Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-04

~ not actually connived al by
them have eliminated In mob attacks
on foreign missionary stations, causing much
destruction OF property and attended with
personal injuries as well as loss Of life. Al
though but one American citizen was re-
ported to have been actually wounded and
although the destruction OF property may
have fallen more heavily upon the mission
aries Of otlrer natonaties than our own, 1t
plainly behoOves this government TO take the
most prompt and decided action to guard
against similar or perhaps more dreadful
calamities befalling the hundreds Of Ameri-
can mission stations which have grown up
throughout the interior Of China under the
temperate rule Of liberation, custom and i'm
perial edct.
DEMAND FOR JUSTICE COMPLIED WITH
The demands OF the United States and
other powers for the degradation and punish
ment OF the responsible officials OF the re-
spective cities and provinces, who, by neg
lect or otherwise, had permitted uprislngs,
and for the adoption OF stern measures by
the emperor's government for the protection
of the life and property OF foreigners, were
followed by the disgrace and dismissal OF
certain provincial officials found derelict IN
duty and the punishment by death OF a
number OF those adjudged guilty Of partlcipa-
tion in the outrages This government In
sisted that a special American commission
should visit the province where the first dis
turbances occurred for the purpose of inves-
tigatiOn. This latter commission, formed
after much opposition, has gone overland
from Tien-Tsln, accompanied by suitable
Chinese escort, and by its demonstration OF
the readiness and ability OF our government
to protect its citizens will act, 1t is believed,
as most influential deterrent Of any similar
outbreaks The energetic steps we have thus
taken are all the more likely to result in
future safety to our citizens in emma De-
cause the imperial government is, l am per
suaded entirely convinced that we seek
only the liberty and protection OF our own
citizens and redress for any wrongs they may
have suffered, and that we have no ulterior
designs or objects. political or otherwise
China will not forget either our kindly service
to her citizens during her late war, nor the
further fact that, while furnishing all the
facilities at our command to further the nego-
tation of O peace between her and Japan. we
sought no advantages and inierposed no
counsel.
The governments of both China and Japan
have, In special dispatches transmitted
through their respective diplomatic repre-
sentatives, expressed in most pleasing man.
ner their grateful appreciation of our assist
ance to their citizens during the unhappy
struggle and of the value of our aid in paw
ing the way to their resumption of peaceful
relations.
ON THE WALLER INCIDENT.
The customary cordial relations between
this country and France have been unds
turbed, with the exception that a full eX-
PLANTATION of the treatment Of John L. Waller
by the expeditionary military authorities Of
France still remains to be given Mr.. Waller,
formerly United States consul at Tamatave,
remained in Madagascar after his term of
office expired, and apparently success
full in procuring business concessions from
the Hoyas of greater or less value. After the
occupation of Tamatave and the declaration
Of martial law by the French he was ar
rested upon various charges, among them
that Of communicating military information
to the enemies of France, was tried and con-
victed by a military tribunal, and sentenced
to twenty years Imprisonment. Following
the course justified by abundant precedents,
this government requested from that Of
France the record of the proceedings of the
French tribunal which resulted in Mr.. Wal
lers condemnation. This request has been
complied with to the extent of supplying a
copy Of the official record, from which appear
the constitution and organization Of the court,
the charges as formulated and the general
course and result of the trial, and by which
1t is shown that the accused was tried in
open court and was defended by counsel But
the evidence adduced in support of the
charges-which was not received by the
French minister for foreign affairs till the
first week in October-has thus far been
withheld, the French government taking the
ground that its production in response to our
demand would establish bad prec-
edent. The efforts of our ambas-
sador to procure it,, however, though