Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-09-25

methods. Ii Hung Chang secured the
right Of admission to Office through his
assiduous application to study and every
succeeding step in his upward career has
been attained by his own genius and
capacity. It was the intention Of Ii Hung
Chang to devote himself to study, but an
event occurred just after his return to
his fathers home on the Yang-tse-Kiang
River, after his successful examination
at Peking, that changed the current Of his
life. The TAPPING rebellion, which was
directed. against the reigning dynasty,
was then at its height and its leaders had
captured the ancient capital, Marking,
and were marching at the head Of a tri-
umphant army toward the capital, Pc
king. Ii Hung Chang, his youthful ar
dor infamed, raised force of militia
and harassed the rear Of the rebel army
ON its march. The rebels were checked
in their advance on the capital and were
forced to return to Marking. Ii Hung
Chang's services in contributing to this
end were recognized by the general Of the
imperial army, Tseng-Kwo-fan, and Las
army was attached to the main army and
Ii himself was assigned to an important
post. He soon displayed great military
qualities and became the active command
er in the field. He Joined to his army a
band of adventurous Europeans, organiz-
ed and commanded by an American sailor
named Ward, and afterward, on Wards
death, led by Gen. Gordon. This army
was called "the ever victorious army"
and victory after victory was won until
the rebellion was crushed. The rebellion
had cost the empire dearly. Nearly half
of il had been laid waste and 10000, 600
lives had been sacrificed. Ii Hung
Chang emerged from it with high mill
tary reputation and the most famous man
in the nation. He was made an earl,
was presented with the yellow jacket
the exclusive emblem of imperial favor
and was appointed viceroy of an import
ant province. But he was not suffered to
engage in the administration of civil af-
fairs. Numerous revolts occurred after
the suppression of the TAPPING rebellion,
and for several years Ii Hung Chang
was engaged in suppressing them.
And then came, in 1870, the horrible
butchery of French missionaries and nuns
and of the French consul at Tientsin.
The French Government demanded heavy
reprisals and the Chinese Government
became alarmed. Ii Hung Chang was
transferred as viceroy to the province Of
Chihli, where the riot had occurred, and
so well did he manage the affair that
peace was restored, complete atonement
made to the French, and war was thereby
averted, to the evident benefit of the Chi
nese. French honors were conferred on
Ii Hung Chang; he was made imperial
tutor, grand secretary of state and was
created noble of the first rank. These
Offices made him ever since the first Off
cial and statesman of the Government
under the Emperor.
AS Governor of Chilli he became the
guardian and protector of the Emperor,
the capital being within the province.
His Office as imperial tutor brought him
into intimate relations with the imperial
household and his diplomatic duties at
Tientsin, following the massacre, distin-
guished him as diplomat in every i'm
portant treaty negotiation OF diplomatic
controversy of his Government. Prob
ably no living man has received such sig
nal marks Of respect from his diplomatic
antagonists as he. In the Margary af-
fair, most serious controversy with
Great Britain, he was SO straightforward
and just in meeting the demands of that
Government that Sir Thomas Wade was
led to make an important concession, Elm
recognition of the frankness with which
he had negotiated this very troublesome
business" In the adjustment of the