Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1898-01-06
GOIlDSHORO NC. THURSDAY N.
WAR Is APPREHENDED
President Mckinley Watching
the Moves on China-Our
Rights Must be Respected.

Rights Must be Respected.
Washington. Decem Der 3d.
President Mckinley is carefully
considering the situation in the
Orient, and views with regret the
proposed Acknowledgement OF the
Chinese Empire. He has asked
and received the opinions Of the
leading minds Of this country
conceruing the interests aud
treaty rights Of our Republic,
and has requested suggestions
for his guidance. 1t may be stated
with absolute assurances tIa5 the
President will be heard from IN
due time on that question aud in
no uncertain manner,
In common with tie plan of
this country, President McKin
ley entartains sincere feelings of
friendship and regard for Russia,
because that vast empire. auto
cratic and imperial though it be,
has been a sincere and practical
friend of this Republic at caitical
times, when the friendship of
such power has been Of inesti-
mable value to our interests.
Primarily for this reason the
President has been hesitating to
interfere, because all negotiations
pending look to the betterment
| of Russia's development and
growth as maritime power. To
one of his personal and political
friends, whose advice has been
sought and received, the Presi-
dent has said: Il believe that
Russia shonld have a port on the
Pacific coast, and I also believe
that she should have connection
with the Mediterranean Sea. This,
l believe, would be for the well
fare Of the commercial interests
of the world. as we'll as for Rus
sia. But theCzar has now large
portion Of the surface of the
earth; almost enough for the
purposes Of any nation"
Ii is know in inner circles of
diplomacy that the President ap-
prehends au almost universal
war, although the civilized ma
tiOns are now in state Of pros
found peace. Nevertheless Gers
many, France, Russia and Great
Britain now maintain standing
armies with more troops than
were marshaled during the Na-
poleonic campaigns, and all are
prepared for war.
Senators and Representatives
who carefully study foreign af-
fairs and who appreciate existing
conditions, are almost unani-
mousiy Of the opinion that war
fare III the Orient can only be
averted by firmness on the part
OF Great Britain. Superficial OBJ
servers seem to think that Gre 1t
Baitain is not now formida bic
power, but men of learning and
close calculation in current af>
fairs believe that Great Britain
can marshal quarter Of a mil
lion men on the Chinese coast
lands within two weeks. The
maritime power of the Queen is
never underestimated. Therefore.
it is the opinion of the best minds
at this capital that Great Britain
| alone can avert universal war
which will occupy a promontory
in history. The question IS
whether or not British diplomats
have the sagacity and the cour-
age to grasp the situation at this
critical time.
President Mckinley, in his con-
versations with those wkose advice
he sought, has indicated dispo-
sition to send word to the euro
pean powers that the rights of this
country, not only for the present,
but our rights prospective, must
be considered before the proposed
partition Of China shall be COM
pleted, or before the plans shall
have further proceeded.
1t will be gratifying to all Of
our people to know that the Pres
ident has been assured of the cor
dial support of not only the Re
publicans and Democrats with
whom he has conversed, but also
by the Populists and silver Repub-
licans. This fact indicates that
there is a chord of patriotism run
ning through our body polite
which obliterates all partisan lines
when the welfare and interests Of
our common country are invo. we'd
| Before the partition of Chine
shall be further devised according
to European schemes, the CONS
Imercial interests of this republic
will be announced, and when an.
] nounced they will be respected.