Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-11-07
The Foremost Chinaman
Passes Away in
Pekin.
WORKED TO THE LAST
Had EVentfu1 Career as
Soldier, Statesman
and Diplomat.

/ Pekin, Nov. :, 11:l5 a. m.-Li Hung
! Chang died at il o'clock this CThurs-
| day. forenoon. The physicians who
/ visited Earl Ii at 10 o'clock Tuesday
found him in good spirits. though eN-
tremclE weak as the result of sitting
up and working, in defiance of their
instructions. When they called yes
terIay they found him unconscious
and sinking rapidly.
Ii Hung Chang served China as ii
soldier. Il statesman. and diplomat.
From q humble place he rose to the
highest rank, and he was almost the
only Chinese who had attained Il
worldwide reputation. He was born
some biOgraphcrs say Feb. 16. 1922.
others say Feb. II. 1922. Between
that time and the day OF his death
he had been at different times gov
ernor of cities, commander-in-chief
of the imperial armies, yiceroy of
most of the great provinces, grand
chancellor, and prime minister. He
negotiated most of the modern treat
les between China and the western
powers. He did much TO advance the
progress of civilization in China. He
was liberal-minded-fro Il Chinese
stanapoint. He was reputed to be
enormously wealthy, owning most of
the railways. telegraphs, and public
works. as well as great plantations,
mines and factories.
I.i Hung Chang first attained prom
nencc in China during the Tai-Ping
rebellion. which in 1860 began in the
southern provinces and spread
rapidly that the City of Pekin itself
was threatened and which he sue
ceeded in putting down. His victor
les Nvop him staff position i'll the
imperial army, and later chief com
.nand in the field.
His OnlcIaI Career.
ii Hung Chang came out of the
war in 1865 Il provincial governor,
with a high reputation in Chinese
eyes for administrative capacity as
well as military skill. lie had been
fortunate in having nothing to do ac-
lively with the war with France and
England, which ended in the allies.
$4,000 strong, taking TienTsin and
Pekin and eXacting a large indemni-
ty from the helpless rulers.
In 1870 Earl III was promoted to be
Yiccroy of the Province of Pe-Chi-Li,
Pcllin and its port, Tien-Tsin. For -
years Ii Hung Chang held sway at
Tien-Tsin. and in this quarter of a
century he gave to China practically
all of what little western civilization
China possesses.
During the China-Japanese war
Earl Lis service to his country was
invaluable He carried the whole
burden of official responsibility, act
ing as minister of war. navy, and
finance. without staff of assistants.
He organized and equipped the army.
originated and bought the navy, and
raised the funds. lie Wds further
placed in supreme command of the
naval and military forces sent to
Corea. He was disgraced during the
war and deprived of the yellow jack
ct and the peacock feather. Later
he was dismissed from all his offices.
When China. humbled by defeat, was
forced TO sue for peace, Ii Hung was
restored To favor and sent to Japan
to negotiate for terms.
Journey Around the " orId.
In 1896 EarlABi was again in favor
with the emperor, and was sent to
Il. Petersburg as China's representa-
i've at the coronation of the car,
.hus beginning his famous tour of
he world. He visited Germany, The
Hague, Brussels and Paris after leav-
ny St Petersburg. He then crossed
he Atlantic. coming to the United
states. returning home after tour
If the continent.
After his forced retirement in 1898
earl Iii was virtually without intiu-
nee until an outbreak in the south
.rn provinces in 1899 brought him
as viceroy of Kwang-Si.
Then came the boxer uprising, the
iege of the legations at Pekin, the
massacre of the christians. and the
of The armies of America
md Europe for the march on the
'hinese capital. Pebin was captured.
The armies fthe hated foreigners
marched through the deserted pail
ces of the imperial city. China Was
,rostrate at the feet of the powers.
n this emergency Ii Hung Chan.
vas recalled from practical exile and
riyen unlimited powers in negotiat
ng with the ENJOYS of Europe and
he United States. He performed his
inal service to China in the recent
,atro+ia tionS af Pelrin.