The San Francisco call., 1901-11-07
Becomes a Soldier.


tvng.
Becomes a Soldier.
LII Hung Chang, then about 30 years Of age.
was residing at his fathers house when he
native province. His patriotic ardor was
aroused to the highest pitch, and deeming 1t
the duty OF every man who had any influence &c,
country's behalf, he raised regiment OF mi
litia and took the field against the rebels. They
were too strong face, but he hung their
rear and harassed their tanks they advanced
northward with such tenacity and vigor to
cause them great annoyance and stamp himself
as a leader of no ability When on de-
feat Of the first column at Tientsin both started
on the retreat to Nankin, pursued by the Gov
ernment troops Lii with his militia was on the
alert, and, though unable to fully bar their
way, checked and retarded their progress to
such extent to give the Imperial troops
time to overtake and destroy them by the
thousands.
the attention of Using -Kwofan. the Viceroy of
Hukwang (Honan and Hupah provinces), the
generalissimo of the imperial forces, who at
once enlisted Ii and his under his imme-
diate command.
Wins Military Fame.
Though trained for civil life. LII was well
fitted TOR that OF a soldier. He OF strong
physique and commanding stature, being
feet and inches IN height. with bright.
piercing eyes, and possessed OF natural strategic
ability and great tenacity of purpose. After
Using Kwofan Ii was unQuestionably the ablesr
Chinese leader OF his time.
He rapidly from rank to rank until in
cult TO the province of Fokien. Soon after he
was put at the head of operations against the
Chinese Gordon, which he had secured
finally checked them. and in July. 1854. by the
capture OF Nankin their capital, brought the
rebellion TO an end
In recognition of his services he was made a
PHI or Earl. guardian Of the heir apparent"
and given yellow jacket.
Thus launched into public service, he
tinued therein until his death.
His services promotions and degradations In
all these years were too numerous to allow
tice OF any but the most important. Following
the suppression of the Tapngs he was made
Viceroy OF Hukwang with his seat at Wuchang.
| In 1s6y he was made Cabinet Minister and
soon after charged with the suppression of the
| rebellion in Yunnan and then of the great Mo-
hammedan uprising In Shensi.
China's Principal Spokesman.
| While he yet engaged in Shensi the ter
| rfble tragedy, the massacre of the French sis
| ters and priests was enacted at Tientsin. The
crisis was most grave one. and Chna's best
man was needed to handle the situation Lii
Hung Chang was summoned post-haste and
made Viceroy of the metropolitan province Of
| Chill. in which the trouble lay. Here he
| first came in contact with European diplomacy
| and from that time on was the principal ii not
| the sole mouthpiece of China in dealing with
| the outside world. and his acts are part OF
| we'll known history. To give here the more
| important events in their order must suffice.
! France placated for the Tientsin affair in 1873
Ii made important treaty with Japan. The
| following year he settled the Formosan
troubles with that country.
In 1875 the Emperor Tung-Chi, and the
Empresses came again into power as regents.
| Ii was soon made Grand Secretary. In 1876
he was charged with the settlement of the
trouble with England arising out of the Mar
gary murder in Yunnan. which he accomplished
great famine occurred in Shensi and Kansu,
and his shoulders fell the burden of rellev-
was stupendous on account of the inaccessi-
bility of the region. but he organized an eff
over a million taels from his own purse for
the purchase of food and seed wheat
with Russia over the Kuidja district. retaining
| 1t to China. In 1882 his abilities exer-
| break in Korea. and in 1884 he oufwitted the
French Commissioner, Fournier. In the settle
border question. In 1885 a fresh outbreak in
| Korea required new treaty with Japan,
which he made with some advantage to China
In 1886 he concluded another treaty with
France and in 1887 negotiated the British out
of Port Hamilton. which they had seized.
| Closing Chapters in Great Life.
| In 1888 Ii was stricken with paralysis and
desired to retire from public life. but it could
not be allowed. He subsequently recovered
almost entirely.
/ In 1894 the war with Japan broke out Ii
but soon called to the fore. and in 1895 sent
to Japan to make a treaty of peace. There
but bore himself bravely and turned the in
cident TO secure better terms for his country.
the everts that followed 1t bear high tribute
to Lis keenness as a diplomat and farsighted-
\ statesman. The consequences
yet developing and review of the whole must
wait.
In 1896 Ii made his memorab BILE tour of the
world, visiting all the principal capitals of
Europe and the cities of the Eastern part of
the United States. His retinue and equipment
| were worthy of Emperor, and he made
a great impression wherever he went.
| When the recent great Boxer uprising in
Northern China and the siege of the legations
occurred Ii at Canton, being the Vceroy
| of Kwangtung.
He was summoned to Peking, but wisely
delayed going until the foreign troops were in
possession.
The court remained at Singan. whittier 1t
fed, and charged Ii with the principal part
in the long drawn out negotiations for in
demnity-which were concluded. How well lie
acquitted himself of that last great work is
not yet fully
Lii was often called the Bismarck of China
and the Gladstone of the East but 1t Is
a question whether either comparison pays a
full and fair tribute to the manner in which
he accomplished the great tasks imposed upon
him. He for thirty years met the best dplo-
mats of the world and can hardly be said to
have been worsted.