The Washington times., 1901-11-08

| opportunity GANG 10 NM ana ne Sprans
! into prominence et a single ShHlnd. 1t
was ,inon the occasion OF the TailPing re-
| beIIion when the overthrow of the
| dynasty seemed certain, and dark fore
| holdings were in the air. Ii Hung Chang
| raisrd a regiment of his neighbors and
! DISPLAYED such signal military ability that
he soon rose to the highest rank in the
| army For his instrumentality In suppress
| sing that rebellion. and thereby presery-
| ing the throne he was highly honored by
the Emperor, and by military and civil
! officers of greater experience In service
! than himself -aV
Earl Ii was thrice degraded by his
| Emperor, indicating that he had many
enemies in the Chinese Government. But
! in every such case he finally triumphed
! over them by being recalled to power and
! into stTaitened circumstances by its
! other leaders, it was ne only who could
| serve the Government IN great emergon-
| cios where others failed.
His well-known friendship for General
| Grant indicates high trait of his char
acter. He was loyal to his friends and
ready to aid them whenever in his power
Earl Lis visit to the United States
and Europe in 1856 proved of great value
to his country in later negotiations with
the great Powers.
Coming to this country on his way
from Europe, whittier ne had gone as
the Ambassador Of his Emperor to the
coronation of the Russian Gar. he was
his stay here.
President Cleveland came from his
Massachusetts, summer home to New
York and received him at the home of
William c. Whitney, formerly Secretary
of the Navy. In this city he was visited
by all the Cabinet officers in Washington
at that time OF the year tSeptemDeD. and
was much pleased with his reception by
the leading men of this Government. His
chief regret in leaving the Capital of the
Nation was his Inability to go 10 Mount
Vernon. The magnificent wreath he had
intended to lay personally before the
tomb of the Father of His Country was
taken there by the then Chinese Minister.
Yang Yu.
From here he journeyed westward to
Vancouver and from there sailed back
to his native land. He had asked in
Vulnerable questions and had gathered no
one knows how many new ideas. These
must surely have been Of great avail to
him in the conduct of his country S af-
fairs in the last year, when China was
facing all the Powers of the world in a
diplomatic struggle.
How do you regard his reported pro-
Russian attitude in late years, in dealing
with the critical Situation then existing
in China?' was asked
Il think he regarded Russia replied
General Foster, as the most formidable
opponent or rival Of China in Asia, and
naturally sought to preserve good rela-
tions with that Government. The Pow
ers of Europe were in a position to harm
the kingdom in various ways, and their
hostile attitude on many occasions caused
Earl Ii much anxiety for his country's
future. But he kept informed through
Government channels in general, and
more especially, and dire ctly, through his
secretaries, who had a Knowledge of for
eign languages and customs, and played
the game of diplomacy with the skill of
q master
He was especially impressed with the
fact that Russia with her hordes of SOL
diers close to the frontier of China could
he I'm thpp
other Power. and that. for this reason
alone, 1t was most important to preserve
peaceful relations with her. Secrecy and
caution were two charac cteristics of his
whole diplomatic career cad his knowl-
edge of Russia's almost lfnitless re-
sources made him fear for China if the
worst should come. This ! think. will
explain his attitude toward that coun-
try in recent years"
What, in your opinion, will be the
most likely consequence of his passing
away queried The Times man. 'Will
death?"
Lii Hung Chang lived to a ripe old age,
being in his eightieth year" commented
ton. . His death is a great loss TO his
Empire and TO the nations of the world.
He recognized the necessity of reforms
in China which would adapt that country
outside world, but he was at the same
time welded TO Chinese ideas, and did not
sympathize with the most radical measures
for the reform of China which were at
tempted in 1898. and which brought about
the downfall of the present Emperor.
1T was in 1894 that 1 first met him when
on visit to China. And In my daily
contact with him for several months /
learned to appreciate his great menta
powers, and to realize more fully the
great sway which he exercised over his
own countrymen. To him may be given
the credit more than to any other China
man. living or dead, for the advance
which his country has made in the last
decade. His influence may pass away, but
the grand works which he accomplished
Cor his country will remain as an endur-
ing tribute to his great career"