The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-11-08
LIHuNe CHANG.

ternational politics a figure OF
.orld-wide prominence. 1t takes from
l;lina its foremost diplomat, and the
lan who, during q quarter of a cen
kury, had more to do with shaping
) he policy of that vast empire than
NY other of It's 400,OOO,0OO people.
5 Ii Hung Chang was a self-made
lan. His father, though well to do
: nd able to give his son a liberal edu
alton, was a comparatively obscure
erson, of whom but little Is known.
ct before he was 50 Ii Hung Chang
ad become a leading parsonage III
be councils of the empire, had been
lade an earl and the yiceroy { a
rovinee and received the ed
distinction Of being decorate with
be yellow Jacket.
In China the highest office of state.
aye q few reserved for princes of
oyal blood, may be aspired to by the
umbIest of citizens. Admission to
: he pub6c service Is obtained by a
ries Of competitive scholastic ex-
ninations. The first Is held IL the
istrict, the second is open to the en-
re province, and TIE third and last,
hich is held in Pekin, is free to all
uccessful candidates in the other
ISIS. Ii Hung Chang passed his
nal examination with distinction
mong 10000 students.
3 9 .
But it was the TAPPING rebellion
hieh furnished him with an oppor-
unity OF attracting his zavereign's
office. While he was at home, after
assing his fral examination, the
sbels marched past the town on their
ax 70 BeknL LIS military ardor
= soused, and he raised a regiment
nd succeeded in doing some good
ork in harassing the enemy in the
EAR. This brought him to the at
ntion of the commander of the i'm
eral troops. From that time he
lpidlv rose in rank, was finally en-
5-usted with supreme command, and,
ith the aid of a foreign detachment,
1mmsnded by an American sailor Of
be name OF Ward. and later by the
Intrepid Gordon, succeeded in crush
lg' the rebellion.
For this he was created an earl,
ven the government Of a province
nd adorned with the yellow jacket.
.ater. when the massacre of the
rcnch consul and priests at Tien
sin occurred. it was Earl Ii who
amped out the uprising and con
uded satisfactory settlement with
le French government. Honors
ere heaped upon him. lie was pro
aimed a noble of the first rank, iIo-
arial tutor and grand secretary of
ate. From that time he became the
ost prominent and influential man
the empire. Three timas he was
graded and stripped of his yellow
3cket, but he was aloays quickly
ken back into rOval favor.
In personal appearance Ii Hung
hang was little like the American
inception OF typical Chinese. His
cure was a commanding one. His
airing was erect and soldierly, SC
1t his six feet of stature and large
anne showed to their full advantage
had the faculty of making per
mai frienCs of those who came il
ose contact with him. Genera
rant was dseply impressed by him
I'D regarded aim as a sincere and
BE statesman. General Gordon, vh'
Seught with ii against the TAPPING
bells. Is qaoted as saying man,
sars later: eli HUNS Chang is
oble fellow, and worth giving one
fe for
But the estimate of the world il
neral has been much less favorable
ne brillience Of his intellect is rec
nize6 and he IS conceded q place il
e front ranks Of diplomats. Blu
w people credited Ii HING ChanI
th sincerity. AMI it was pretty gen
sk ally believed that for many year
had 6een IN the pay of the Rus
an government.
Howevsr tAis may be, the policy o
emma under his guidance was NOR
bera1 and progressive than ever be
1re. lie was chiefly responsible 70
ie establishment in Pekin Of
hool of modern science under fol
IN teacher. for the benefit Of CHI
se youths. At ten ysin he estal
sned medical, naval aad' militar
9hools under foreign instructors. Il
aofoanized the army on wester
ethoas. and secured the introdu'
or Of railroads into the country.