The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-22

u many months OF dithcult
negotiation may be expected
to follow the relief of the legationers
at Peliin. The problem Of restoring
order in China and securing adequate
guarantees of future protection of for
eign life and property in accordance
with treaty agreements is likely to
be as hard a one to solve as any
which has confronted the statesman
ship of our day. But looking at what
has thus far been done. what Ameri-
can is there who can withhold frank
admiration OF the mastery manner in
which our state department has con-
Quoted the American side OF this COM
plicated affair?
Only a few months have interviewed
since Secretary Hay secured from all
the powers having footholds in China
assurances in writing that they would
not discriminate in any way against
American interests, either in Chinese
territory now controlled by them or
in territory hereafter to be acquired.
AS Representative Mondell points out,
whatever may be the disposition of
the other foreign powers with refer
ence to the partition of China they
are under moral obligation by reason
of the open door agreement to MAIN
tain equal commercial privileges and
freedom Of commerce, and the fact
that they are thus barred from COM
mercial advantage through the possess
sion of territory must take away the
90 tn ha rti
of China. The possession of territory
which does not carry with 1t CONNER
cial advantages which are not enjoy
ed alike by all the powers would be
of no great value to any nation, and
all the powers are confronted with
the fact that any scheme for the par
tition of China must involve the
strongest disapproval Of the United
States"
With the ink on their assurances
hardly dry, the powers are effectually
estopped from using the imprisonment
of their ministers as a preteXt for the
annihilation of the Chinese empire.
Who will believe that had these as
| surances not been secured before the
1oxer uprising broke out in anarchy
| at PelIin the outbreak would not have
been seized upon as a signal for par
| tition and spoliation? But Secretary
Hay got in ahead of the intriguers
| responsible for the Boxer troubles and
! he has remained in the lead ever
! since. He was the first to lay down
a chart of policy with respect to for
| eipn intervention in China, limiting it
! to the restoration of order and the
vindicatiOn of justice. He was the first
/ to undertake to communicate with the
Imprisoned legationers and the first to
| get word of their safety when Europe
was proclaiming their massacre and
preparing schemes of vengeance. His
reliance upon the good faith of the
Chinese minister, Mr.. WI, was criti-
cized in every foreign capital but 1t
has been Yindicated and the foreign
chancelleries are now as profuse in
congratulation as they were recently
fresh" in dissent. The United States
has kept aloof from every act of un-
frlendliness in China and is today the
natural mediator. 1t is a check brake
on ambitions of aggrandizement and
balance of power in the deciding
of mooted issues of diplomacy. Never
has the American hand been played
so skilfully or with such a thorough
comprehension OF the values at stake
viii the country forget this? VIII II
vote to dismiss Hay and install Towne
Tillman or Altgeld?