The Washington times., 1901-09-13
Mr.. W..


Washington, Mr.. WI Tingfang, the
| Chinese Minister. shines pre-eminently.
We have admired and have kept
| warm spot in our heart for this distin-
| guished Oriental gentleman ever since
| his astonishing performance early in
the Chinese troubles, when he convinc-
ed his colleague at the head Of our For
| eign Office that the formers statements
regarding conditions and events in Chi
ma must be accepted at their face val
ue. although both knew that this coun-
! try was not at the time in communica-
| ton with the Celestial Kingdom by ca
BILE or in any other way.
| The interest Mr.. Wu takes in American
affairs, politics and politicians is great
| ly to his credit, and his understanding
| of the inner workings of our political
machines is little short of marvellous.
AS an illustration, Mr.. WI was visit
! ing the New York State Fair at SYRIA
cuse the other day when Lieutenant
Governor Woodruff introduced him to a
Mr.. Aids, said to be the Republican
leader in the Assembly. The follow
ing colloquy IS reported to have taken
Platt MANI" Mr.. Aids replied that
he was, most assuredly. You do ev-
erything that Platt tells you, them"
Il certainly do said Mr.. Aids, Other
wise 1 should not be where l am now"
You are, then, slave" observed WI,
and the henchman of the boss disap-
| peared.
Who could help doing honor to an
Asiatic who, in a few brief sentences,
| is able to secure from practical poli-
tician of local prominence such a con-
fession of the workings of government
! by a personally conducted machine?
| Mr.. WI hit the nail exactly on the
head and drove it home when he said
| that the man who. pretending to be
representative of the people in the
lower house OF State Legislature, yet
was there to do only the bidding of
Thomas C. Platt. was a slave. The lam
guage of the Chinaman's conclusion
was pointed, but. also, it was true.
Introduced later to Tammany State
Senator, Mr.. Patrick Taintor Mr.. Wu
at once began to apply his famous
pump. He asked: You are a Croker
man, them" Positively" said the
Senator. 'But Mr. Croker is an En-
glishman?" NO." said Taintor, he
was born in the United States" state
ment which is not quite true, as the
great man first saw the light of day
in Old Ireland. But" said WI, "he
lives in England most of the time, does
he not?" His faithful follower was
compelled to admit that he did. Mr.
Croker is a most wonderful man." solil-
oquized the Chinese envoy: "he can
make his home in England and still
control the destinies of one of the
greatest cities in the world Again
Mr.. WI was right, though possibly in
the past. rather than in the present or
the future tense. 1t is a question in
the minds of many New Yorkers
whether they viii consent longer to be
ruled from Vantage, or try a little
scheme of non-partisan popular gov
ernment for a while. There is a pos
sibiiity, perhaps. that even Mr.. Crok-
er's annual flying visits to this country
may be rendered unnecessary by what
may be done by the voters of Greater
New York at the municipal election
this autumn.
Our critical Chinese observer is not
only keenly alive to the facts and phe-
nomena of national and State politics,
but he seems to have very intelligent
conception of city administration meth
DDS in the United States. OF the May
| or of Syracuse he asked: Where is
| the mayors residence?"' His honor re-
| piled that he was without an official
| residence. why do not they give you
| a house and lot?" We'll" answered
Mayor Mcclure, most people think
the mayor steals enough to be able
to own house" Haven't you stolen
enough yet?" enquired the Minister
No; 1 have been only able to get
enough to rent house!" II hope you
! will do better" said WI, politely, no
doubt with several notable examples
in his massive mind.
Is it any wonder that man as clear
headed, analytical. and penetrating as
the brilliant Minister from China
should have been able to shape our pol
icy during the Boxer troubles the
Siege Of the legations, and the inva-
sion of China, or TO eliminate from cor-
sideration all thought that the Empress
Dowager was implicated In the afro
cities OF the period Notwithstanding
the fact that, notoriously, she was?
We think not