The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-08-26

considered inadmissible after what had
! been said relative to the religious ma
ture of the ceremony performed by ma
! tive officials
They also urged that ministers at
European courts were required to kneel
at an audience with the sovereigns, cit
ing the pope, especially as requiring
that ceremony; but explanations were
made to correct their erroneous impress
sions on this point. They remained I'M
satisfied, however, that such was not
the case and concluded this conference,
which lasted five hours. by saying that
they must report to his majesty that
the customs of the two countries were
so unlike it was better that no audience
should take place, much as he desired
to do honor to the American nation in
it's representative. They had conducted
their argument with patience and can
dor and exhausted every fact and rea-
son they had for its support, feeling
that the debate was an important
one, and the precedent now given could
never be exceeded on future occasions:
they were ready to give up their claims
to supremacy over foreign minister's
but were unwilling to concede an audi
ence to them with less than was re-
quired from their own highest officials.
1t was agreed at this time on my
proposal that the business which had
brought the legation to the capital
should be finished. so that it could re-
turn to Pehtang on The 18th, and the
commissioners disclaimed all restraint
upon its movements. They said that
they had placed policemen in the neigh
borhood of the quarters occupied by the
legation to r. strain the crowd which
would otherwise throng; but there was
no possible reason for preventing a few
peaceable foreigners from going where
they pleased.
A few days after the willy Judge, Sieh.
Unexpectedly appeared with agitated
:nien to suggest plan of compromise
on the audience question which all the
Chinese thought would succeed. This
was that the commissioners should ad-
dress to me a letter, stating that as the
emperor had decided to grant me an
audience it was necessary beforehand
that I should state to them what form
of obeisance I would make in coming
before the throne, and they would then
make the necessary arrangements. l
replied to this that when l delivered
the presidents letter to his majesty
I would render every mark of respect
full Difference which 1 did to the presi-
dent, without addition or diminution.
The draft of the reply which was fur
nished to the judge was perfectly sat
isfactory, although it did not cover the
undecided question of kneeling. And
he went through the details of the pre-
sentation in the most confident and
cheerful manner -emarking that it
would probably take place on the fol-
lowing Monday (Aug. 8. 1850.
The compromise which had been
contrived between Chinese court oere-
monial and the obduracy of republican
independence consisted in placing the
table on which the presidents letter
was TO be laid before the throne in such
manner that it's embroidered cover
would conceal most of my person AS l
approached it I should then bow as low
as 1 had already proposed, and cham
berlain would approach on either side.
as if to raise me up, crying out Don't
kneeI!" Those of my suit presented
with me would then go through the |
same ceremony. after which / would |
respectfully present the letter by plac- /
ing it on the table, from whence it |
would be taken by another courtieT. |
who. on his knees, would hand It TO the /
emperor. In this singular manner was 4
the character of the sovereign to be !
saved in the eyes of his officers. by my i
being restrained, as it were, from COM /
pleting a prostration which was never /
intended to take place.
This unexpected concession Of the I
whole point was supposed TO be chiefly i
due to the personal wish Of the emperor /
TO see US himself. cooperating with the /
well known desire OF QuilIian and Wa I
shena for the audience on political 4
grounds And when Sieh left the house 4
Of the legation with the drafts OF the
two papers to be submitted 70 the priyy
council he seemed to have no doubt
that the matter would be satisfactorily
arranged.
The arrival Of Ouillian's dispatch was
= Accordingly anxiousIy looked for. bat
instead OF il the judge himself returned
next day. more dispirlted than ever
with the information that affairs
had taken another turn and that his
motion had been oUtycted- How much
hand he had IN the matter himself 70
get fame ard promotion by his skiilful
Diplomacy q a delicate question - =
noint which admits some discussion L
HIS rnajesty's decision now was that
unless I would either actually touch one
knee or the ENDS Of my fingers On TIE
ground he would rot admit ne 70 court
CFf course this Vas refused. and the
question OF an audience finally decided
IN TIE negative.
The next dispatch from Quillsan IA
sfcate his unpleasant hes3tat Ton Ills
view required. IS the necessary So =