The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-06
VAS A FAMOuS ROSI.
Chang. Minister From China During
Cleveland Administration.
lMaahinrfnn Sfar-l

NN aShingtOn starr
Did .ye5I ever Know what became OF
Minister Chang, who represented China
here during CIeveland's administra-
ton" asked a well known resident of
a star reporter the other day. NO?
Wen, his career was a very unusual
one. You remember. doubtless. that h.
resided in Stewart castle. fronting on
Dupont Circle. and his prodigal hospi-
tally broke the record. He gave en-
tertainments on the most lavish scale.
and invited hundreds of people, some
Of whom fairly wallowed in cham
pagne.
Tried to Modernize China.
Chang was a very able man. am
made many friends in this and othe-
countries TO which he was accredited.
He had very progressive ideas abOu.
the future China, and when he was re-
called he carried with him a firm de-
termination TO put them in force he
became one OF the intimate advisers of
the emperor. and was one of that little
band of Chinese statesmen who en-
deavored 10 mOdernize China in the
nineties, and who were making very
good progress until the empress dow
ager assumed control and took all au-
thority from the emperor and made
only dummy OF him. In order TO do
that she had TO get rid of these liberals.
~
This she did by condemning all of them
10 death. Chang was among the num-
Der 10 be beheaded- Before the sentence
was executed an effort was. made 10
save him, and il was successful.
1t came about in this way:
John W. Foster, who knows China
and the Chinese better than any man
in this country. and who was person
al friend of Chang, decided TO save his
life. if possible. He called on Secretary
Hay and placed the facts in the case
before him, and asked him 10 use his
good offices in Chang's behalf and to
ask the British government 10 Join ia
the good work. Mr.. Hay readily agreed
to do so, ard both the American and
British representatives at Picking We're
at once directed to ask a communication
of sentence as a favor to their gov
ernments.
Changes Life Saved.
Their efforts were successful and
Chang's life was saved, but he was
banished for life. He wouldn't have
asked anything better than to live in
one of the western countries that he ad-
mired so much, but that, of course was
not allowed. He was sent 2,000 or 5000
miles into the province Of Mongolia,
and he was sentenced TO hard labor for
life. He had 70 make the trip in crude
Oriental cart, and it took him Ions
time 20 reach his destination. He was
always fond of good living. and sue
! ceeded in gaining permission 10 take
his cook, a good one. with him.
THE present Chinese ambassador
was at that time Changes secretary, and
he was allowed TO accompany his mas
ter part of the way, The governor OF
Mongolia, whose duty it was TO see thaE
| Chang's sentence was carried out, had
at one time been a prOtege of Chang's,
! fortunately, and he saw TO il that
! Chang was not compelled 10 labor
4 That much Of his severe sentence was
not carried out. But there he was in
/ that distant province cut off from rela-
/ tives and friends, living the life Of an
! outcast.
Changes Execution
Then came the uprising OF the Box
| erS. and the conservative element
gained absolute control at Peking.
Chang's enemies used their influence
/ with the empress dowager TO secure
/ the execution Of ChaRg's original SEN
| tenCe. A secret messenger was dis
patched 10 Mongolia. and on his arrival
! Chang was promptly beheaded- 1t was
very unfortunate for China, TO-
/ Cnang's advice would have been inval-
liable in the unsettled affairs at Pc
J king which followed.
Appeal From Changes Son.
Now. here's the sequel to the story:
( Not A great while ago Mr.. Foster re-
/ ceived a pitiful letter from a young son
/ of Chang, telling him that his father
property had beeC cOnhscated and the
family name had been degraded. He
/ begged Mr. Foster to use his influence
to have his fathers good name restored,
! So that his descendants would not be
/ disgTaced forever. Mr.. Foster was
/ touched by the appeal. He promptly
: called upon Secretary Hay, told him
. the story AMI asked Pis assistance. It
was promptly given, and his efforts
proved successful. Changes good name
\ was restored, ard I think some, if not
| all. Of mis- estate was returned to MS
/ family. Curious country, that China,
/ iSD'r ir3''