The Indianapolis journal., 1898-09-26
THE "CHINEsE BISMARCK"
why Lii Hung Chang Is Opposed to
England.

Peking Letter in London Mail.
In the present state of affairs in China
it is interesting to note some of the adverse
circumstances against which British diplo-
macy has to struggle.
Not the least of these is the opposition
offered by Chinese officials of high stand
ing, and foremost among these towers LII
Hung Chang, whose counsels carry more
weight at the Peking court than any other
Chinese subject, be he prince, Cabinet min
The dominant power in China is the EN-
press Dowager, aunt to the Emperor. A
woman of an exceptionally keen though
narrow mind, and with mental abilities of
no mean order, she controls with sufficient
ease the dictates from the throne. 1t is to
determined coup on her part. aided and
abetted by the great Ii, that the present
incumbent of the throne owes his position
The Emperor is young man of no ap-
parent ability, and fettered by the short
and strong chain of the strictest court eti-
quette Moreover, too his physical health is
but weak He is totally unacquainted with
the conditions of life outside his palace
doors. Still less does he know anything Of
the eager stress of Western civilization 1t
is conceivable, therefore, that one who is
reputed to- be skilled in intercourse with the
to the Empress Dowager who is compelled
to be ever on the alert against schemes
aimed against her power and influence.
LII Hung Chang is generally believed In
China to have crushed the TAPPING rebels,
who seriously threatened the Manchu
dynasty The veteran statesman did more,
any other native lOyalist, but 1t is open to
question whether he could have succeeded
without the cooperation of Chinese Cor
don. Gordon is a word to touch a chord in
many thousand of Chinese hearts, and his
name is mentioned to-day with respect and
reverence. However that may be-, Ii Hung
Chang reaped the lions share of the imper-
ial gratitude and rewards
There is no reason to doubt LIS loyalty,
and the Emperor is induced to believe that
he is the firmest support of his imperial
chair. II is also a court axiom that no man
can treat an international question but Lii
Hung Chang. There is some truth in this.
Before the recent war with Japan all inter-
national matters of Importance were settled
by Lii; The foreign ministers seem to have
placed themselves in an anomalous position,
for the Tsung-li-Yamen was board spe-
cially constructed for the transaction of
foreign affairs. The members of the Tsung-
li-Yamen were, however, men with the mar
rowest views, few of whom had been out
side the city walls, and who were hopeless
ly incapable of understanding anything out
side of the limits of the Chinese ella SSicS.
Lii Hung Chang, on the other hand, was
prompt in action and willing to entertain
we'll known that the Yamen referred their
knotty points to his wisdom and, accord
ingly, 1t was considered that what was be-
ing done indirectly and slowly Nigh. be ef-
fected directly and speedily. BY easy
stages the Tsung-li-Yamen was practically
neglected. and Ii became more influential
of viceroy of Chihli and northern superin-
tendent of trade, his residence being al
Tien-Tsln, the port of Peking.
French and German contracts for war
ships, forts and warlike stores rapidly
poured out, and Ii amassed a huge fortune,
popularity estimated at $s0,00O,O 600. The great
viceroy was the richest and most infuen-
tial man in China on the eve of the recent
war. When the war did come disaster fol-
lowed disaster The struggle practically
resolved itself into one between Ii and
Japan but the former was extremely re-
luctant to fight. His forts at Port Arthur
were taken, his war ships sunk and cap-
tured. and his paper army, armed with