Evening star., 1900-12-01

be playing the part of the monkey in at
tempting to use the American cat to pull
the chestnuts out of the fire for their re-
spective countries, and vigilance, backbone
and diplomacy are required in watching
that they do not. Major Conger has had
experience as a diplomat as minister to
Brazil, where he succeeded well, and also
during the present administration at Pek1n
He has been popular with the Chinese, as
well with the Americans, and especially
the missionaries.
There are altogether not including the SOL
der, something like $500 Americans in
China and of these 1.70O are missionaries
Many of them are of sterling ability and
worth, and they have, l believe. been doing
much good. They have colonies at all the
ports and stations at many places in the
interior. Minister Conger visits them and
aids them. 1 have been told that he is
Unitarian, but his ideas as to missions are
strong enough to please the most castiron
Puritan.
Damages for Minister DENLY.
Former Minister DENLY will probably have
a big bill of damages against the Chinese
government for their injuries to the Ameri-
can legation. Colonel Denby owns the le-
cation building, so understand. He bought
it while he was minister for $50 900 and has
been renting 1t to the government for a big
percentage on the investment.
Colonel DENLY was our minister here for
twelve years, and far as l can learn he
a good one. He was popular with both
foreigners and Chinese. and at the close Of
his first term there was a surprising una
nimity in the requests which poured in
from all classes to President Harrison that
this democratic diplomat be retained.
Every missionary and every business man,
American and English, seemed to be inter-
ested in DENLY. If l remember correctly
Lii Hung Chang wrote a letter and one Of
the great churchmen of England, l believe
it was the archbishop of Canterbury, pc
titioned Mr.. Harrison on the subject. The
result was that President Harrison retained
Colonel DENLY, on account of his undoubted
excellence, as long as he could Withstand
the protests Of the politicians, and then sent
in the name of Blair of New Hampshire to
succeed him. The news of Blair's nominal
ton reached Pekin, and it is said that with
it came a speech which Blair had made
against the Chinese in the United States
Senate. This speech, according to report,
Colonel DENLY took with him and called
upon Ii Hung Chang. He presented to Ii
the fact that he knew DENLY, but that he
did not know Blair and Blair was un-
doubtedly unfriendy to the Chinese. The
result was that the tsung-li-yamen inti-
| mated to our State Department that Blair
| would be persona non grata, and DENLY re-
manned.
Some of Our COnsuIs.
We have an excellent corps of consuls in
China. Fowler is doing good work at Cnee-
what the Germans are doing and Anson
Burlingame has a most important position
at Annoy since the Philippines have come
into our possession. 1t is from his prov
ince that most of the Chinese Of the Philip
pines come, anu we have now about 100 ODO
celestials there who are more or less in
terested in Annoy. Many Of them are rich
merchants who have trade connections with
their home city, and this brings an enor-
nous business to the consulate 1t has put
Annoy above any other consulate In China
except Shanghai, showing a considerable
surplus of fees above all expenses There
is regular line of steamers from Amoy to
Manila, the distance between the two
points being about the same from Ma
Mia to Hong Kong. Consul Burlingame
thinks his province should be considered a
part or the American sphere of influence
and he believes that Americans should
WORK up trade there. That place is one of
the few where the United States owns it's
own building. This is a good thing adding
materially to the standing of the consul.
With Hubbard Smith at Canton. .
When I first visited Canton this wear T
stopped with Hubbard T. Smith, who was
then IN charge of the American consulate
serving during the interim between Dr. Ed
ward Bedloe and his successor Every one
KNOWS Mr.. Smith as the author Of listen
to My Tale of Vice. Swinging In the
Grape Vine Swing" and other hymnal mel
odies, but all do not know that he is one
OF the best officers in our consular service
He is one of the few men on the perma-
nent list. being used by the State Depart
ment to go from place to place fill all kinds
OF vacancies and straighten up misman-
aged offices. In Canton / found Mr. Smith
close. but not too close, to Lii Hung Chang
He was popular with the foreigners and
successful with the Chinese. He kept
bachelors hall in one of the finest build
ings in the foreign concession of Shanghai,
which he had fitted up with electric lights
and all other cOnvenenees for the incom-
ing consul.
At Hong Kong I met Rounsevlle Wild
man. young man who is figuring much
In the papers in his dispatches from Hong
Kong regarding matters in Manila and
China. He is our consul general at that
place and his position Is said to be worth
in the neighborhood of $4,000 a year. Mr.
Wildman is not only diplomat, but also
an author. He has published good books
about the Malays and Straits Settlements,
and has just issued in a small volume an
up-to date history of China He is man of
taste and culture with penchant for
Chinese snuff bottles and curious pets, one
of his recent acquisitions being a young
tiger cat, which he fondles in the intervals
of his consular and diplomatic labors.
FRANK G. CARPENTER