an enduring peace in order to prevent
the yellow race of Asia from succumbing
to the white race of Europe" and Count
Ito replied: Il indorse your excellency's
views with all my heart" adding a few mo-
ments later: Heaven is impartial and
speeds the right. If China will but make
an effort, help will come from on high, Let
alike for US all, will not forsake you: thus
W. d