The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-09-05
Chances Of an Early Settle.
ment Now Seem Better.

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States government having acted upon
the Russian proposition as to the
withdrawal of troops from Pekin. is
now quietly awaiting for responses
to the notes which have been sent to
our various representatives abroad
for presentation to the powers Sew
eral days and perhaps q week may
pass before all these replies are re
ceived. According to their formal
expressions, all of the powers agreed
upon this one point they do not
desire to enter upon formal war
upon China The United States gov
ernment is trying to bring about this
result. For the moment it finds iteelf
side by side with Russia, whose
earnestness cannot be questioned at
this time. The object now in view
is to bring about situation 10 China
that will admit of the beginning of
negotiations looking to the rees,sb
lishment of order and the cessation
Of hostilities and the insurance of
protection to foreign life and proper.
ty After that the negotiations may
touch upon other questions that re.
main to be settled 1t il with this
object that Russia has suggested the
withdrawal from Pekin. in order that
the Chinese government may resume
the reins of power. for the Chinese
people, being guided by externals are
not likely to yield fealty to a govern.
ment not in possession of it's own
capital
THE CHAMPION OF CHANG.
The United States government has
been earnestly championing the cause
of Lii Hung Chang from a precisely
similar motive, namely desire
speedily to rehabilitate the Chinese
government in order that it may
carry out its express desire to settle
the difficalti which have arisen
In responding to the Russian note as
it did. the United States government
availed itself of the opportunity of
directly inviting the remaining pow
ers to indicate how. in their judg.
ment. peace negotiations could be
instituted. This notice is calculated
to secure full disclosure of the in
tentiops of the powers, if the inquiry
is met by them in the frank spirit in
which it was conceived by the United
States government The difficulty
apprehended now in reaching a set
Element lies in the international de
lay and procrastination on the part
of any power which is conceal
ing it's true purpose and does
not desire to avoid formal
war The state department ia
already embarrassed by delays ex
perienced in securing responses TO
it's note challenging the production of
objections to Lii Hung Chang 1t
appears that much confusion exists
at Taku as to what actually had been
decided upon respecting the treat
ment of Ii Hung Chang should he
arrive at that + ce en- route to
Pekin
The reports Of the naval com
manders to their home governments
rather increased the confusion in an
international sense. Admiral Remey
found it difficult to sift out the facts
at Taku Now the state depart.
ment finds the replies so far
received from Europe vague and
unsatisfactory from the fact that
the various governments have
different understandings az to the
exact conditions at Taku. 1t could
not be learned from the replies re-
ceived aud those which were miss
ing. but it can be stated that tat the
present the question as to the accepta
bility of Earle Lii as an envoy and his
freedom from interference remain
unsettled The advance of the Rus
sian proposition may reduce the i'm
portance of the question, for with
the return of the Chinese govern.
ment to Pekin the smaller matter of
the sufficency Of credentials, could
be speedily adjusted Altogether
the opinion among the members Of
the administration is that the Russian
move "was made directly for an
earlier settlement Of the Chinese diff
cuIties than seemed possible few
days ago
A FAVORABLE INDICATION.
Secretary Root 10 speaking today OF
the statomen. in the Copger dispatch
saying that Prince Ching was coz ing
to Pekin, said that it was a favorable
indication Prince Ching is friendly
to foreigners and among the more pro
grcssive Of tho Chinese officials i, was
also stated that conditions seemed TO be
improved SO far no orders have been
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