HUNG-CHANG, 16th Sept.
Tim French mail yesterday brought us the: details of the entertainments and receptions at which H.E. Li Hung-chang, or Li Chung-tang,' as certain sinologues have in vain attempted to make the papers at home call him, was presetit in the second week in August. It is the speeches which he made at these entertainments, which he seems to have endured with wonderful vitality and spirit considering his age, to which ive propose to draw attention this morning. They were all exceedingly appropriate and full of point; and if HAE. ig too much of a diplomatist and man of the world to let out exactly his real thoughts in after-dinner speeches, we at least learn from them what he wished his English bearers to think he thought and they are notably free from the flattery which he lavished during earlier periods of his tour.
The first of the entertainments in Ghung-tang at the Hotel Metropole by question was the banquet given to the
the China Association, Sir Cecil Smith being in the chair. The speech rade in response to the toast of H.E.'s health was understood to have been rebared by himself, though read by Mr.
Feng-lo. LO. said that he was delighted with such a spontaneous welcome from gentlemen, who had associated themselves with his country by official, commercial, and honourable bonds. "It is to your great nation and to your ancestors that is mainly due the-merit of bringing the leading commercial people of the West into active and fruitful intercourse with what I may venture without arrogance to call the leading commercial people of the East (cheers), and thus, by gradual steps, leading the Empire of China into the universal comity of nations." He went on to say that there had been rough passages: in the intercourse between the two nations; but on the whole England hed been considerate and fair, and had thus gained China's respect and confidence. But there was something still to be done; and he trusted that his visit would help. to clear away some of the obstacles which stand in the way of complete harmony between the two countries. His eyes had been opened by what he had seen; and he hoped the enlarged interest of English people in China would react upon the Chinese Government, so-as to make China a better customer than ever for English merchandise. He knew the dictum of the late Earl of Derby that " the greatest British interest is peace that also is the. interest. which dominates all the efforts of China. A long era of peace bad made China the victim of slav, but Chinese custom could not be changed in a generation. The first necessity now for China is the preservative being anarchy which would mean tion of her integrity the only alterna-general and prolonged devastation. The British Government of the day saw this at the time of the Taiping Rebellion they supported the constituted authority in China, and were rewarded by thirty years of successful trade. British interests now are what they were then. "As Great Britain represents the most liberal commercial policy. of the West, so China does of the East; and as we have no higher interest than the fostering of mutual relations on that basis, we should like to be able to reckon on the support of the commercial Powers should our independence ever be threatened from any quarter." In concluding, H.E. expressed his satisfaction at seeing the interests of China so well watched over by old China hands, and sincerely trusted "that the China Association may grow in its influence, and may always be able to regard international commerce from the broad point of view of the common interests of both countries." We can only say that if H.E. is going to act up to those sentiments when he returns, we shall gladly see hu resume his old post of Viceroy of Chihli, and Northern Superintendent of T'rade, On the Sth of August the Chung-tang paid a visit to Gordon's statue in
St. Paul's Cathedral, making a low Trafalgar Square and his cenotaph in obeisance to each, a genuine tribute of respect and emotion from one in so high a position in his own country. The same afternoon he was the centre of attraction at a garden party given by Lord Salisbury at Hatfield House, On the 10th he attended the banquet, followed by fireworks, given him at the Crystal Palace by the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank; and we can only hope that Mr. Cameron, who presided, was not too sanguine in his prediction that "instead of going to decay and tumbling to pieces, China is about to renew her youth." In reply, the Chuag-tang remarked that he had willingly accepted the Bank's invitation, not only because he was quite alive to the value of keeping on good terms with capital, "but more especially in recognition of the most imaportant.services rendered in the past by the bank to the Chinese Government, at times when its managers and directors did show that they had broader views and more far-reaching aims than men usually have." Those who supported the bank in the years of plenty could rely upon its support in the time of scarcity; and this spirit had raised the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank to its leading position in the Far East. Then HE. paid a well-deserved tribute to the chairman, Mr. Cameron, in the words, "as long as men of that character, liberal, fair, and square, are at the head of the banking business, it will, I have no doubt, progress and expand." His Excellency was greatly delighted with the display of fireworks that followed, and declared that he had seen nothing so good in Germany; and he told the unequalled Brock that he' would have to come over to China, and give some entertainments.
On the 11th H.E. Li visited the Bank of England and could not understand why the directors did not settle the bimetallic question once and for all. On the same day he was received by the London Chamber of Commerce at Fishmongers' Hall, and in returning thanks for the addresses delivered: to him, made some really weighty remarks. which we trust were not mere words, He said "A statesman ought not to make promises—(laughter and cheers)—conceived at those times when his heart is moved by feelings and sentiments—hear, hear)—because it is only too often that the unexpected will interfere with the will and desire. However, for once I will act contrary'to worldly wisdom and caution, (Loud and prolonged cheers.) Accordingly, I will say that, as long as my life lasts, I shall make myself the advocate of progress, industry, andcommerce—(cheers)—and, on account of the lessons which I took in the course of my journey in Europe, Iwill make it a special object of mine to raise always my voice in favour of making the remotest corner of the Empire of my august Sovereign access sible by traffic, by the introduction of a sensibly planned and honestly-executed and managed system of railroads, the invention of which England has the best reasons to be proud of, My lords and gentlemen,—I hope London may one day recall that Iam both faithful and true, and will remember the promise I' made during my stay here among you. (Loud cheers.)"
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.