The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-09

volumes. and represent in themselves an
astounding literary output for a single
brain, consisting as they do of long
printed letters on every conceivable sub
jcct, numbering score or more for each
Of the forty years during which Sir Robert
has ruled; they are annually reindexed,
and every sort of technical question is de-
cided by rules there laid down, often with
out need OF further reference to head
quarters. Some of these volumes, the
early ones especially, are of absorbing per-
sonal interest, and were it not contrary
10 the unwritten law ever TO divulge their
contents. IL would be labor of love to
the present writer TO reproduce some OF
their passages, which betray the man be-
hind the sphinx who dictated them.
Offers for Hi. Memoirs.
Sir Robert, of course, has been fire.
qrently besieged by large publishing
houses to write his memoirs; and should
the present misery at Pekin result in the
loss of this invaluable life also, the world
will have missed true internal history
Of China during the vital last half of the
nineteenth century which no other man
than Sir Robert can possibly tell. Although
half century of finance and official docu-
ments has locked the l. G.'s style of its
early vigor and self-revealings, the bare
record of his unknown struggles at Pekin
would make a history far more absorbing
than any novel.
This brings me to the question-which,
alas may be fatally solved before these
words are printed--is Sir Robert safe in
the midst of the tumult at Pekin? We
have already heard that the customs mess
4 he f1sn IF nf fha or i'nt
nualiy sent uo to come under the chiefs
.'rold eye'1 have been destroyed and
rumor has 1t that these young assistants
have been massacred along with the rest.
l do not. however think that the /. g.
himself runs much risk. unless he has
personal enemies in Prince Tuan's faction;
although il must not be forgotten that
foreigner In such position cannot avoid
bitter and inveterate enemies among man
darns whose counsels he is often compell-
ed to oppose.
Sir Robert is not a foreign minister; he
is Chinese mandarin of the first class.
endured with the yellow jacket. his ances-
tors posthumously honored by imperial
edict, his loyal and honorable record Sec
ond to none of the high officials of the
Empire; a man whom the most bigoted
Manchu knows to be the prop of the
dynasty. whom none would dare to accuse
OF secret partialities or suspect of political
intrigue; and furthermore, the intimate
friend of many of the most powerful Off
GERS. Add TO this that Sir Robert is sur
rounded by small native staff absolutely
devoted TO him and splendidly trained In
watching and reporting everything that
goes on. and you can see that the only risk
he runs is that incurred by the native
mandarins themselves, Of having his house
hltrr cd &c t-o -,
indiscriminating rabble which appears to
have taken command OF Pekin.
The Eject of His Death.
Sir Roberts death would mean much
more than the swapping of the handspring
of the great civil service he has organized.
1t would mean the loss of positively the
only man who is fit. by experience, by
position, by genius, to undertake the task
OF recognizing the whole administration
OF China as the mandatory of the powers
should they decide eventually to take over
the Government of China. Sir Robert has
often been begged to leave the Chinese
service for the office Of Great Britain's
Minister, but he knew that his potential
tiles for China's good would be far less as
such. Also. his health has suffered much
from his prolonged residence in Pekin. and
since the fatal vacillation OF the British
Government after the Japanese war, and
Russia's consequent predominance his in
fuence has waned. None the less he is
the only man who stands an individual
in the competent but neutral position in
which the United States stand as a ma
ton, and he is the man on whom the re-
organization OF China must devolve. His
life's work is already done; all his am
billions are already satisfied, and an earl |
dom awaits him whenever he cares to &C.
cept (which could only be on his retire. |
ment, since British honors conferred on |
him now would seem to intimate British \
claim to the customs. But the keynote |
OF Sir Roberts life has been duty. con- |
scientiousness, self-sacrifice, the good of l
China, and he would not shrink from the |
burden-if his conditions were accepted. |
These conditions would be the same as |
he demanded when he consented to or |
ganize the revenue department.: implicit
confidence, absolute independence, a free /
hand.
Begun Almost Forty Years Ago.
The employment of foreigners to collect |
the customs revenue began informally at |
Shanghai in 1853, when Mr.. tafte-ward ST. |
Thomas) Wade assisted the native collector |
for year during the occupation of the city |
by the Taipings, being replaced the next |
year by II. n. Lay. In 1858 the system was
extended TO the five ports then open TO
trade. In 1863 Horatio Nelson Lay got into
trouble over the Lay Osborne flo lila flasco
ard was replaced by Mr.. Hart, who had
been in charge since 1861 Thereafter, the
service was fastened uron China by the war
for which the cus;o MS r-vsnue
was hypothecated. The indemnities paid
off. the service remained as the only in
strumert the Government could rely on
honestly to transmit the revenue to Fekin.
Since then, of course, this has been the
guarantee for al. forei an loans, ard it is an
immense tribute to SIR Roberts manage
ment that this revenue was considered so
sure and stable under his collection that
Chinese loans have in spite of everlasting
wars and rebelllons, been the least fuc-
tuating of such securities on the foreign
markets.
Sir Roberts nominated successor is Mr..
Boyd Bredon, long Commissioner OF Gus
toms at Shanghai. Sir Robert has often
been on the point of retiring, bat refrained
under pressure for fear OF the service laps
ing under a foreign |. e.. into an instru-
ment of private politics. Ii Hung Chang.
while Viceroy of Tientsin. did his best to
thwart Sir Robert by setting up the Ger
man Commissioner there. Mr.. Detring. as
bis own creature, insisting on his selection
after the |. g. had officially transfer. ed
him elsewhere. Detring. OF course. fell
with his protector in 1895. Sir Rob ert re-
manned.
|
A FATAL GAME OF CRAPS.