The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-17

It was in 1880 that the treaty regulat-
ing Chinese immigration into the United
| States was negoti ted between the Com
mission Of which President Angel was
the head, ana Ii Hung Chang, aided by
a Chinese coadjutor. Five years after
ward a treaty was negotiated by Ii Hung
Chang with Count Ito, by which China
waived her suzerain rights over Korea,
and the high contracting powers agreed
not to send troops TO that country with
cut due notification to each other.
Ii Hung chang had nothing TO do with
the management Of the Tonquin war,
which was confined 10 operations in Ton
quin, an invasion of Formosa, and to an
attack upon the southern feet, all south
of the Yangste-Kiang, but in most other
matters he represented his government.
extending his acquaintance among foreign
diplomats and rivalling the best of them
in sagacity and skill During his long
incumbency as Governor-General, he be-
came the open and avowed advocate Of
the construction Of railroads, the pur-
chase Of foreign-bUilt ironclads and gun
boats, the erection of modern fortifica-
tons, the use of foreign cannon, and the
introduction of modern military science,
instruction, organization and firearms.
He also built telegraph lines. which
We're managed at first by Danish experts.
established a school to instruct native
operators, equipped coal mines on the
European plan. built the first railroad in
the empire to carry the product TO Tien-
tsin and the feet, founded military
and naval academy, endowed a modern
hospital, fitted up arsenals, and cotton
mills with foreign machinery. and gener-
ally did all that he dared do to introduce
modern appliances and improvements.
1t was in 1893 that the war uroke out
between China and Japan, which led
speedily through an unbroken series of
disasters by both sea and land 10 the
overthrow of the Chinese armies. both
in Korea and in southern Manchuria,
TO the defeat of the Chinese iron-clad
fleet at the battle of Yalu, to the cap
ture Of Port Arthur, the occupation of
the peninsula known as the Regents
Sword. and finally 10 the capture OF the
fortified fort Wei-hai-wei, together with
the whole of the northern fleet. Pekin
and indeed the whole of China, lay at
tie mercy OF the japanese, and the Chi
nese court, in the agony of apprehension,
sought aid on all sides. and in vain. In
its extremity, it turned at last to Ii. who.
In the first days Of disaster, had been de-
prived Of all his Offices and honors, but
was now restored to full authority and
commissioned a plenipotentiary to nego-
tate peace. He was received with great
respect at Observation-Disclosures a fanatic
made an unsuccessful attempt to assas-
sinate him-and after prolonged discus
sion succeeded in procuring terms less
arduous than might have been expected.
They failed, however. to satisfy the i'm
perial authorities, and he was again tenn
porarily degraded, only to be once more
restored at the coronation of the EN-
peror.
In March, 1895, he left Shanghai for
Europe to attend the coronation of the
Gar at St. Petersburg. and to make a
tour around the civilized world. After
leaving st. Petersburg, he visited Ger
many, The Hague, Brussels, Paris and
London, whence he crossed the Atlantic
to the United States and Canada. thus
making his way back to Yokohoma, Tien-
tsin, and Pekin. During his Journey Ii
exhibited everywhere an Unsuitable appe-
tite for information, and created a most
favorable impression by his shrewdness
and intelligence. His perpetual cross -ex-
created much amusement. IN
on reaching home he was made minister
of Foreign Affairs. a position in aich he
was able to pursue his favot.te policy Of
securing the friendship of Russia by fire.
quent concessions. How far, in this re-
s2ect, he was In accordance with the En-
p 20or arr DCwag-r Eiar.Ss. is uncer-
tain for after rec living the Order II the
Double Dragon in 1893, he was dimissed
from the Tsung-li-Yamen in connection
with the La-han railway contract, but
after the occupation of Pekin by the allied
American, European, and Japanese forces
in 19o0-the result of the massacres of
the missionaries-he once more came to
the front as the representative of the
Chinese court in the peace negotiations.
The events of those days are too fresh
in the public memory to need rehearsal
Estimates Of the abilities of the char
acter of Ii Hung Chang have always diff
fered widely, some regarding him as a
great statesman and patriot. and others
as merely high type of the cunning,
avaricious Oriental Beyond question, he
was man of great intellectual power.
and he always viii be famous as one of !
the first of Chinese public men to recog- |
aize the potency of Western civilization
md the futlity of the system under which /
he was born and reared. Such progress |
as his country has made in the arts of 1
commerce and manufacture. in the use 1
IF the railroad and telegraph and other 4
Instruments OF modern life has been due !
largely to his initiative, and it is to be re-
nemhered that he exerted his influence \
n behalf Of these agencies in the face Of /
4 deep and dangerous national prejudice, |
which might have proved disastrous to /
him No man mas played so prominent /
Z part as he in the domestic and foreign |
lhairs OF China during the last forty |
years and the fact that he retained his in |
7Uence for SO long. amid al the suspi- 4
ions OF the Oriental despousm. and died |
inally in the possession of the highest 1
lonors and Iimitless wealth. is a suf- /
icient tribute to his ability and sagacity.
The 8astle Clock.
In the accounts OF journeys in Switzer-
and of tho last century il is often re-
marked that the clocks Of Basic were an
lour too fast. SAYS Ia Federation Horlo-
yere suisse. Tradition reveals to Us tne
,rier- 81 rhfe ,rr-f-,r,, zT-fo., So, .---4..-