The Savannah morning news., 1900-09-01
cgINA's SOLE STATESMAN.
,,urNG cnANG's EFFORTS TO RE-
FORM HEs COUNTRY.

m. Famous viceroy's WeaIth-fis
Incidence and Curios How Earl
a Keeps Posted.
From The London Telegraph.
By "a. W. Lawson.
I'd Hung Chang can boast OF most. n
49,, ,ll. Of the digniucs that the Board
.,rivn Offices has elaborated through ths
INJURIES. but one distinction he has thar
peculiar 20 himself. Ills name ana
OH. t,le OF MS lie are well known out
.... his province. aud even outside the
limits Of the empire. Ills strange. AMI
r.t.riv strained relations with Chinese
s.rdon during the stormy times OF the
Ti.aIng rebellion have passed into the
r.slon OF history. and his European tour
made his figure. II not his face. familiar
ia Inc European capitals. lie has boon
pr.moted through the whole hierarchy OF
eneial rank. aud mas filed "a space IN
f.-alsn estimation such as has been ac-
..uled 20 none other OF his countrymen.
only the other day. the Pekin Gazette.
ra oidest OF the WORKS. newspapers.
Nr.ch Cor thousand ycau has been the
ffmIl record of the ceremonies and pro-
iugs OF the Chinese government. an
rUuuccd that there had been conferred on
fm the privilege OF being carried in a
,a.ir. with two bearers through che
western court OF the palace. To have
l.a through the French Revolution u
euu.ei as a feat. but II has passsd
tnfou-n one OF the most troubled periods
%. Chinese history. during which limb
after limb OF the body polite has been
uuped OF to satisfy the appetite OF vO-
o. ous Europe. ana he g. not only alive
i.f he r. stlli In office. lie has kept his
f..i upon his shoulders. when most
fare fallen. and his yellow Jacket over
fr,m when nearly OIL have been stripped
"-uu
SO the present moment. a. ais hours n
t.ss ne Is engaged in compiling his auto
apply. and Interesting a. will be 20
uu.. who are able to wade through TWEEN
@. Volumes Of nowery Pekinese In the
course OF his story he claims 90 establish
Of. nct that he has been. from first 10
a.i. q strenuous aud consistent advocate
o. raforms which. u adopted. would have
sawed on the breakup that b hanging
ottf the devoted head OF the son o.
IaFcn. and in support he qu0tes direct
~ rom q pile OF rejected petitions. stand
Ire three feet high. that during che last
fr.y years he has laid on the foot OF the
firouc According 20 his statement, NJ
h4t been defeated all along the line by
fFe corrupt opposition OF the censOrs to
whom belongs the prescriptve right and
duty Of crticising. picking holes iu and,
ar virtue OF their protests. often overrui-
ing the liberal proposals Of executive OIL
GERS The Engiishman in China smiths
d. Ir0ad smile on hearing of LIS claim 20
H. reckoned pioneer OF reformation. and
hints 81 other motives for HE public ace
tcn 81 less exalted kind; but. whatever
h.s character may be. he remains to-day
as he has been for the last quarter OF
century. far and away the most interest
ine personality in the empire. and IN an
rrobabllty the ablest man
An parties fear him and wish for his
cluntenance Even II he r. somewhat OF
sn extinct volcano. he SIN has his ocCa-
a0ral eruptlous lie has the power to ad-
vance or retard the interests OF other
t1h n.sndarins. and his good Offices are
sn sought by the two intriguers who d.
4 ui. the favors Of the Empress DOwager.
Nlrng the coup d'etat OF 1925 II was only
n TROUGH his lntercessfon that the dominant
faction spared the life OF the old states
mau who like himself had been deco
GRATED with the highest class Of an Eng
l-h order II chivalry. There was no love
lo.t between the two men. but he took
t-.s course At the last moment because
tfe EneIsh minister pointed out 20 him
tF. l.-lonor It would be TO English
f0-t hood IL the sentence OF death were
carried out. 80 Ii interviewed and the eX-
t.It5a did not take place. The truth is
thI his influence Is stu an uncertain
quantity and though he talks in the Bit
i.r disappointed strain Of the statesman
olr 81 power. he is stiil on occasion able
60 bring ID 20 bear on the Dowager 10 "a
sf,Gtcr degree than the other heads OF the
ol regime who are now enjoying the
sao.ls Recently IL was appointed TO
r.H office. unconnected with the ancient
boards or Secretariat, and created espe-
rnIly for his occupation. the Ministry Of
Commerce. The duties were underlined
uni The sntive authority appeared TO
HH nh II partook rather 81 the nature
Of royal commission TO inquire into the
trade regulations and report. with a view
t1 their mobilization in the ensuing year
81 treaty revision. Thus. TOO. only a
twcivemonth before ii was sent TO inves-
rsnte the state Of the yellow river and
to suggest remedial measures for its nav
leIrou Nothing came OF n an but the
m'ssive kept II away from the capital
Tor some time. and u Is suggested that
frr present appointment 20 the vlceroyalts
Of kwang-tuug and Kwang-si T. a de-
f.c ~ the same kind. intended 70 In
SUITE the old mans prolonged absence at
the various ports. Circuitous are the
says OF the Chinese government and
hieh-sounding digulties are used. like en-
aassies TO the Mongols. were IN the days
~ the Stuarts and Turkish vaM-ships are
today for the purpose Of finishing up an
uFrrpowerful career In graceful and in
roruous trifiing Such an estimate OF his
appointed work does not accord with Las
own professions. for he said that ~ he had
been allowed 10 remain minister Of COM
n.ree he could have brought about the
most important and fruitful results
CuriositicE of Chinese wealth.
II Hung Chang Is reputed 10 be one Of
'ne richest officials Ia the empire. and his
wealth has been put as high AZ 1000 go
hels. or about 100000. Those about him
assert that these figures are grossly exag-
tef1ted, and that there are others-shen
Iloth. for cNample-who are richer. yet
Q IL has az large share as is stated Of
.'n capital Of the China Merchants Com
ianF. with its manihcont fleet OF ocean
frd river steamers. and les handsome mo-
N"poly Of the carriage Of the tribute rice.
he must rank among the great million
Iiot of the worlds finance. In China
outward signs are no clue to the
mount Of a mans means. The Chinese
cannot. and do not. spend much money.
according 20 any European standard OF
'Apenaiture. They love money Cor
moneys sake. not for the luNuries Of lie
in1i money can buy-that Is 10 say above
-nc mere opportunities OF sensual gratlii-
cation Go into the house OF a rich china