The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-17

Did Ii Hung Chang think the shot
was the result of conspiracy"
He seemed to have that idea at first.
Before he came to Japan he had been
warned by his friends that attempts
would be made to assassinate him. The
others of his party were panic stricken,
and thought II unsafe for them to go
out on the streets assured them tl---
the Japanese government had nothing
to do with the attempted assassination
and urged that they make no change
in their movements. Ii was afraid that
he might lose face among me Chinese.
He told me that he had been shot by a
miserable wretch a man of no rank or
standing, and that he was forever dis
graced. He said that the Japanese had
not respected him nor protected him,
and that lie should have remained at
home. | insisted, however that his
wound would be regarded as a mark
of honor and as sign of the great
service he was rendering his Emperor.
/ told him that his sufferings were for
the good of his country and that the
Japanese were so ashamed of the af-
fair that they would be less exacting
in their terms of peace This talk
seemed to quiet him. know l was
right, and believe that his wound was
the most effective of all the bloodshed
~
1t gave Ii and his people the sympathy
of the world, and it put the Japanese
In such a light that they moderated
their treaty demands. In fact, before
Ii Hung Chang left. he became rather
proud of having been shot The wound
healed quickly and he was soon well
again."
How did Ii Hung Chang regard for
eigners?"
THAT can be easily seen by reading his
diary replied General Foster I'm his
earlier notes he speaks of us as barba,-
rians and foreign devils. He describes
the missionaries as low fellows, and evil
IDENTIFY believed in such traditions as those
which represent them as killing Chinese
habies and saving their eyes for photo
graphic material Later on his mind
changed He became connected with tho
ablest of the foreigners who went to
China. He was closely associated with
General Gordon and Gen. Frederick Ward
at the time of the TAPPING rebellion
He was present at Wards death. and
he describes how the tears came into
his eyes when he saw that great gem
eral dying. so far away from his homo
and family. He had also to do with tho
investigation of the Tfentsin outrages in
which the missionary hospital and or
phan refuge were burned He had to
investigate what the Christians had been
doing there and punish the Offenders.
From that time on his opinion of CHS
tianity rose, and he came to have high
respect for missionaries and missionary
work. During his later years he ranked
Christianity with Confucianism and he
once told me that If he had been born
In America he would have been a Chris
tian. but that as he was born in China
he was a follower on CONTIGUOUS. He
put the two religions on a par as sys-
TENS of morality and ethics.
When Ii was shot at Shimonoseld"
the general continued, among the let
ters of regret sent in was one from some
Japanese Christians at Nagoya They
wrote that they had been holding meet
ings and praying for his recovery In or
der that he might carry out the great
work In the world for which the Lord
had destined him. This letter produced
a deep impression upon Ii Hung Chanr's
mind, and in reply he wrote thanking
them. and saying that he had no doubt
but that their prayers had materially
forwarded his recovery"
II here asked General Foster as to
whether lie thought China would event
ually become Christian"
He replied ''All | can say as to that
Is that a great Christian movement is
now going on IN China. Many of the
highest officials of the new republic arc
Christians. This is so of Sun Vat Sen and
many others. You have seen how Yuan
Shih Kai has recently asked for the
prayers of the Christian world for China
| have lust received a letter from Mr.
Brockman, who is at the head of the
Young Mems Christian association In that
country. He tells me that enormous meet
ings are being held in Peking, Shanghai,
Mukden and other large centers. The
people are coming by the thotSsaIs As to
hear the preaching. and there are thou
sands of converts"