The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-13
PRINCE Ii HUNG CHANG
GOSSIP ABOUT THE COMING VISIT OF
THE CHINESE PREMIER.
President Cleveland One of His
"Great and Good Friends"-HOw
He Will he Entertained.
,ec,a, 70 the Indiananolis journal.

WASHINGTON, July l2.-Ihe approach
ing visit to Washington of Ii Hung Chang.
the Chinese Premier, is occupying the
minds of those officials of the State Depart
ment whose duty II is to do the hospitality
act" whenever the government is entertain
ing some distinguished visitor. Premier Ii
brings with him a letter from the Emperor
of China to President Cleveland. Foreign
potentates in friendly correspondence al
ways address each other as great and
good friend" In this particular case the
address is not merely courteous euphon-
ism. President Cleveland is regarded by
the Emperor of China with the highest ad-
miration, and Mr.. Cleveland has honestly
deserved this high regard. He has always
shown himself to be a warm friend of the
Chinese, no matter how the interests Of the
American people. suffered therefrom. 1t will
be remembered that when the Geary exclu-
sion act was passed Mr.. Cleveland sought
by every means in his power to nullify it.
even going so far as to bring about an ex-
ira session of the Supreme Court of the
United States to test the constitutionality
of the law. He had held a conference with
Chief Justice Fuller. who believed that the
law could be overthrown. and. acting
this information, the Supreme Court met
ana heard a test case. 10 Mr.. Cleveland's
panied surprise. however. the Court upheld
the law. how unwilling Secretary Carlisle
has always been TO enforce the law, and TO
what extent 1T is now practically dead
letter Is notorious.
Washington, especially i'm order that he
may receive the great Chinese Premier al
the Nations capital. At least the officials
OF the State Department. who ought 10
know. declare that he will come. The Pre-
mier will remain here a week. During that
time he will be the guest OF the Nation.
"a ifC ha sat naf hon, ia
country is entertaining a foreign guest the
state Department as the offlcial host OF
the Nation. rises fully 10 the occasion. No
expense is spared. nor do the American
peop.e ever ask questions. Every year Con-
Sress appropriates the sum of $4,000. which
is known as the contingent fund OF the
state Department. This money entirely
at the disposal of the Secretary of State, TO
be expended by him in the purchase of Sc
cret information abroad. and in those other
ways which ii Is obviously impossible for
the State Department to make public. Out
of this fund the Chinese Premier Will be
entertained.
The liberality of the United States gov
ernment towards foreign visitors was never
more magnificently displayed than during
the visit of the Infanta Eulalie and the
Duke of Veraglla when they represented
the Spanish nation at the worlds fair. 1t
would be discourteous to even intimate how
many thousands of dollars the visit of their
royal Highnesses cost the government, and
IL borders on indiscretion to hint even now
that the State Department was not unwill-
lDR N1en the lnIanta last Qeclared ner
intention of returning to her home because
to tell the truth. the funds at Secretary
Gresham's disposal had dwindled 10 almost
nothing However. the Infanta enjoyed her
visit, and was duly impressed with the law
ish magnifcence of the hospitality show
cred upon her.
When Lii arrives here, he probably will
be treated TO the same imposing array of
warlike pomp and splendor that greeted
the lnfanta. Secretary Lamont will doubt
less call out the cavalry at Frort Myer
and the artillery at the arsenal, and Act
ing Secretary of the Navy McAdoo will
turnso the Marine Band and the marines
at the barracks. Then il the presidents OF
the local car companies can be aroused
to sufficient patriotism ii is quite likely
that they Fwiil order their cars to stop
running as the parade passes up the ave-
nue.. 1t will be recalled, perhaps by those
who were here at the time that when the
Infanta was being escorted TO her hotel
that the cavalrymen of her escort Gwo
troops of the famous Ninth black cavalry
the most distinguished Indian lighters in
the army were routed ignominiously by
the cable cars which charged among them,
and which unhorsed several of these reck-
less Indian fighters. If the Premier desires
"a magnificent suite of apartments at the
Arlington Hotel they will be placed at his
disposal for which the government will
| cheerfully pay a thousand dollars day
IL necessary. But it is believed that he viii
prefer to be the guest Of the Chinese min
| lister here. The Chinese legation consists
| of three of the handsomest houses in
| Washington thrown into one magnificent
I
! fashionable part of the city.
| During his stay Ii will probably be COM
PEELED to undergo the usual routine of visit
| ing Fort Myer and watch the troops go
| through Cossack drill: he will IL Is 10
he hoped. express an earnest desire to
visit Mount Vernon and the Navy Depart
nlent will probably have the Dolphin or
| some other equally handsome government
craft in Washington for that purpose.
| Possibly he would do we'll TO stroll around
the Democratic headquarters and learn a
| thing two as TO the management of
| nations from the astute Senator German,
whom he will probable find there In
| charge. He win doubtless avoid the Cor
coran Building. where Senator Stewart
| who is as insane on the question OF the
Chinese as he is on free silver. presides as
| chairman of the National Silver party
| There WILL of course. he a state dinner
given him by the President at the White
| House, and Secretary Of State Olney will
| also show him the courteses due his rank
| II is not 10 be wondered at that out of the
| fortnight which the Chinese Premier ex-
| poets to spend in this country the pro-
| gramme which he has outlined includes a
! week in Washington.