The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-15

more than any man beneath the em-
peror had ever enjoyed. He was re-
moved from his offices as viceroy of
the metropolitan province, and SUPER
intendent of northern trade. and
Wang Wen Shao. who had been vice.
roy of Quei Chow, was appointed to
succeed him. He dare not go to Pekin
after the treaty of peace was signed,
for fear of meeting fats worse than
official disgrace. The treaty was car
ried there by an imperial messenger,
and General John w. Foster, who had
been the legal adviser Of the Chinese
plenipotentiaries, followed it the next
day to explain its terms to the Tsung-
Il Yamen.
Not only did Earl Ii refuse to face
the opposition to the ratification OF
that convention, but Mr.. Foster was
not able to find native interpreter
who dare translate his words to the
princes who sat around the long table.
The humiliation of China was so keen,
the fear OF official vengeance was so
great. that he was compelled to appeal
to Mr.. Cheshire, the interpreter OF the
United States legation. Mr.. Foster
explained to the Tsung-li Yamen the
exceedingly difficult task they had I'M
posed upon Ii Hung Chang. and en-
deavored to convince them that he had
made much better terms than could
have been secured by any other man.
He told them. too. that if the treaty
was so ratified the government Of
China would be no longer recognized
by civilized nations.
There was, undoubtedly, large party
headed by the most powerful influences
in Pekin determined upon the downfall
of Earl Ii. More than sixty memorials
of a most hostile character, condemning
his conduct of the war, denouncing his
treaty of peace. and impeaching his
loyalty, were received from various
mandarins in all parts of the empire,
and submitted to the emperor by the
board Of censors with more or less in
dorsement. 1t Is conceded that no other
man in China could have sustained
himself or survived such an assault.
But Ii remained silent and submissive
in his yamen at Tientsin, waiting for
the storm to subside, when, on one. Of the
last days of August, 1895, he was sum-
moned to the presence of his sovereign.
was at Tientsin at the time, and had
an interview with him the day previous
to his departure. With the rest of the
world around him, he pretended to be
very much surprised. and to be unable
to explain the motive of the call. He
expressed an opinion, however, that the
Tsung-li Yamen probably desired to
confer with him concerning the details
of commercial treaty, which he had
been authorized to negotiate with ia
pan, to carry out some of the conditions
of peace, and was making his arrange
ments for departure as coolly as II it
We're an ordinary journey. But the for
eigners in Tientsin thought otherwise.
Some believed that he was to suffer
of the war. Others, who had better op-
portunities to know the truth, were con-
fdent that the summons was not unex-
pected; that it was the result of his own
contrivance through the empress dow
ager, and a step In the plan by which
the disgraced viceroy expected to re-
store himself to favor: tnat he sought
an audience with the emperor in order
to defend his conduct; to explain the
causes of the disaster and the reasons
why he had been compelled to accept
such humiliating terms from Japan.
In coroboration of this theory II was
discovered that the earl was ready for
instant departure. and was on his way
forty-eight hours after receiving his or
ders. This was indeed a significant
circumstance to those who are familiar
wi hp nd of
all distinguished men in China. And
what was even more significant, he had
already prepared for shipment a large
number of gifts for persons Of influence
at the court. their value being estimat-
ed at $250,OO0. His escort was composed
of 23O persons, including 100 picked SOL
diers of the vice-regal guards. The re-
mainder were secretaries, clerks, aid
de-camp, Wallets, cooks, chair bearers.
coolies and other servants. Mr.. Peth-
lex, his American secretary; WI Ting
Fang, director of the Tientsin railway,
and DR.. Lin Luen Huen, the viceroy's
private physician, who was educated in
America. also accompanied him.
Upon his arrival at Pekin, the ex-
viceroy took up his residence at the
Hsien LiangSsu, the Temple of the
Sages and Righteous Men, on Goldfish
| avenue, just outside the Tung Han (east
flower) gate of the forbidden city, which
he has owned for several years. while
he was there awaiting an audience with
the emperor he was visited by a gentle
man who writes that the temple was
1.-The forlornest place you can imagine,
| entirely without comforts or convent
ences such as one might expect to find
in the abode of a man of his rank and
wealth. The floor Is covered with filthy
| and ragged straw mats that look as If
they had not been swept for year, and
| the only furniture in the room where
he received me was a very uncomfort-
able-looking European bed, rounC
| table with marble top and two wooden
| chairs OF European manufacture. 1t
reminded me of a room in cheap hotel
In an American town, such as you find
! In southern India; very unlike what you
would expect to see in the residence of
| rich and powerful mandarin"
1t is interesting to Lis mood at this
time. and his visitor continues: "The
| old man Is very respondent concerning
| his own future and apprehensive of
| emperor. He knows that the latter is
continually surrounded by his enemies
and that there are only two persons in
| the whole court that he can depend up
on. These are the empress dowager,
who is several miles away and never
comes to the Forbidden City, and Prince
kung, who is getting old and lazy. He
feels his disgrace keenly. and his eyes
were moist when he spoke of the hu-
initiating termination of his long SER
vice for his own counry. He said II
would have been better for him If he
had died five years ago. when he was
at the top of the heap. But occa.
sionally in the conversation his tre-
! mendous nerve and vigor would appear