The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-05

II We are to judge from recent mani
festations of an unusual If not an alarm
ing nature. there is an opinion, common
to the President and Cabinet, that any
body can run the foreign relations Of a
great power, without previous knowledge
or experience in connection with the sub
ject Indications of the sort are not now
presented for the first time Mr. McKin-
ley impressed upon the country his be-
lief that diplomacy is something of which
every Republican politician is master
when he made a country lawyer Secretary
of State, and. later, placed a second rate
writer of dialect verse in the same posi-
ton If he could suppose Day and Hay
competent to cope with the trained genius
of Foreign Ministers like Muravieff Won
Buelow. and Lord Salisbury. and famous
European diplomatists like Count Cassini,
DR.. Won Holleben. and Lord Pauncefote,
it need not surprise anyone that he
should regard a combination consisting of
himself and Root. Smith. and Wilson as
amply able to handle a complicated in
ternational situation, any mistake in con-
nection with which might result in pre-
cipitating afrightful world war.
1t did not and does not astonish US in
the smallest degree. We may share in
the hilarity with which England and Eu-
rope contemplate the Little Breaches"
diplomacy, but not in their amazement
The Russo American coup was about
what might have been predicated upon the
absence of DR.. Hill from. the State De-
partment. and the course of the Tsung-li-
Yamen which took his place for the time
being. 1t was worthy of the latter to
plan for the termination of an uncon-
stitutional executive foreign war. by the
restoration to power Of the Chinese ruler
responsible for beginning it, for the muir
der of our missionaries. and for the at
tempt 10 massacre our Minister and his
suite in Pekin
1t is, therefore with much satisfaction
We note that, since the return of DR.. Hill,
there is decided appearance in Admins
tration circles of a desire to scuttle out Of
the scuttling policy. adopted at the insu-
cation of Russia, and TO get back to that
of insisting upon satisfaction and settle
ment of old scores, together with guaran-
tees for the future. as conditions prece-
dent to the evacuation of the Chinese cap
ital
How much mischief may have been deue
to the cause of international harmony by
Mr.. McKinley's support of the Russian
break We are unable to say. Perhaps the
mistake may yet be repaired, but it is to
be feared that it has sown the seeds of
discord among the powers, and that the
task of diplomacy will be rendered greatly
harder in consequence However it is slp-
parent that a strenuous effort will be made
to overcome the difficulty and TO establish
4 common basis for negotiation with some
sort OF Chinese Government. As for the
Empress Dowager that malignant old per-
son is rendering herself daily more and
more impossible. Her latest movement is
a scheme to find some excuse for ordering
the murder of the southern Viceroys be-
cause Of their willingness to treat with the
foreigners for the protection of mission
aries and for the preservation of order.
After that Mr. Mckinley ought to hesitate
before backing the hand Of Russia in any
plan or proposition looking to the restora-
ton of the Empress Dowager to her old
despotic influence and control over the
Empire.