The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-25
THE TROUBLE With CHINA.
There Has Been 10 Authorized Expression
Of the Departments Opinion.
REGARDING THE SILENCE OF MR.. IENBY
He Has Heretofore Acted With Good Judg.
ment and Energy Upon Instructions
and There are Man, Possible TX
plantations for His silence.

WASHINGTON, Aug 2-Thc silence
OF Minister Denhy with rplerelce 90 the
k1cheng inquiry. stlN continues, despite
the actually anxious feeling az the state
department that has been caused by the
press dispatches, the departments only
source OF quick information. Mail from
'hlna NOR than month old was deiiV-
cred at The State Benart nent, AMI this
contained letters from Minister DENLY
regarding events up to that time.
In the mail was a dispatch from Nuns
ter DENLY ConiIinng report ,i another
assault uIon an American missionary n
China. which has not heretofore been
made public
MIR DENLY says on July 7th at Tung
Chou. town about thirteen niles from
Icking, Rev. -. 4. Sheffield, an old ana
nghly-rcsDectci Amcri ,an missionary,
was attacked by a crazy native carpenter
nd his brother and severely cut VITA
knife. Two assailants were arrested
At the date DENLY wrote they were IN
Jail awaiting trial. Mr.. DENLY added:
THE matter viii create great STIR in
China. but is absolutely without foreign
political significance.
The press dispatches have told of the
refusal OF the Chinese authorities TO
permit the American Commissioners 10
attend the investigation az kucn ug, ol
the departure Of Captain Newell, of the
cruiser Detroit from FOO-Chow 10 ku-
cheng; and OF the appointment OF the
Niccroy Liu. the enemy OF missionaries,
and the alleged instigator of the Cheng-
Tu riots an imperial commissioner to
investigate the KuchenS affair, but not
n line has cCme from Mr. DENLY on any
Of these subjects
Acting Secretary Adce said to-day that
he had authorized no expression Of the
deparuncnts opinion as to the cause
OF Nj. Denby's silence for the simple
reason that no opinion had been formed
or could nationally be formed m the
absence Of knowledge Of the facts.
The promptness. good Judgment ana
energy with which Colonel Denny had
Ana4 tt.ff hon Of nr
sent him ncgatived any hasty conjecture
that he was not now endca 'Oring with
alacr,ty 70 fulnn the duties imposed upon
him by the departments telesrams OF the
past week.
/, was TO be remembered. Mr.. Adoe
said that China is a country Of slow
communications. having practically no
speedy mail service and Few teleSraph
lines: that the problem of the fitting pro-
lection of the lives and property inter
.sts Of our interests scattered over d
territory covering l.5O'WJ square miles
or more. required constant conference ana
corporation between the Minister ana
the admiral commanding, as wei as
Trustworthy information from the consul
that the Tsang-Li-N Namen. when IS thc
practical Government OF emma as lar as
foreign interests are concerned lS
cumbro,is body 10 deal with. its delbera-
tions being often lrOtracted ana the eA-
ccutiOn OF it's decisions depending on tns
doubtful zeal Of the local NceioSs anu
sitv of bringing all these diverse lacloIs
into concurrent working. might well baiile
Mir. Dcnby's natural desire 70 report 70
the deDartment successful action upon lts
Instructions. -, - f,,,.,., for
a. more properly written ku-Ilen) IN
v.stivation. Communication win the Con-
sul al FOO-ChOW was obviously ne-,S
sarx 10 any intelligent action ana MI
Hixson appeared 10 have put nInseiI pv.
yond telegral hic reach. Ihe netu q,
communicating with him ny P'lsol"i
message. perhaps. explains the press re-
ports that Commander Newell, OF the
Detroit had gone to Ku-Tlen 70 see nm.
az which however. fEe state bepattlntHl
has no confirmation.
The telegraIns from Shanghai ana
Hong Kong. said Mr. Adee, are 20 ne
taken with some allowance. by reason
OF the apparent disposition I'm those
quarters 10 work mp prejudice asalnst
The diplomatic and naval representation
OF the United states I'm China, and de-
p.decc upon such reports might be- more
likely 10 comphcatc and defeat IMAM
helpful 90 the Government IN carry lhs
out its practical purpose
In the absence of information from
Mr.. DENLY. the statements punished li
London papers that the British ana
American commissioners are practically
prisoners at Ku-Chcng. cannot be con-
firmed. The statement is not helieNed
here