The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-09-07

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Charles Page Bryan, who was objected
to because of his youth and inexperi-
ence, he was transferred from Brazil,
where he was serving his second term,
having held this office through the
wNsle OF President Harrison's admins
tration, to the capital of the Celestial
Kingdom. Mr.. Conger sailed for his
new post in the spring of 1898. and since
that time has not visited this country,
the exigencies of his mission making 1t
impossible for him to intrust its bust
ness to less experienced hands.
Last spring the minister made an Off
cial inspection of all the consular offices
in China, one of the wareshps being
placed at his disposal for this purpose,
and last summer he escaped the intense
heat of Picking by removing to THE
Hills" place at the foot of the noun
tains. twelve miles from the cauital
where, with his family, he occupied
temple. which has been the summer
'.ome OF the American legation since
Burlingame's time, and Is presided over
by a venerable priest, wrnlled and
bent, who looks as If he might be quite
as old as the sod whose shrine he
guards. But these are the only outings
Mr.. Conger has taken since he assumed
the relns of office,
Minister Conger is a cousin of the
late Omar ID, Conger of Michigan who
for more than twenty-five years repre-
scented the Wolverine State in the Sem
ate and House. His father, a native of
New York State, married Miss Hurd,
who came of Vermont stock, and they
emigrated early in this century from
their homo In Cayuga County to Illi-
uu!s, where the present minister TO Chi
ma was born hfty-five years ago, maxi
ing one Of n good old-fashioned family
of thirteen children. Still in his teens"
when the war broke out, Mr.. Conger
was one of the first to enlist in his part
of the country upon the call for vonn-
teers. Entering the army as u private
he served with honor and distinction
until the peace of AppomattoX retiring
without wound or scratch, and with
the breVet rank of major, the actual
rank of captain, bestowed upon him for
gallant and merltorious conduct in
the field"
Upon resEnlng hsl commission Mr..
Conger devoted himelf to the study of
aw. graduating Mt the law school in Al
bany, New York, of which President
Mckinley was also student. in 1866,
Upon receiving his diploma tile young
lawyer hung out his single in Gales
burg Illinois, and had an early and
gratifying success, but 1t was destined
that he should not continue the prac-
tice Of his profession. His fathers busi-
ness affairs had grown beyond the d.
.# H.. = 1 -
accordingly sent to Dallas County, To-
wa, to look after some large holdings
Of real estate there. Successful In this,
Mr., Conger became large stock grow
or, then banker winning by his ster-
ling qualities, his genial nature and
kindllness the regard of his nelghpors,
who gave substantial evidence of their
esteem by electing him State treasurer.
to which office he was reelected In 1852,
serving there at the time the late Sem
ator Gear held the gubernatorial chair.
Mr., Conger was elected TO the Forty
NINTH the Flfty-Arst, and the Fifty
thrd Congresses being succeeded by
John \. II. Hull, the present chairman
Of the Committee on Military Affairs
During his service In the lower house
he was regarded az one Of It's most use
ful and efficient members and as chair
man Of the Committee on Weights and
Measures ana member of the Com
mittees on Invalid Pensions, Agricul-
ture, and Banking ana Currency. did
work that II stlll remembered 10 his
credit, II Was while In Congress that
Mr. Conger's friendship for Mr., Me
klnley, 80 pleasantly begun while they
were boys at the law school IN Albany.
was renewed ana resulted In the nam
ms " Nr Corr FOR tbr brazilian
mission. which be had so Gecrptably
hlled in The last Republican ndmlnls-
tratlon.
The wisdom Of transferring Mr con-
for from hot post a. CHINA has been
abpndanuy demonstrated. History |