The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-15
THE CAREER OF
Ii HUNG CHANG
Something About the So-called Bismarck
Of the Orient.
ONE OF THE GREATEST LIVING MEN

VNE Uf lnE UkEAIESI LlvINU mETv
Interest in the Remarkable History
orth. ror.mos, Man orthc Chinese
Notion ON tne Eve OF HIS Antcnoe"
Visit to the United States,
Wnham Z. Curtis,who last year COM
pieted a tour OF China. writes 10 the
Cnicago Record: 1 have private inior-
nation that LII Hung Chang VIII De
mere In September, and Will remain
about four weeks. The itinerary OF ms
journey has not yet been prepared put
1t VIII be IN advance OF his arrival
hear, too, that the statesmen OF fns-
land are In much doubt as 10 the posi-
tlon which the old man VIII occupy at
court when he returns to Pekin. 1t can
safely be assumed that ne VIII exercise
more influence than ne mas ever ha"
before. Tor II man VINO KNOWS "hat the
rest 40 not know Is very mucn re-
spected III CHINA. ana III Hune Chahs
has accumulated great deai Oh 'aiu-
able Information during ms journey.
lie mas seen the kings anu cZars anu
emperors. ana their MINISTER'S anu has
eiu"i' A'a' ''ioiie wiz auc
10 MS power anu popu'aiI'y' anu "e
VIII pe s"pposeo " ""ue STAIN
Whethef he ooeS vi no 80,
i"c's ailu puiioses y, u.p
que III Europe, WHICH III y n'".'s' .s
Gu as .he H'ost Important ,n,o' '&''''
Una. human oeinE Gun acquns. .
me posi'lon vi Ii tiuns .' n"s o.. o..
FeRH was d r'a''er vi eo,Jeo' ~ M
se'erai ilioi'ns % ,us. yea. thar,
were ooht,au,o.is ,.aa
iepiesen'eu ,n". M "u ,'., % ~
upo" 'ne s,lei' WIN no, - ~
i''iior'ai' uu''e' ii'po'e" ~
wary VI" s'a,esi'"i az ,ne ~,
Wheie nc eouIe oe .,,.. n,.
ouae' 'to ", ..','- So h;, o,,,,,
s'hei'ie nv ii's. .s d..
restoration oouiu NC vi ,', ~ ~. ha
i''''' "'nei Ho"t'eo We 80,
was e."uuny ,,'. ..,,.,, ,,,,roa,
h'ah'iis p""eii"i a''a.,oee VIZ - :,
",.o n"le T.., A.
WIN '"e , ,,s
Nl'e e,'piess oo"ase,' "'o ' ,,,'.,,, -
pee, MS s'ea'i"s' ',..,.,o
asaiii peeaihe hias'e' "a ''I
There are unquestionaple evidences
that modern IDEAS ana the spirit OF pro-
gress had In some way inferred through
the barriers or conservatism that IN
close the Chinese court, and that meas
ures which Ii Hung Chang had advo-
a.
1t is difficult to find out what goes on
within the pink walls OF the forbidden
city, but 1t Is at least true that the
recent progressive policy of the emper-
or was adopted after he took up his
residence there. The removal and deg
radiation of Wang Min Huan and
Chang Tung Lin. the two most con-
servative members of the government
was another indication that his mas
terful mind was at work. They had
been his bitterest enemies and severest
critics, and. being deprived of power
and banished from court, can no long,
er stand in his way.
Wang was one OF the most scholarly
men in China. Chang was one of the
few hereditary mobiles, and, in addition
to his place in the Tsun-li Yamen, was
governor of Pekin, and a member of the
board Of military affairs. The nominal
cause for their degradation was disre-
spect for the empress dowager and the
use of language calculated to estrange
her from the emperor, which was ut
tered nearly year previous. In the
edict of dismissal the emperor explained
that their punishment was postponed
because he wished to avoid domestic
irritation while the empire was engaged
In a foreign war. but 1t was the univer-
sal belief that these ministers were re-
moved because of their extreme conser-
I vative and anti-fOreign prejudices, and
their stubborn opposition in the minis
terial council to the construction OF
railways by the government, to the
porations for the same purpose. and to
other modern innovations. This under
standing was confirmed by the promul-
CATION, Immediately after their dismis-
sal, OF the edict or Dec. b. 1898, which
may be termed the starting post oi
Chinese progress, for 1t Is the first de-
cree on record from the son of heaven
which recognizes the necessity OF rail-
ways 10 the welfare OF CHINA, ana the
advantages OF modern improvements
over the antlquated methods which he
ana MS SUBJECTS nave inherited IRON
tne age OF Moses. The degradation oi
wang ana Charg was unprecedented IN
tne annais OF Chlnese history. NO mer