The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-24
1 BATTLE ROYAL.
AMERICANS AND EyGLIsHNES SEEK
CHINESE FRAxCHIsE4
Methods Adopted ~ the british 60
Interfere With the Work Of A. W.
Bash and the Syndicate He Repre-
scEfa.

Characteristics cultivated by Engls&nmen
in Oriental countries Hidden By the
shield Of diplomacy and within the sacred
precincts Of the governing powers Of
China battle royal between British and
American capitalists has been fisrceiy rag
ing for many months The rival contest
ants are shrewd enough in the wttchcraft
OF Oriental craftsmanship TO realize the
necessity of not betrayfng any outward
sign OF the conflict lest they teopardizs
their standing with the high court Off
cials.
A few years ago after the japanese had
successfully conquered their lifelong foes.
! the great men OF China began 10 realize
the importance of removing the veil OF ig-
norance and entering upon an era Of ad-
yaHcement and progress In the arts Of CIV
ilixasion. The country must be developed.
the minerals must be taken from the
mountains and the fertile valleys of tho
! interior must send their product 10 the
sea coast. the accomplishment of which
depended almost entirely upon the con-
struction Of a system OF railroads. The
opportunities for wealth making would be
almost inestimable to the syndicate OBJ
tanning the exclusive franchise for con-
structffg and operating such system. AS
the personal representative OF the En-
peror OF China In the peace negotiations
with Japan at the close of the late war.
John w. Foster. formerly secretary OF
state under Mr.. Harrison, was in a posi-
ton TO appreciate the vast possibilities for
the profitable investment Of American cap
ttai lie was not long In casting about TO
find the right man for the position. Away
back in Ohio at a time when Mr.. Foster
was not SO well known as he is now. he
was deacon OF a church in little coun-
try village. In the same church there was
another deacon by the name of A w.
Bash. now OF Port Townsend. Wash. and
he was the man chosen by Mr.. Foster to
enter upon negotiations with the Chinese
government for railroad development in
China. Bash stood we'll with some of the
leading statesmen of that country. Sew
eral years ago. during a labor agitation
the Chinese were driven from their homes
I'm Rock Springs. Wyo.. and Tacoma.
Wash. Mr.. Bash collected the evidence
and presented IL to the government in
such a way to secure an appropriation
OF 100000 for the evicted Chinese and at
the same time earned the everlasting
friendship OF the Chinese minister at
Washington City. Chung Yuen Foon. Sub
seqaently the latter returned to China and
was chosen as one of the three commits
sioners to adjust the terms Of settlement
OF what promised to be serious entangle-
ment with the Kingdom Of Corea- BY Dip
lomatic sagacity he won great renown and
influence with the young Emperor of
China. He was Bash's friend. and Is now
en- route to England TO attend the queens
jubilee In June and by his absence from
China he is unwittingly jeopardizing
American interests to the possible value
of a great many millions of dollars. Chung
fuen Foon. IL he only realized as much. is
the victim Of a weil-planned scheme 10
thwart the Americans of their opportuni-
ties and to further the plans OF an English
syndicate. Dir. Bashs rival enterprise.
a a
Bash was presented TO the great Ii Hung
Chang. The latter was Immediately struck
with the striking resemblance Mr.. Bash
bore 20 the late Gen. Grant and inquired IL
he was not a close relative. Bash then re-
turned 10 the United States and proceeded
| East. where he organized a development
| company. the membership of which in
| ciuded Senator Calvin S. Brice, whitelaw
| Reid. of the New York Tribune. ex-Secre-
| tary Of State j. w Foster, Col. Thomas.
| formerly of Ohio and now OF New York,
| one Of the Hayemeyers and several others
| of equal prominence. Ii is stated on pretty
| good authority. too, that ex-President
| Harrison Is indirectly interested In the en-
terprise. The object of the company was
| TO secure concessions from the Chinese for
| building and operating lines of railroad
| and telegraph and the development of the
| mineral resources OF the country tributary
| TO the proposed railroad. One OF the OBJ
| jects In particular was the construction OF
| a line of road TO a mountain about 90 miles
| from the coast where vast deposit of
| iron and copper ores exists, which will be
utilized. IL is proposed, at a great naval
station which the government expects To
/ build when 1t re-equips It's navy. The line
/ win then turn abruptly from the mines
/ and cross a fertile country teeming with
! myriads of Chinese and enter the capital
| Pekin. Mr.. Bash is now in the field with
a corps OF engineers surveying the route
/ After returning 10 China and enjoying
the condolences OF IA Hung Chang and
/ Chung Yuen Foon. Mr.. Bash experien
| but little difficulty In obtaining favor
/ able audience with the four governing
! princes. the next subordinate power TO the
| emperor himself Affairs were looking
/ bright for the Americans until an English
/ syndicate came into the field and began
| seeking the same opportunities. The lat
| ter enlisted the services of well known
l and trusted British subject. who had been
! in the employ OF the Chinese government
/ for a great many years IN a confidential
! capacity. Then commenced the contest as
4 70 which syndicate could obtain the ex-
| elusive or most favorable concession.
/ Rash had a slight advantage. but his riv-
1 ais were In the field 20 win and stay Ev-
/ cry conceivable obstacle was thrown In
/ the way of the Americans. The resident
! EngIiShmau enjoyed the fuil confidence of
/ the high officials as gained by many years
! Of service for their government and he
4 contested every inch al ground with the
/ Americans. In measure. ST times he
I was partly successful. However. the long
! residence 81 Chung Yuen Foon In the
/ United States tsd made a favorablc I'M
! preston and he WAS decidedly aversp 10
/ granting too liberal concessions to British
( capitalists ffe appreciated the services II
( the Americans and said that they would
1 do more for the perpetual DEVELOPMENT Of
B the country than Europeans and in every
way possible advanced Mr.. Rash's enter
Z prise. Recently az Fekin he said %
{ member II the American legation: What
We want IS the Investment Of American
I capital aut enterprise Your people are
1 willing to risk their money IN the develop
Z nient ~ our Resources and trust 20 their
I Judgment &c reap harvest ~ IA different
+ With the English. Fer every farthing they
/ invest they want the government 70 Sc
{ rpre che principal. pay high rate - in-
+ tyrest and award them the profits derived
! froFn the developments"
That was the keynote that forshcded
F.. Eash's suroess. and re English syndicate
2 appreciated the necessity Of brea king his
/ 'pulT w{ta those 81 power For several
( months she matter has been tho gossip Of
+ the European eolcus ana the con senSus
( oa oplnion was that through Chung Yueu
( Fcou the Americans had the BEST az the
situation Diplomacy skal ard intrigue
I lr the hands ~ shre0d Observers are
B sespons that rarely fan 4: the oppor-
& tuue tfyne. while MFR Rash was IN the feif
Z preparing hsia TO b. submitted 70 the gov
I eminent. there came large Sgzea Official
I envelope FROM England addressed n his
I H{0nness chung Yuen Fcon- containing an
/ i-fvltafson 70 be present and parrscfnate "a
( ERE ceremonies AZ the queens gubiloe
& wh5ch tGkaS place az EaiTnerai Castle Er a