The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-24
OUR GOVERNMENT RIGHT.

Ot the correspondence regarding the pos
ition taken by the United States toward
the movement for peace negotia tons set
on foot by the Chinese authorities, the
most important part, of course, is the
answer just published to the German de-
mand. That answer leaves no doubt
whatever as to the desire of this govern
ment to promote the re-establishment of
peace and responsible government in Chi
ma, Independently of all plans and pur-
poses which may animate the other ma
tons involved.
The point of the German-American cor
respondence will not be lost on the coun-
try. 1t is. that while the German au-
thorities desire that the powers shall,
through their representatives, agree upon
those whom they shall punish as the real
authors of the recent disturbances, the
American authorities very properly leave
the work of punishment to the Chinese
government, as being primarily interested
in such punishment, as well as in the
the violence and disorder resulting in The
murder of the German ambassador arose
It does not take from the worth of this
position that the acting secretary of state
declares that the government at Wash
ington sis disposed to hold that the
punishment of the high responsible au-
thors Of these wrongs. not only in Pelkin
but throughout China, is essentially a
condition to be embraced and provided
for in the negotiations for a final settle
ment." We would really be derelict In
our duty toward ourselves were We 20
tolerate any lessening of the RESPONSE
bility of Chinese imperial authority for
the effective punishment of those who are
responsible in the first instance for the
blood that has been shed.
The sequel to the peace negotiations may
show that individuals high in government
| employment had a leading hand in the
| disturbances. Throughout the trouble
| there seemed to be a settled pur-
pose to establish the responsibility of the
- p -E.t
empress dowager and her government
Press dispatches, not fnfrequently bear
ing on their face evidence of having been
dictated by political considerations, were
numerous, designed to show that the i'm
perial troops were the mainstay Of the
| Boxer rebellion. The truth will, however
probably be found to be that the storm
ing of the fort at Taku was taken by
imperial authority as wanton and
causeless attack on Chinese sovereignty
and was resented as such. The refusal
of the American naval officer in com
mand to take part in the bombardment
goes far in itself to establish the cor
rectness of this contention But. how
ever this may be, the armed opposition
to the relief of the beleaguered diplomatic
representatives at Pel1in seems clearly e
| establish the completely Of the govern.
| men of the empress dowager.
/ the conclusion reached in this cores
pondenee The imperial government o.
| the empress dowager is clearly recog-
nized as entitled to rule. The movement
! so skillfully carried on for the supplant
| ing of the empress, has failed at leas
| for the time Chinese sovereignty i:
recognized in a decidedly practical wa,
by the United States against the policy
outlined in the German note. the carry
ing out of which would be equivalent t;
denying any right of sovereignty in chi
ma save as claimed and exercised oy the
powers. Finally the partition of China !:
put out of question as the immediate re
suit of the recent troubles.
Englands position is not as yet defined
1t will no doubt be profoundly affected b!
the action of the United States. But i
| is not impossible that there may be co
operation between Germany and Eng
land along the line of the formers de
clared policy In such an event troubl
may be looked for; and the dificultie
which seem now in a fair way to be dis
posed of will remain an open sore.
Our government has done wisely an
well in the Chinese business. No matte
what the immediate or the future out
| come may be, the United States will b
exonerated from all responsibility for un
desirable results.
STUDY IN LOGIC. o