The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-08
A CHRONIC FAULT FINDER.
Chang Chin Tung Known as the
ProdfgaI SON OF China.

PrOdfgaI SON OF China.
Great interest has been shown here in
official and diplomatic circles in the re-
ports from Pelin showing how sick the
Empress Dowager is of her bargain with
the powers made by the ImperQa Peace
ENJOYS, and how Chang Chin Tung. one
of the Advisory Peace Commissioners and
viceroy of the wuchung province, has in
fuenced her in this feeling. 1t appears
that after the peace ENJOYS having pleni-
potentiary powers had signed the terms
proposed by the Ministers, Chang sent
several memorials to the throne advising
the Empress Dowager not to agree to
the conditions. 1t was too late, but appa-
rently it had an effect on the Empress
Dowager similar to the dissatisfied feel
ing Chang created once before at court
after the Chinese Japanese war.
Ii Hung Chang at that time had repre-
sented China in the "Shimonosiki' peace
negotiations whereby China agreed 20 pay
Japan s400,000000. Chang so enragcd the
imperial household against Earl Ii on
account OF his agreeing to these terms
that the latter when summoned to Pekin
headed. He pretended for time that
illness kept him at home. 1t was on ac-
count of this largely that Ii asked that
Chang be made one of the ENJOYS to nego-
tiate terms of peace with the powers after
the recent disturbances.
Chang has been called by one of the
foremost statesmen of his country The
prodigal son of China" He has been
writing essays lately on the disturbances
md cino ha fri nj
Empress Dowager. He hates foreigners,
but he had the foresight to be friendly
with a certain sect of missionaries in his
province, and. having gained the ear OF
these people, he has, through them, been
announced to the world as philanthropic.
progressive statesman, whose opinions are
worthy of great credence.
He is, however willy character, ac-
cording to the best authority here, and
has taken the opportunity when China is
in a plight to proclaim through his writ
ings, and in lis exhortations to the Peace
ENJOYS, how strong his patriotism is and
how steadfast a friend he is to the En-
press Dowager. One of the foremost
statesmen of China said of Chang few
years ago, that he would make an Eek
cellent chancellor of university, or an
examiner but that he was no statesman
He is a bookworm and a scholar, accord
pretends to know not only everything
about his own country, but about the
whole civilized world, though he has never
been out of China. He is very opinion
ated, it is said. and stubborn in his be-
liefs, and il was largely on account Of
his well-known proclivities 10 critlcise
everything that anybody else tries to DO
for China that Ii Hung Chang refused TO
act alone as Peace Envoy for China. Earl
"a cd from Chang
asked partly on this account that other
prominent Cinnamon serve with him in
negotiating terms with the foreigners.
How well Earl Lii forsaw such criticism
is illustrated by Changes denunciatlon of
the peace ENJOYS for their latest action.
1t was well known last summer in dip
lomatic circles, that Chang kept up cable
communication with Minister WI Ting
fang, greatly to the latter's expense and
disgust. When Chang wants to know any
thing. or do anything he does not figure
the cost, provided 1t falls upon some one
else. Chang cabled long messages of
hundreds of words sent collect, asking for
information on the most insignificant de-
tails of the progress OF negotiations being
carried on by Minister WI with the State
Department Minister WI, while he need
not have accepted these messages, thus
having TO pay for them did so out of re-
to them as briefly as possible.
In many cases he answered, it Is said.
because ne considered it cheaper TO do so
than to receive and pay for the numerous
messages which, he was certain would fol-
low If he did not reply. Minister WI is
reported as saying that Chang's messages
cost him thousands OF dollars in cable
tolls This is one OF the examples of
Changes prodigality. He is always spend
ing a great deal of money that belongs to
some one else foolishly to accomplish some
small object. II is said he has spent mil
lions OF dollars out of the public treasury
on the Hang kow mining properties
without improving them or getting an ap-
preciabe return for the money or having
an object in view of any practical nature.
He follows his stubborn proclivities at
the expense of the public treasury no mat
ter where they lead him to spend money.
Personally he is honest and does not ac
cept brides. Those surrounding him. how
ever. and his family are not so honest. SO
the effect in his domain is about the same
as If he were as dishonest personally as
some of the ether high officials of China.
His last move to gain favor with the En-
press by asking the ENJOYS to repudiate
their actions in signing the peace note Of
the Powers is in line with his previous
fault finding career, according TO those who
have occasion to know him best here.