The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-08

WI! the Chinese Empire be saved from
wreck and spoliation by II Hung Chang?
WI, the wise advice OF this statesman OF
IS years be heeied by the willy slave girl
that sits on the throne OF the Manchus?
VIII his couuseis and energy avail 70 stiIl
the tumult which Is spreading like Infection
through the four hundred millions OF Chi
nese and avert the vengeance OF the Pow
ersH VIII he have strength TO set the feet
OF his people firmly IN the path OF progress
before tie hungry swords OF the land
grabbing nations slash his country to
pieces7
No more s:upendous task has been 60.
any statesman OF modern times than that
which has been thrown upon the aged
shoulders OF this poor farmers son. whose
talents and past services have won him tho
s3peIlation among Germans of the Bis
fnarck OF China. and among Englshmen Of
the Gladstone OF the East.
Commanded. not once. but twice, by the
Oowager Empress TO hasten to Pekin from
his post IN Canton, he Is designed 10 be, In
the opinion of competent observers. the bull
wark OF the dynasty against tho attacks
from foreign Powers. which IRE Justly TO be
Feared.
a; the same time. he goes 10 the Chimes.
capital with the express permission OF the
Governments OF Europe. Japan and the
United States. and almost, as 81 were. COM
mss!oned by them TO turn the savage pur-
poses OF the Empress and strargls the
Boxer movement before Il becomes q giant
which VIII take months to kill.
II there exists anywhere the guilty hone
born OF land greed. that If Hung Chang will
not succeed. that his DISTRACTED country will
burst into fragments, 10 be the spoil of the
nations no such feeling prevails in Eng
Ia
iGgton, not less than among the foreign
residents OF China the belief is strong thar
IL any man can save the Chinese crisis from
ypiunging the civilized world into a conflict
sraught with intense peril, and certain 10
Involve the greatest blocdshed. that man is
l. Hung Chang.
Conservative. when Judged by modern
standards. Re IS vigorously progressive
when Judged by Chinese Skiliful in diplo-
macy remarkable in business ability, toll
Grant toward missionaries. believer In
modern methods Of warfare he sums M
IN himself the practical hopes Of the world
Tor peace and order in the East. To win
success IN the mission OF representa- tive of
the Empress to the Powers and month
piece Of the Powers 70 the Empress would
be triumph rare even IN the annals OF
civilized nations.
Crushed Tni-PinE Revolt.
Il Hung Chang has faced great peril. for
his country before. When the guns OF the
Angio-French feet were echoing along the
Pei-Eo River in 1850 and the American
Commodore Tatnall was acting out his
creed that blood IS thicker than water"
ii was leading the imperial forces against
/ Tai-Ping rebels. who were shaking the
sthrons by their successes.
It IS a very noteworthy fact that like Our
own Grant whose friendship he made ca
the latter's tour OF the world. Ii was i,cEg
into high place by the crisis of & bloody
civil war. But while the American conflict
measured in time four years. in live, a NIL
lion and IN money SO, 600 e0o.lGo. the Chinese
rebellion scourged the country Cor fourteen
years, killed 100000 persons and caused a
property loss of .ncaIculable amount.
II was IN 1887 that Hung Use Chuen. the
son OF a we,l-to-do farmer living north OF
Canton, having failed TO pass tho provincial
examinations one stepping stone n TIE
Chinese scheme OF Advancement to official
station. fell III and dreamed that he WIS
civinely commissioned 10 be Emperor of |
exhorting his foliowers 20 embrace Chris |
fianity. OF which no had obtained rome |
vague notions With every year the circle
Of his adherents widened, but II was not |
until 1880 that the needless Pektn Govern
snent raw and knew the Danger that he |
threatened.
In the open rebellion that followed the |
new leader won immense success for a time.
with an army unusually well drilled for
Cinnamon. Hung Tse Chuen overrsn sever |
al Provinces. crossed the Yang-tse and in
Eankins, ths old capital OF tho Empire. |
was hailed as Emperor and assumed he
style OF royalty. Two columns pressed for
word toward Pekin.
At this crisis a young and distinguished |
scholar. who had passed two examinations
and was among the expectants OF office,
gathered together friends and relatives in
his menaced native town, organized them
into . regiment and fell upon the rebels
fear. His victories won him q staff posi-