The Afro-American advance., 1900-03-17

Shanghai. March l6.-The American
association here teleRraphed to the
United States government Thursday
that the attitude of the empress dow
ager towards the retnrmers will upset
the open door" policy. They also
say rebellion and anarchy are expect
ed, to the detriment of foreign inter
csts. aud advocate prompt concerted
action ON the part of the powers.
The China association will appeal
to the British minister. Sir Claude
Macdonald, on the same subject.
GIvrn ssrioa. Consideration.
Washington, March t6-The cable
| gram FROM the American association
has been received at the state de-
| partmeut, II hns not yet been acted
upon, hut is under serious consldera-
| tion, At first reading IL is not clear
just what connection eSists between
the attitude Of the Chinese empress
downHer towards the reform element
in China and the "opcn door" policy
in which the United States, with the
remainder of the civilized world, is In.
tcrestrd
Persecuttan Refarm Party.
II Is recalled. however. that the en-.
press dowager Ia prosecuting with re-
lentless hatred the reform party, go-
| ing 81 far ms to resort to the bar
harous practice of offering large sums
of money for the assassination of
leading feformera Thls reform ele-
ment In China IL believed to include
nearly all of the Chinese who are dis
/ posed To elevate China into n civilized
nation, following in the footsteps of
| Japan. They realize that this can
only he done with the help OF for
| eigners. and are therefore diaposrd tn
1 the open door" aa one Of the meas
ures TO llberallge aud rnliphten China
through the Introduction of foreign
capital and foreign methods
II is assumed that the basis nf this
representation from the American ah.
soeiatlon IA an apprehension that the
conservative party surrounding the
empress dowaRer. In satisfying their
animuslty against the refurmrra will
excite the dormant anti foreign feel
| ing among the masses of Chinese To
degree that will make the "opcn door
impossible Of attainment.
CuFIoas Fact.
II is u curious fact that our min
later 10 China, Mr. Cungcr. has 80 far
made no representations to the state
department touching this subject. He
has repe ted 10 the department that
serious attacks have been made upon
the American missions In shan-Tung
by the Boxers" powerful and nn.
meroua nnti.foreiRn league of Chinese
IL Ia this same organization which
has attacked some of he French mis-.
sionaries In that quarter Of China. and
has even carried It's operation To
the very doors Of Klaou Chou, the Ger.
mag holding In north China.
To Dispatch warship.
Upon the ministers representations
the state department has decided that
an American warship shall bc dis.
patched from the feet at Manila To-
the nearest convenient port 10 the
seat Of dscord, probably In this case
Taku. nj the mouth OF the Pieho riV.
er, or Wcihai Wei II IL expected.
however, that the Chinese government
will be able TO rcpreaa the BOXERS"
without any action on the part Of the
American warahip.
n In distinctly understood that this
little naval. demonstration will have
no connection with the struggle now
going on between the empress dow.
ayers party and the reformers. for
this may be regarded as matter OF
purely internal politics. with which
our government has no right to con.
esrn itself II Is probable, therefore.
that this decision on our part indi-
Gates the character of the response
that will be made by the department
of state 30 the eabIearam from the
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