The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-09
TROUBLES OF EARL Ii.
THE FAMOUS OLD VICEROY STILL
OUT OF FAVOR.


Loss of His yellow Jacket and Pea
cock Feather.
w. e. Curtis in the Chicago Record.
Private letters from Pekin report that
Ii Hung Chang has not been able to re-
cover his old power and influence since his
return from his tour around the world.
His selection as the representative of the
Chinese emperor at the coronation Of the
car was suggested by his enemies, who
thought he would never come back, and
the old man himself shared their opinion
in considerable measure, as was shown
by the fact that he carried his coffin with
him. We have all read the story of the
burning of that part of his luggage, which
was sent back after his arrival in Lon
don as unnecessary 1t was en- route to
Shanghai on the British steamer Glencart-
ney, which took fire and was supposed
to have been consumed. This was consid-
cred a good sign. There is Chinese SUI
perstition that when mans coffin is
burned from any cause except his own
he will live to a very old age But the cot
fin was not burned, as at first reported. 1t
went into the hands of the underwriters
who had insured the steamer as a part
of the salvage. They notified the viceroy
that his burial case was subject to his or
ders but received no reply from him.
Then after awhile the coffin was sold at
auction. An English museum became the
purchaser. After the sale the underwent
erS received "A belated communica ton
from the earl, asking them to forward his
property The museum people would not
give 1t up so they sent him an explana-
ton, Offering its value in money. But the
great man, with the superstition of his
race, declined to accept compensation,
and the China Mail remarks that this is
the first time in his life that Ii Hung
Chang refused money.
When he arrived in Pekin after his tour
around the world, and went to the Tsuug
Ii Hamen to resume his chair and seals
of office, only his own paid subordinates
were there to receive him. although his
colleagues had several days notice, and
were expected to offer him a notable well
come. l. was a studied insult, of terri
bic significance, and any other Chinaman
but Ii Hung Chang would have gone off
If Secretary Olney or Secretary Carlisle
should telegraph from New York that he
mad arrived safely from trip around the
world, and expected great pleasure in re-
ceivng the welcomes of his colleagues of
the cabinet upon his return to Washing
ton, and should then come over here and
enter the cabinet chamber of the white
Eouse and find nobody there but his own
private secretary and attendants
WITH his usual dignity and nerve the old
man let this insult pass unnoticed, and
met his colleagues as occasion reduirad
as if nothing had happened But Il was
only a Few days after that he found him
seH again IN disgrace, and i'm a predica-
ment from which he had not extricate1
himself at the latest adVices As soon
after his arrival in Pekin as was possible
ne went TO Emo park to pay his respects
10 ms patroness, the empress dowager
VINO resides there in a handsome palace
he TOD her Of his travels and the many
Wohdertul things he had SEEN and she
gave him an account of events that hap
Pened during his absence. Among other
I nrn,s3, s she described 70 him some i'm
me imperial garden, and advised him TO
take look at them at the first oDoor-
tu ih 80 on his way home he directed
ms chaif-Dearers to carry him through
the park. Unfortunately for Ii. a reis-
i've and toady of Weng Tung Ho bis
pltteresl enemy, happened to be superyis-
ing the work or restoration in the park
Wheh the eX-VicerOy entered i'm a sedar
chalr All OF the gardens and grounds thaf
e. e. LleaueHteu by the emperor, the son
OF heaven. are sacred precincts and he
alone is allowed to be carried throug6
mem. Ihe rest of mankind must walk
re tsn u'iooEeleu heads and other marks of
ttSSsPeCt. IL was probably the first time
Ihat sedan chair had ever Invaded those
sacred precincts with any one but an ,ern-
peror. or az least a member of the in
p eordL Iamily, Tor passenger. and the
sacrllese of the situation was made cor,
plSte by the fact that the Offender was
ion ns'e anI IconoeIast the father of new FASH
e. oii ; es anu modern innovations which ire
50 TN GIlehslVe TO the conservative Chiness
r.,, ne superintendent had the courage to
remind Earl Ii that he was vioIatinss ~
most sacred rules of etidudtte Tba 49, 1i6e
TOY explained that he was there NV tbe
riHiItatlon q the empress dowager. That
Tmne ~ IL Iimerence' The satellite Of Wenk
uuS no happened to know If Ii did NOT
mat the venerable dowager. for tho tina
oSlns, was out of favor at court becnuse
OF a quarrel she had had with the mother
VI ths emperor, few weeks before which
caused the latter TO die of rage and morn
10 @slIIi 90 me superintendent undertook
w. .e ls Earl Ill and demanded a large
sum OF money; The vceroy offered "A small
amount as a bride for silence but IL y.ee
refused and, as he would not pav The
b%i nS sum sum me superintendent reported
MN 70 Weng Tung Ho. who with great
alacrity made the most of the opportnnitv
ana reported 10 the emperor thai III boi
ne Was trampling upon all the most sacred
traditions and violating all the boIv nri,,i
leges of his sovereign paw
T.. No s one knows exactly what happened It
Is dithcult TO get information Of transac.
tons inside the forbidden city. hut the Ic-
SUIT was that Earl III was not only denied
az az atuu .t Win the emperor when he
asked the honor Of making report Of mis-
voyage in person, but an edict was issued
stripping him of all his honors and titles
anu anu Ounces including the famous yellow
Jacket ana peacock feather This reduced
him to the grade of an ordinary private
cltizen, and, with the exception OF banish-
MEM or Ieath, was the severest penalty
1t was impossible for the empress doya-
ger TO intervene again In his behalf. as she
mas done several times. because the em-
peror was having nothing whatever 10 10
with the old lady. But the son OF heaven
appears 60 have softened his heart little
Mhile aIter ana committed LIS sentence,
so that he might retain his honors titles
anu oihces but required him 10 pay into
We imperial treasury an amount equal 60
The old man accepted his punishment
with loyal submission One may imagine
Mhai thoughts We're passing through his
mind nt that time, but there was no word
or complaint or defiance upon his lips. lie
resumed mas official duties as first secre-
tary 20 the imperial council with mat
matchless dignity that he shows under mi
circumstances, and Is awitlng his time AZ
Pekin bets are offered, without takers
that Earl II Will bury his knife In Wenr
Iung tio before the cherry trees blossom
ana be fully restored TO the confidence OF
his sovereign before the end OF the YEAR
The quarrel between Til An. the empress
dowager, VINO was the godmother and re-
gent OF the emperor, and the widow of
Prince Chun. the mother Of Kuapo Ifo,tf