The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-11-30

csc should be surrendered they would be
kindly treated They said that even IL they
were proved guilty they would not be tor
tured; they would not be killed They were
10 be kept as prisoners to the close OF the
war. Not only was this assurance repeat
edly given before the surrender. but AFTER
cred TO the Chinese the officials made the
bargain obligatory upon themselves by re-
They took the young men to Nankin.
where they tortured them for two-some
say for three-days. They made them kneel
on iron chairs with a bar OF wood across
their legs. and men standing on the bar.
They pulled out their finger nails. They
put chains on their wrists and poured boil
Ing water on the chains until the metal ate
its way TO the prisoners bones They
mashed into jelly the tenderest, the most
sensitive members OF their bodies. When
death was about TO have Its own way with
their mutilated frames, Ii was hurried by
the executioner's sword.
We Caucasians are 1900 strong here,
and have in this peculiar little Anglo-Amer-
lean republic an armed force of 40 men to
lace the 10000 MongOlians who are on the
land and in the walled city beside IL We
do not anticipate trouble or danger, but We
cannot say that IL may not come. Great
Britain has about two dozen war ships
here and near by, and Is able to protect
the English In China In case Of revolution
or anti-foreign uprisings- Russia has a
large fleet in these waters. and Germany
and France have a splendid naval force at
hand. Therefore, We Americans, who still
manage some of the greatest businesses at
TINS point, are warranted in feeling that
safety which the guns OF other nations will
Secretary Gresham's Reply.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 2.-The attention
of Secretary Gresham was called to-day to
the statements made by Julian Ralph in
Harper's Weekly for Dec. /. concerning the
surrender OF two japanese subjects in
Shanghai by the United States representa-
tive there to the Chinese authorities. and
the subsequent decapitation of the men.
The Secretary said that he had not yet
read Mr.. Raiph's article, but from what
had been described TO him as its tenor he
judged that the author had not acquainted
himself with all the facts In the case.
I'm the early part of the troubles between
Snina and Japan the Secretary continued.
10 instruct Its representatives to take
charge OF its archives and have a care for
country. China agreed to the proposal that
our government should extend its kind Of
nces In THIS way to Japan, and the Jap
concede the privilege to the Chinese.
Neither government. however, gave our
the representatives of the other. The only
authority that our representatives could
have for any. other than strictly unofficial
consent of the government within whose
jurisdiction they served, just as such au-
lnOrlty Is required In the case or every
minister we accredit to any foreign court.
No relation of this kind having been es-
tablished, our representatives in each of
the Delngerent countries exercised al ex-
tremely limited function, and this fact must
be kept constantly in mind in considering
such a case as that which Is now under
discussion.
Two young Japanese" the Secretary
added, 'purporting to be students at the
university .a1seas at Snansn nal but both OF them
and, therefore, presumptively competent to
know the character and consequences Of
their acts. took refuge with the French
consul In Shanghai to avoid arrest as spies
in the service OF Japan. Appearances were
certainly, against them: They wore the
which, though done more or less by for
eigners In China. is objected to as a prac-
consul at Shanghai, Mr.. Jernigan, cabled to
me that the men had drawings and other
papers on their persons which gave a color
The French consul presently turned them
over to the keeping OF Mr.. Jernigan, on
the around that our government was acting
nese country. The Chinese authorities re-
quested their surrender on the charge that
The difference between a time of war
and a time OF peace said the Secretary,
"and between accusation OF a military of
Tense and a charge of common crime, Is
palmer In no respect than In this matter
of the surrender of accused persons. In
the capacity In which we were acting at
as the japanese minister himself admitted,
but TO surrender the young men.
In order to avoid any mistakes through
haste, however, / saw the Chinese minister
in Washington and suggested that, as our
minister, Mr.. DENLY. was away from his
post, We hoped that the Chinese govern
ment would not try the young men until
his return. The minister cabled to his gov
eminent and received its assurance that
this should be done. Some time afterwards
we heard a rumor that the alleged spies
had been, tried. convicted and beheaded.
We asked the minister If this was true.
and he cabled at once to his government
TO inquire. The answer came back that
the report was false and that the Chinese
government was keeping absolute good
faith with us. Since Mr.. Denby's return to
China we have heard that the young men
were convicted and beheaded. We had
heard nothing as to their being tortured. -
The Secretary remarked in conclusion
that. although the United States exercises
great territorial jurisdiction In cases where
It's own people are accused Of offending
against the laws Of an Oriental power. and
require their trial In a consular court, ii
cannot demand that privilege in behalf of
citizens or subjects Of foreign governments.
even when 1t Is trying to play a friendly
part between two combatants. LAS long
as we recognize the belligerency of foreign
powers" he said. I'VE are obliged to grant
them certain authority incidental to a
state of war. 1t Is one or the horrors of
war that men can be captured and killed
with so little ceremony. but Ii is one
which, however deplorable, will continue
as long as nations resort to war for the
settlement Of controversies"