New-York tribune., 1900-08-19
AN AMERICAN VICTORY.

1t is easy to claim in general terms the vic
tory in China for the American policy. 1t is to
be supposed that every one who has followed
intellgently the course of the campaign for the
relief of the legations is prepared readily to
give credit TO the Washington Government for
its result The gratifying fact is. however.
made still more evident and certain by a de-
tailed and technical review of the record Down
to the beginning of July, although need and
menace were great, doubt and uncertainty pre-
vailed upon every hand. Something must be
DONE of course, and there was vague recOg-
milton of the fact that it was desirable for all
the interested Powers TO do it together. But
there was no definite plan of action anywhere
until July 8. At that time Secretary Hay issued
a circular note to the Powers setting forth the
policy of the United States Government. 1t
was more than a note; it was a keynote. 1t
told with admirable lucidity and eXplicitness
lust what the United States proposed to do and
il thus suggested to the other Powers what
they would best do. 1t is the simple truth of
history that they acted upon the suggestion.
From that moment forward there was a def
mite. coherent harmonious plan for all the
Powers.
Not vet however. was the Chinese Govern
ment made TO realize the purport of that plan
and the requirements and intentions of the
Powers. These might, of course have been in
ferred by it from the Secretary's note. But full
conviction did not come until July o. when the
President made a formal reply to the appeal Of
the Chinese Emperor. In that document, des-
tined bv its circumstances and by its intrinsic
virtues to become historic, the President made
absolutely clear to the Chinese Government the
purposes of the United States and the terms
upon which those purposes were to be fulfilled.
. +ha ma In
one was promptly granted. The second fol-
lowed at a brief interval. The third was the
sticking point. The Chinese Government de-
INJURED and temporized The European Powers,
which had concurred with the President in his
demands. began to consider the advisability of
waving that point. One Of them practically
did So but with no profit. But with unfaltering
resolution the United States Government stood
to its guns and finally won the day. The Chi
nese Government did not it is true, concede
that third demand. But the United States en-
forced and executed the alternative.
1t is worthy of note, too. that the victory has
been won in the teeth of much scepticism, criti-
cism and croaking. The United States was bit
terly condemned for not taking part in the at
tack upon the Taku forts but those who rallied
against it soon had to admit that it was right
and they were wrong The United States held
to the belief that the Ministers were living and
could be saved by a prompt advance upon
Pekng Others scorned the idea, insisting that
all the Ministers were dead and that if they
were not an advance upon Peking would be the
sure signal for their destruction But on these
points too, the United States is seen to
have been right The United States strove to
keep up friendly relations with the Chinese
Government, had faith in Mr.. Wu's sincerity
and credited the authenticity of the famous
Conger dispatch. The other Powers made such
credulity a target for their scorn. But in every
detail the United States is amply vindi-
Gated. Vindcated, too, is this Government and
this Nation against the still more malevolent
attacks of those who for the last two three
years have been declaring that the United
States was entering upon a career Of militarism,
war and plunder. The fact is that in China the
United States has stood against war, against
conquest. against partition against everything
which these croaking vaticinators have pre-
dicted for it, 1t has. on the contrary, been a
powerful force for rescue, for peace and for
justice There have been many triumphs in the
military and diplomatic history of this country.
There have been few more positive and more
worthy than that which has found its culmina-
ton at Peking.