The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-08-25

of Pekin and the war in China. Tn.
iii yesterdays session the absorbing
question had been the safety of Min
lister Conger and the legationers at
Pekin. Now. however. that has given
place to problems of a more intricate
and far-reaching character, touching
the very existence of the Chinese em-
pire and the part which the American
| government is to take in the recon
struction of that country.
The Chinese Situation.
The meeting vas devoted entirely
to the Chinese situation. Secretaries
Hay and Root. who have been most ac-
tive in directing affairs, were absent
from the city. so that the attendance
was small comparatively. the presi-
dent having with him Secretaries
Gage, Hitchcock and Wilson and Post
mastcr-General Charles Emory Smith
Lis Application Rejected.
Several questions were awaiting at
tentiOn. First of these was the appii.
cation of Ii Hung Chang for the APP
pointment of Minister Conger or some
other commissioner to negotiate for
the cessation of hostilities. The de-
cision arrived at was to reject the ap-
piication, and a reply of this charac.
ter will be sent TO Minister WI, to Le
forwarded to Ii Hung Chang.
Hns China n Government:
The moving cause for the action
taken is that this government is at
present very much in the dark as to
whether there is any existing govern
ment in China. With the capital
in the hands of the allies the
emperor and empress dowager fugi-
tiveS in hiding, and the entire govern
mental fabric paralyzed, there is no
evidence of any authority adequate to
conduct negotiations and secure re-
suits which would be final and bind.
ing.
An Enormous adj Affair.
1t was stated by members of the
ca binet that the Chinese establish
ment. instead of being a government.
appears to be an enormous headlcss
affair. without knowledge of what Is
for its best good and without power
to enforce its wishes. With the recog-
nized ruler in flight, no n seems TO
know who, if anybody, is directing it's
affairs. As China is an absolute mon
archy, without any executive branch,
the emperor and empress dowager are
still all-powerful, and practically they
are the empire of China.
VIII Act WITH Extreme Caution.
Under the present remarkable con-
ditions the United States will act
with extreme caution in whatever
steps it may take toward a solution
of the pending problems.
Will Keep Armed Forces in China.
In the meantime there is reason to
believe that the United States and all
the other powers Interested will keep
their armed forces on the ground so
that order ma be maintained and at
least a semblance of stable govern
ment brought out of the existing
chaos.
Polite Language of Diplomacy.
The reply of this government to the
appeal of the viceroys of Marking and
Human that no indignities be offered
the emperor and empress dowager, is
a formal acknowledgment of the re-
ceipt of the communication with a
satisfactory assurance that no indig-
mites will be offered the persons of
their majesties. This reply is couched
in the polite language of diplomacy, |
but it is understood that it does not
in any way commit the government
to refrain from imposing on the en-
peror and empress dowager any penal
ty that subsequently might be decided
upon in case it is proved that they |
were directly responsible for the re-
cent atrocities.
This question of fixing responsible
ties where they belong and imposing
any punishment hat may be deemed
fitting has not received formal consid-
GRAFTON yet.
No Barrier to Punlshment.
The answer with which the two vice
roys' appeal is met. accordingly, is a
assurance that the rights
of the emperor and empress dowager
will be protected. but does not I'M
any barrier to a proper punish
ment, such as may be sanctioned by
civilized usage, for any offense which
may be held to call for an
accounting.
The Question of Responsibility.
This is the Interpretation given the
reply by a cabinet official last night.
The question of responsibility will
have 20 be worked out slowly.
1t had been nopeG tnat Minister
Conger's advices. as well as those
from Gen. Chaffee, would be ample by
this time, in order to afford the Wash
officials full opportunity to
deal with the perplexing questions
by the Chinese disturbance.
Gen. Chaffee has not been heard from
and the Conger message was not as
complete as the authorities here had
desired. 1t was stated yesterday that
messages may be sent from here to
our representatives in China specif-
cally calling for more detailed in