Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-08
Yuan Shi Kai to Succeed Ii Hung
Chang.
AN EMINENT CHINESE STATESMAN
Commissioner RockhiII Praises the
Appointment
OF NJ A Rk E ID ABILITY

United States Minister Conger has ad-
vised the State Department that Yuan Shi
kai, the present viceroy OF the province OF
ShangtunG, has been elected to succeed Ii
Hung Chang as viceroy of the province OF
Chi Lo, and Wang Wen Shao has been
named as deputy viceroy.
Yuan Shi kai who succeeds Ii Hung
Chang as viceroy of Chi Ii, is the very
best appoint ment that could have been
made from all China, according 70 Mr..
Rockhill. the special commissioner of the
United States to Pekin. He is about forty
five years Of age. and came originally from
the province of Human. where he began his
public career as a military officer. He was
made minister to Corea, and for many
years ably defended Chinese interests in
that troubled country. As governor OF
Shangtung he showed surprising ability
in tranquilizing that dangerous province,
while his gift for diplomacy was fully ex-
ercised in preventing friction between the
turbulent population of the peninsula ana
the Germans when they were steadily en-
croachng from their original holdings at
Kiao Chow on the north coast. As a mil
itary man Yuan showed his ability by the
organization of what is undoubtedly the
best military force in China, and they were
his troops that occupied Pekin last Septem-
ber when the foreign forces were with
drawn. They are thoroughly disciplined
and well officered. and considering Chinese
conservatism. they form a magnificent dis
play of Tuan's ability.
New Deputy Viceroy.
Wang Wen Shao, who is made deputy
viceroy of Chi Ii. is also a man of marked
ability, and, fortunately. he has always
been friendly to foreign ideas and is not q
reactionist. He was one Of the grand sec
retaries of state. and is at present one Of
the two ministers appointed to form the
new Chinese foreign office, which VIII re-
place the Tsung Ii famen. Wang is q man
of affairs and himself a member Of
the Tsung Ii Hamen some years ago, be-
sides having been director of mines and
railways He has been with the imperial
court since il fed from Pekin and
during its stay at Singaufu and the records
show that he has always exerted his in
fluence In the direction of reforms.
Minister wu's Tribute.
"China has suffered a great loss by the
death of Ii Hung Chang" said Minister
WI last night, and the position he held
in Chinese affairs will be a most difficult
one for China to fill. He was a great man.
He was also a good man, and practically
devoted his life to the betterment Of the
empire and TO doing good"
Minister WI was a protege OF Ii Hung
Chang. His friends here fear that in the
death OF his protector and patron he has
been exposed to the attacks OF the many
enemies in the Chinese court which his lib
eral policies have created.
Mr. Wu was for some time Earl Lis legal
adviser in foreign affairs, and superintend-
ed while acting in that capacity the con-
struction of the first Chinese railway.
Upon the receipt of the official confirma-
ton of the death of Ii Hung Chang from
Pekin the Chinese standard floating over
the legation in Washington will be half
masted, and other observance incident to
such an event Will he complied with.