The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-12-04

| injuries as well as loss or lie aIthOugh
but one American citizen was reported
to have been actually wounded, and al
though the destruction OF property
may have fallen more heavily upon the
missionaries of other nationalities than
our own, it plainly behooyed this gov
ernment to take the most prompt and
decided action TO guard against SINH
/ lar or perhaps more dreadful calami-
ties Detailing the hundreds of Ameri-
up throughout the interior of China
under the temperate rule of liberation,
custom, and imperial edict. The de-
mands of the United States and other
powers for the degradation and pun
/ .shment of the responsible officials of
the respective cities and provinces who
by neglect or otherwise had permitted
uprising, and for the adoption of stern
measures by the Emperor's govern
ment for the protection OF the life and
property of foreigners, were followed
| by the disgrace and dismissal of GER
| tain provincial officials found derelict
| in duty, and the punishment by death
of nu11oer of those adjudged guilty
OF actual participation i'm the out
breaks. This government also insist
ed that specal American Commission
should visit the province where the
| first disturbance occurred, for the pur-
pose of investigation. This latter
commission, formed after much oppo-
stion, has gone overland from Tiensin,
accompanied by a suitable Chinese es-
cort, and by it's demonstration of the
| readiness and ability of our govern
| ment to protect its citizens will act, it
| is believed, as a most influential deter
rent of any similar outbreaks
The energetic steps we have thus ta-
ken are all the more likely to result in
future safety to our citizens in China
/, bcause the i,-1erial Government is. /
ann persua q 4ly convinced that
we desire only the liberty and protec-
| tion OF our own citizens aud redress
| for any wrongs they may have stf-
| fered, and that we have no Interior de-
/, signs or objects, political or other
wise. China will not forget our
| kindly service to her citizens during
/ her late war nor the further fact that,
| while furnishing all the facilities at
our command 10 further tlfe negotia-
tions of peace between her and Japan,
we sought no advantages and inter
posed no counsel.
| The governments of both China and
Japan have. in special dispatches trans
mitted through thier respective diplo-
matte representatives, expressed in a
most pleasing manner their grateful
appreciation of our assistance to their
citizens during the unhappy struggle
and of the value of our aid paving the
way to their resumption of peaceful
relations.
| THE WALLER CASE.
| The customary cordial relations be-
tween this country and France have
/ been undisturbed, with the exception
/ that a full explanation of the treat
ment of John l.. Waller by the expe-
dictionary military authorities of
| France still remains to be given. Mr.
| Waller, formerly United States Consul
at Tamataye, remained in Madagascar
after his term of office expired, and
was apparently successful in procur-
| ing business concessions from the Ho-
vas OF greater or less value After the
occupation of Tamatav and the declar-
alton Of martial law by the French,
| iic NdS ftIIcSItd uI)Olt various cIldtPtS,
among them that of communicating
military information to the enemies of
| France, was tried and convicted by a
military tribunal, and sentenced to
| twenty years Imprisonment. Follow
ing the course justified by abundant
| precedents, this Government request
ed from that of France the record of
the proceedings of the French tribunal
which resulted III Mr.. Walters con-
| dcmnation. This request has been
complied with 10 the extent of supply
ing a copy of the official record, from
| which appear the constitution and or
ganization of the court, the charges
as formulated, and the general course
and result of the trial and by which it
is shown that the accused was tried in
open court and was defended by coun-
sci. But the evidence adduced in sup
port of the charges-which was not re-
ceived by the French minister of for
eign affairs till the first week in Octo-
ber-has thus far been withheld, the
French Government taking the ground
that it's production in response to our
demand would establish a bad prece-
dent. The efforts of our Ambassador
to procure it, however, though inn
peded by recent changes in the French
ministry, have not been relaxed, and
1t Is confidently expected thatsome sat
isfactory solution of the mater will