New-York tribune., 1901-11-08
IL HING CHANG.


The death of Ii Hung Chang robs China of
her greatest man, Russia of serviceaDle frlend
and the world of one of its most noteworthy
figures Volumes have been written about him,
and there will be many more, often containing
mingled truth and falsehooG. In any case, II
is difficult Justly to estimate an eminent man.
In the case of this particular man, he who
would deal with him fully and yet nothing e1-
tenuate nor aught set down in malice Will nave
no easy task His character was enigmat1cai,
inscrutable; his career was reported TO the out
side world often through a distorting medluih'
and the standards according to which he ruled
his life were essentially different from our own
and such 1t is not easy for us to understand
He has often been called great man. Indeed
he has been advsedly ranked among the hall
dozen greatest men of his time. If we nave re-
gard to his influence upon the general progress
of the world and the evolution Of civilization,
that estimate seems extravagant. But II we
consider only his place in and his influence upon
that remarkable people which forms one-fourth
of the entire human race we shall probaolS pe
constrained to approve 1t as Judicious
Ii Hung Chang undoubtedly man OF
extraordinary power of mind The mighty
frame OF his physical body WAS the fitting dwell
ing place of a KEEN alert and puissant intellect.
which instantly and irresistibly impressed those
who came into contact with him. Gordon,
Grant and Bismarck all felt this. and left their
testimony that this was man of exceptional
greatDess testimony which lesser mortals may
accent without question. We cannot measure
him bv our own standards OF scholarship: but
according to the Chinese standards which are by
no means unexactng. he was one OF the fore
most scholars in that empire. In his youth he
was noted for his proficiency in all studies. All
through his life he displayed intellectual master
shin And those who crossed inteliectual
swords with him in his old age were made to
realize his wonderful acuteness and power II
from his mental qualities we turn to his moral
side Judgment becomes less certain. though
largely because of the more marked divergence
of Chinese standards from our own. From the
American point of view his amassing of great
wealth at the public expense Is not to he justi-
fed but his countrymen did not rebuke II, but
rather made 1t matter of emulation. His Kill
ing of the Tai-Ping princes at Soo-Chow was III
the eyes Of Gordon hideous crime and there
are few of the Anglo-Saxon race who have not
felt a thrill of sympathy with that illnstriouS
man in the Berserker rage in which he pursued
Ii around the walls Of the city to slay him III
hot blood And yet the Chinese Emperor re
'4''NA ''''
and exalted patriotism. Judged by the Chinese
standards, to which alone he held himself amen
able and by which alone he directed his ways,
he was both great and good.
There were strange contradictions in the man.
He was above all the propagandist of China
for the Chinese" yet he above all others played
hit, the hands Of Russia, the very power which
is t::e greatest menace TO Chinese integrity He
was an ultra conservative. yet he was foremost
In adopting the modern improvements of other
lands. On more than one occasion he saved the
throne for the dynasty, yet In the end ne mas
been identified with measures and occurrences
which put that throne and dynasty In their most
serious peril. Through it all he doubtless acted
for what he considered the best, and true
to his own standards Of truth. Nor was he lack
ing IN some important instances, If measured
by our own standards There were those who
ragged against him the evil genius of the
Boxer outbreak, and denounced him as utterly
decetful. Yet the outcome of the whole busi-
ness vindcated the entire good faith of his note
worthy cable message to The Tribune and OF
all his conduct at that time Indeed, If the bal
ance be struck between him and the outside
powers. the preponderance OF constancy ana
truth may not be found against him.
few years ago the death of Ii Hung Chang
general Asian Armageddon. Now 1t will prob
ably pass with only slight and temporary
ripple upon the surface of affairs. For he had
outliyed his political primacy. His name was
still the greatest In the empire but 1t had be-
come little more than name. He was still
the supreme representative of his race, and he
leaves a place which no other can hope to fill,
vet for practical purposes others had come more
TO the front The autocrat had been supplanted
bv the syndicate. Neither in domestic nor in
foreign affairs will China greatly feel his loss.
But i'm sentiment her loss is irreparabie. Nor is
1t uniting that the youngest civilization In the
world shall sympathize with the oldest. Grant
called Ii one Of the four greatest men he had
met In his Journey around the world, and Ii de-
clared Grant was the greatest man he had ever
met Widely they are separated In most
things and anita gonistic as they have at times
seemed to be, the two lands may well be united
In the sentiment of supreme bereavement Ii,
and LIS land. laid wreaths in tribute upon
Grants sepulchre. Grants land and country
men may we'll offer their tribute Of respect to
the memory of Ii Hung Chang.
FIRES IN THE STREETS.
Election bonfires are nlischievous and harm
fri in o,Ir crowded cities and street 11rehips