The Press., 1900-08-23
Washington Letter.
Washington, August 20, 1900.

washington, August 20, 1900.
Americans have no reason to complain
of the ending of the first chapter in the
Chinese story, whatever turn may be
taken In the subsequent chapters. Our
government has taken a leading part In
the movements, both diplomatic and mill
itary, which have led up to the rescue of
the foreigners, including our minister and
a number. of other Americans, who occu-
pied such perilous position in Pekin for
period of nearly two months, and our
prestige has been added to thereby. But
in rejoicing over the safety of those who
were In such grave danger in Pekin, 1t is
not forgotten that the immediate future
is full OF perilous possibilities. We shall
need all the prestige we have gained by
our disinterested policy to deal success
fully with the schemes, known but I'M
avowed, of our allies who are not disin-
terested. We have great commercial in
terests at stake In China, the markets of
which are believed by many of our states
men and business men to be absolutely
necessary to the continued prosperity of
the U. s., and we have European rivals
for those markets which will take them
away from US If they can make an oppor-
tunity which they deem plausible and safe
to do so. 1t Is the business of this gov
ernment to see that no such opportunity
is made.
While the administration is on record
as opposing the dismemberment of China,
it Is considered certain in Washington
that it will not carry its opposition further
than to submit a strong diplomatic pro-
test against it, should the other powers
agree to it, and to demaud the same trade
rights as our treaty with China gives us.
A member of the cabinet Is responsible
for the statement that this government
will probably include In Its demands upon
China one providing that all Christian
natives shall be allowed to leave China,
If they wish to do so, The same author
ity says that no details have been dis
cussed as to what provision shall be made
for the Christian Chinese, said to number
several thousand, and adds that they may
b, settled in the Philippines. They could
not be brought to this country without an
act of congress, owing to the anti Chinese
law. Consequently, If this government
is to look out for them, they must be
taken to the Philippines, to Porto Rico
or to Hawaii, although the extension Of
the alien contract labor law to Hawaii
makes it doubtful whether they could be
taken there. Already attention Is being
called to the fact that American missionI
aries were only small percentage OF
those working In China, and the question
of why we should assume sole guardian!
ship over the so-called Christian Chinese
is being asked. That, however, was
probably not the idea that the member OF
the cabinet intended to convey. 1t is pre-.
sumed that the allied governments will
each make the same demands upon China;
and that freedom and protection for native
Christians will be one of them.
H. F. Coggswell of Chicago, who has
excellent opportunities to feel the public
pulse during his travels, dropped few
remarks in Washington that might be
studied with interest, II not with profit,
by the professional politician. He said /;
1.-The people everywhere are busy, much
too busy to bother their heads about POI
litical questions that do not directly afi
feet them. The spell binders will have d
lot of trouble stirring up any enthusiasm
this year, and, despite the increase In
population, predict that the vote will be
much lighter than it was four years ago!
Men had nothing to do those days but
talk politics, and everybody got excited
over the issue and went to the polls and
voted"
r. o. Merriman of Springfield, ILL.,, who
is now in Washington, when asked for his
opinion of political conditions in the mid.
die west, about which so much is being
said in the partisan press, replied: "All
predictions about how Indiana and Illinois
will vote this year are guesses. No man
can tell anything about the political sent!
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They can't tell because people are moi
talking politics, and until the people bel
gin to talk there Is no way Of gaugine
public sentiment. About the only thing
1 see is an apparent utter Indifference tt
the contentious of both parties"
Two parties of Cubans were at thu
white house Saturday on widely different
errands. The first, which was self-fn
vited, consisted of an ex-president Of tho
Cuban republic of '95, general of thu
CELEBRATING army" and a priest. They
presented plea for the immediate with
drawal of U. s. troops from Cuba and the
establishment of an absolutely independ
ent Cuban government to the president
and, later, at the war department, to Sec
retary Root. The other party, which
was invited, consisted of the 1887 Cubar
school teachers who have been taking 9
summer course at Harvard university
The president, Mrs. Mckinley and Mrs
Gage held special reception in theil
honor, and a committee of officials and
citizens showed them as many OF the
sights of the national capital as they
could get around to In their two-days
stay.
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