The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-14
Observation-Disclosures
for Friendship.
Why Ii Hung Chang Wanted
to Commit Suicide.
Cavalier Ideas of Honor and Dignity
in State OF Kentucky.

wAsHrSGTcY, juno l4.-[Special. l.
Now that there Is so much talk Of the an
nexation of Hawaii and possibly the estab-
lishment Of protectorate over Cuba dur
ing the Mckinley administration ID IL
worth while 10 note the remark recently
made by distinguished senator. He said
the United States had never yet made a
bad investment in territory. Every bit of
land that we had acquired, whether by
purchase or conquest, had added to the
greatness and glory Of the country. "Our
investments I'm Florida, in Louisiana. and
even I'm Alaska, turned out TO be most for
tunate," said the senator. ~ well remem-
Der how bitterly opposed many Of our most
eminent men were TO the payment OF S7,-
900, 900 for Alaska. Il. B. Washburnc,
General Grants great friend, opposed the
bill. General Butler made Characteristic
speech, in which he secuted the idea that
we should pay this sum out of oonsidera
tions OF friendship for Russia. If we are
TO pay this price MS usury on tho friendship
of Russia. snid Butler, we are paying for
II very dear indeed
A Good Bargain.
81 remember that at ore moment IL look
ed as IL the bill to purchase Alaska would
be defeated. twould have failed as pure
business proposition, for no one believed
the country was worth having. 1t was
only because Russia had offered II to us as
mark Of her friendship and because it
was feared that IL would be exceedingly un-
gracious In rs 90 refuse IL that the opposi-
tion finally gave way. General Nathaniel
Banks was then the chairman Of the com
.s,t. a.. Il
he made speech which attracted great
attention. He pointed out that Russia
had been our friend for hundred years;
that at every step Of cur history, from $50
10 the moment in which he was speaking,
Russia had shown her great regard for
this country.
II will never forget one passage OF this
speech. In the darkest hour of our peril.
said General Banks, during the rebellion,
when France and England were contem-
plating the recognition Of the Confederacy,
the whole world was thrilled by the ap.
pearance i'm San Francisco harbor of
feet Of Russian wGrships, anu nearly at
the samo time, whether by accident or de-
sign, second fleet of Russian naval YES
sells appeared in the harbor OF New York.
From that hour rance on the one hand
and England on the other receded from
their position and the American govern
ment regained its position and power.
Now asked General Banks, shall we
flout the Russian government in every
court In Europe rs mark Of our apprecia-
tion for its frierdshipg This speech car
riod the day. The bill was passed. Alas
ka became part of the United States,
and Is today, as &c long has been, a territory
from which our people take every year
many times the original cost about which
so much fuss was raised in congress. That
was a case ir which IL paid TO be gener
ous.'
A Question Of Caste.
John ". Foster, formerly secretary Of
state, but now our special Commissioners
to England for the purpose of trying 10
save somo Of Uncle Sans valuable prop
erty In Alaska, the seal life, once told me
queer story about Ii Hung Chang. It
appears that when the great Chinese states
man was wounded by a pistol shot at the
hands Of japanese fanatic Ii Hung
Chang was so mortified that he wanted TO
commit suicide. He had himself done
nothing disgraccful, but his person had
been touched In violence by the hand of a
low caste man. In the traditions of the
orioptnls this Is disgraceful. The noble
who Is thus tainted wants TO die in order
TO wipe the stain away. IL was necessary
for some days to watch thosged statesman
TO make sure that he did himself no harm.
Mr.. Foster and Others labored with him
10 convince him how foolish was tho no.
ton that because miscreant had attempt
ed his life he should feel humiliated and
disgraced. Ii Hung Chang finally recov-
cred from the hurt Co his pride as well as
from tho injury 10 his person.
Something like this idea prevails In our
own country. Down In Kentucky, where
cavalierish ideas of personal honor and
dignity obtain TO this day among the we'll
born men, there is q feeling that ono Is
disgraced IL an enemy touches him with
his hand. An affront Of this sort is never
forgiven. An elaboration Of the Same idea
is found in the Kentucky code which re-
quires the lie 90 bo avenged In blood. Hap
ply this tradition Is not as strong now as
IL was years ego, hut 1t was only "A very
short time ago that high minded, magnif-
icent Kentucky gentleman, ordinarily
calm and gentle Of demeanor went TO his
death in yiudlcqtion OF this article Of the
code. Every enc wll remember the dread
ful tragedy at Lexington, Ky, few years
ago in which Colonel Goodloe and Major
Swope killed ono another. This tragedy
recalled to friend of mine the other day
one of the prJtticst stories in real life /
have heard IN O long time
A Touching Scene.
'I was at the funeral Of Colonel Good
loe." said he. 1.-The colonel had been my
friend. A warmer hearted, truor gentle
man never lived. lie had eight beautiful
daughters. To them their father was the
hero of tho world. They worshipod him.
When Colonel Goodloo lay wounded To
death, but still conscious, the physicians
told the family there was no hope; that
the end would soon come. TIE mother
aud the eight daughters then showed they
xrnrn "a orf hN in ln Tho wife mud childrnn