The herald., 1898-09-25

e,cock feather honors. Ii Hung Chang
I'd the Chinese empire have been regard
as one and indivisible. Had the great
ness of the man picked out by General
Grant as one of the few he met on his
tour of the world who could be classed
among the truly great been a mushroom
growth, 1t would be less easy to UNDER
stand the confidence the Cinnamon have
In his power to secure reappointment. But
Lii Hung Chang has grown to greatness
before their eyes, and in many cases be-
fore their fathers eyes before them, and
to think of China without Chang Ia an
impossible thing
Write the careers of all the great states
men living today, and probably none will
be so thrilling as that of Ii Hung Chang.
The world may credit other men with rich
or deeds and hold their names in higher
esteem, but those are not the points of
comparison. The great achievements of
most men of history were under conditions
that did not exist in China during the
many years that Ii Hnug Chang has been
putting his name on the scroll Of fame.
Statesmen of other countries have had
the people behind them; II not the people,
then the bolstering power of government
Ii Hung Chang has had the people against
him, and he has felt at the same time the
deadly enmity of the advisers of the throne
and even the throne itself.
Ii Hung Chang arose from a clerk In
the civil service, and the blood Of noble
ancestry did not flow in his veins Any
Chinaman may become a nobleman of the
highest rank. through series of gradual
tions Regular civil service examinations
permit him to advance step by step. Even
cooie may become prime minister, and,
though highly Improbable 1t is not impos-
sible that prime minister. with the pow
crs and cruel fate against him, might be-
come a coolie.
LII Hung Chang fought his way up In the
face of the bitterest opposition, and as
ne forced his own way up he forced China
up with him, compelling her to adopt i'm
provements that have given the country
her present standing among progressive
nations. Soon after Ii became viceroy
of China his viceroyship and his mortal
career came naer being cut short at one
and the same time. With the cleverness
Of the master mind. Ii became aware that
plot was on foot to surround his house
and murder him. He acted promptly.
showing he possessed the qualities of a
general as well as of statesman. In
stead of waiting to be murdered he had
the house of every conspirator surrounded.
and then called on the chief conspirator in
person and demanded to know the details
of the plot. Incidentally he remarked that
his own soldiers had sworn to defend his
life, and. loyal only to Ii Hung Chang.
were ready to put to death the whole trent-
bling troupe of conspiring mountebanks
a. word from the viceroy.
The chief conspirator Informed Ii Hung
Chang that the plot had been Matched at
the court under the very eyes of the en-
peror. Therefore Ii marched his army
TO the palace, where the imperial cabinet
was In session.
what does this mean?" demanded tho
nead OF the council, that you come into
the presence of your sovereign and a body
OF your peers, who are his constitutions,
ADVISERS guarded as the general of a hos
tile army might be?'
1t Is said that nothing ever disturbs the
beautiful serenity of Ii Hung Chang's
face, or causes him to depart from the pre-
ecribed form of diplomatic conduct, &c.
he bowed submissively. assured them that
he was the humble servant Of each men,