Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-11
: II HUNG CHANG.
The We'll Known Chinaman Is Close
 to Deaths Door.

s s . , q ? Ii. ! The We'll Known Chinaman Is Close to Deaths Door.
 pekin. March Hi Hung Chang | again is seriously i'll, and his physician 1 says his life hangs by q thread. Reckoned by European standards as
 the greatest statesman China has ever
 produced, Ii has always held an en-
 yiable position among his countrymen. l Ii is essentially Chinaman with all | his wisdom. There is no doubt of ms
 shrewdness, but be shines as states
 man more ill contrast than in merit according to, the views of many who ! came in personal contact With hlm
 They say he follows the wise Amerl-
 can policy of looking wise when on
 dangerous ground and of asserting himself vigorously when in familiar
 territory. Nevertheless, Lii Hung
 Chang will go down in the annals of
 history as one of the greatest of Chi
 nese, and many rank him with Bis
 marcIz and Gladstone.
 Perhaps the real greatness of Lis
 statesmanship may best be made clear
 by recalling his attitude in the recent
 troubles between the Chinese govern
 ment and the powers. growing put Of
 the Boxer uprising. Ii seems to have been able to keep on friendly terms
 with all three elements, the Chinese
 government, the powers and the Boxer | leaders.
 General Grant, who was great friend of the Chinese statesman. spoke
 of him in 1879 as follows:
 T have met on this journey (his
 trip around the world) four great men, I ID: oiI
 Ii Hung Chang. I am not sure all things considered. but that Ii is the greatest of the four"
 Ii always has been progressive. all
 lied with the most enlightened leaders
 in this country Frequently he has
 been banished from power. but in her
 hour of trouble China has always
 turned to her Grand Old Man. and
 not in vain. as history recounts.
 Ii was born in the province of Anu
 Huel on February 16. 1893. In 1860,
 while governor of the province of | Thianc-Sin. he aided "ChineSe' Cor
 don in crushing the Taiping rebellion
 The other Thiang province came un-
 der his sway and in 1865 he was made
 vicerOy of the united countries. In
 1866 he was appointed minister plenl-
 potentiary. in 1867 viceroy of Hong | kaung and in 1868 a grand chancellor.
 After the Tien-Tsin massacre, in 1870, | he was punished on the charge of hay
 ing aided the commanding general; but l two years later the emperor restored | to him his titles and the office of grand | chancellor.
 After the first few Chinese defeats | in the war with Japan he was severe | ly blamed by the Pekin government for the unprepared condition of the i army and navy, and was called to the | capital. He went. but at the head of
 small army of sturdy retainers, so no personal violence was done him: but he was stripped of his decorations and honors. Later he was restored to favor. and on the dismissal from Jap an of the first Chinese peace envoys, whose credentials were fatally defec- tive all eyes turned to the famous viceroy, who was known and respect ed by the Japanese officers of state as the man who Shor'1 t.Aal the next peace commission from the Flowery kingdom it being rirhtly assumed that the papers accrediiing him as an ell voy would confer full powers for ne- gotiating.
 It was on his visit to Japan to set tie the war that Ii was shot in the face by a young Japanese while ill the streets of SomOnoseki. He recovered
 from this. but the i>hot left Il scar which he bears to this day.
 It was in 1897 that Ii paid his fam ous visit to this country. accompanied by an immense retinue o-$his house hoid. His reception was in keeping with his high rank. and, as will be re membered. he saw much to interest him. and his peculiar habit of asking play. Before coming here Ii visited | England and Germany, and in each | his reception was equally cordial. When the Boxer uprising came Li Hung Chang was viceroy of Canton.
 and his attitude is said to have done
 much in preventing the spread of the
 revolt. When the time for peace ar
 rived Ii hastened to Pel1in. despite his seventy-eight years, and has been busy 1 since in his efforts to ''save the face of the emperor and empress dowager in
 the negotiations with the powers. | Several weeks ago he was stricken,
 but managed to continue his part in | the negotiations, despite the fact that
 he was unable to leave his bed. He
 recovered partly and again was able
 to be out, but from indications now his
 end cannot be far off.
 |