Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-07-24
OPINIONS DIFFER.
Some Credit the Conger Dispatch
While Others Discredit 1t.

While Others Discredit 1t.
Washington, July 23.-After "a
hours elaboration, and after giving
due consideration to the incredulous
criticisms of the European authorities
rs to the Conger message, the state de-
partment remains mistaken in its hrst
conclusion, that the message was au-
thentic, and that Mr.. Conger was alive
on July 10. Corroboratiye evidence
came. to the department Saturday
morning through Minister WI from
two widely removed sources. the one
from Sheng at Shanghai and the other
from the viceroy of Marking. They
make it clear that an edict certainly
has been issued relative to the condi-
lion of the foreign ministers and con-
tain other matters of information OF
the greatest value and interest, if they
be true. 1t may, however, be men
hioned. and that consideration was
duly discussed by Secretaries Hay,
Root and Long, that all these COM
munications from Picking at two
points passed through the same chan
mel At Shanghai, Sheng receives every
thing; in Washington, Mr.. WI is the
medium. The point of this is that this
additional evidence is deprived of
good deal of its corroborative value.
notwithstanding this fact, our gov
ernment is proceeding upon the pre-
sumption that these communications
are authentic. 1t has not been infiu-
enced in this attitude by European
criticism, but convinced that 1T had
everything to gain and nothing to lose
by reposing confidence in the Chinese
minister here, the state department
has felt it to be not only good policy
but a duty to make use of the friendly
disposition of the pro-foreign Chinese
officials to alleviate the condition of
the legationers if they are still alive.
1t certainly has lost nothing by act
ing on this plan, for so far from abat-
ing the execution of its military pro-
gramme, the government has sought
to infuse additional energy into the
commanders of its forces in China as
was exhibited in Secretary Longs ca
fblegram Friday to Admiral Remey.
Therefore the Shanghai report that Ii
Hung Chang is to be detained and pre-
vented from going to Picking is re-
eeived here with foreboding of evil 1t
cannot be conceived how Ii could ma
terially add to the Boxers strength,
even if he were SO disposed by going
to Peking. On the other hand it can
not be doubted that to interfere forci-
bly, with his freedom of movement
would precipitate crisis in the south
ern provinces of China. and certainly
would prevent him from doing any
thing for the foreign ministers. if he
Is acting in. good faith. Feeling thai
the powers themselves are now will.
Ing to admit the error made by their
naval commanders in not following Ad
miral Kempff's advice at Taku, the of
fcials here deprecate the adoption by
any of the powers of further measures
in the same wrong direction. Possibly
this subject may form the basis OF som'
rapid diplomatic exchanges.
Like a Voice from the Tomb.
New York, July 23.-A dispatch tx
the Tribune from London says that Mr.
Conger's message to the state depart
ment came like voice from tomb
md startled Europe,
Tine Of the best informed men ea