Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 March 1886 — AWAKENING CHINA’S ZEAL [ARTICLE]

AWAKENING CHINA’S ZEAL

Minister Tenby Tells How the Adoption of Railroads Is Being Urged in the Far East. Factories of Glass, Woolen Goods, and Paper Springing Up Rapidly in That Country. [Washington telegram, j Mr. Charles Deuby, United States Minister to China, has sent some interesting dispatches to Mr. Bayard which deal with two questions of vital import to the development ami safety of the empire. The first is the construction of railroads, which Li Hung Chang is urging with all the vigor of his intellect. The other is the building of a navy to replace the useless junks which at present fly the imperial flag, and to organize a system of coast defenses adequate to protect the harbors and shores of the country: Mr. Deuby says: I have tho honor to state, as a matter of interest to a great many persons in the United States and as a part of tho current history of China, the position of that empire as to the construetion of railroads: The most prominent man in China to-day is Li Huns Chang, whs is Grand Secretary of tho empire, Viooroy of the proviuce, and one of tho heads of the Admiralty Boa -d. H s residence is at Tien-Tsin, but he lately spent some weeks at Pekin. Ho has for some years been in favor of building railroads. He has had a hard fight in China to have his views approved. The opposition comes chiefly from the censors and the B ard of Revenue. The censors raj res; nt that numbers of men would be thrown out of employment, graves would he desecrated, aud internal troubles would ensue. The Board of Revenue claims that if railroad's arc built the whole rovenuo service of China would have to bo changod. It seems likely in effect that the Lekin tax, which is one of the chief sources of revenue to China, would have to be abandoned or materially modified. This is a consummationthat tho foreigners most ardently desire. Li Hung Chang, through all the changes of men and measures, has maintained liis power, and there seems every reason to believe that ho will •succeed in his plan of constructing railroads. I send to tho department the dying memorial of Tso Tsung Tang, which contains an able presentation of tho argument in favor of constructing railroads in China. By way of parenthesis I may say that a dying ofticial always leavos a posthumous memorial to the Government. It also happens often that after he is doad some distinguished honorary oilloo is conferred on him by imperial decreo. This memorial to Tso Tsung Tang preoeded by a very few days the visit of Li Hung Chang to the cajiital, and furnished him a flue opportunity to press his ra lroad views. It was considered, certainly with reason, that the best nfsde of inviting the attention of the members of the Government to the merits of railroads would be to exhibit a working modol of an American roadway and rolling stock. Last September a working modol of an American railroad train, consisting of locomotive and tender, mail and baggage cars, passenger cars. Pullman parlor and sleeping cars, different kinds of freight ears, together with 10) feet of main track and sidings, switches, turn-table, etc.—iu fact, a oomph te representation of an Amerioan railroad in miniature—was exhibited to Li Hung Chang. It was, by order of Li Hung Chang, taken to Pekin and exhibited by him to Prince Churn, tho Emperor’s father, and two days later it was taken to tho Imperial palace and exhibited to the Emperor and the Empress dowager. Their majesties wore much interested, and spent Rome time in a minuto examination of the model. It was the fii st complete representation thoy had ever seen of a railroad. After examination they agreed to allow Li Hung Chang to prepare for th* introduction of steam-cars.