Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-12-07


kin has been accepted as in full con-
ionance with our own desires, for we
l have held and hold that effective repara-
ton for wrongs suffered and an endur-
ing settlement that will make their re-
currence impossible can best be brought
about under an authority which the Chi
nese Nation reverenceS and obeys. While
so doing we forego no jot of our un-
doubted right to exact exemplary and de-
terrent punishment of the responsible
authors and abettors of the criminal acts
whereby we and other nations have suf-
fered grievous injury.
For the real culprits, the evil coun-
sellors who have misled the imperial
judgment and diverted the sovereign au-
thority to their own guilty ends, full ex-
piation becomes imperative within the
rational limits Of retributive justice. Re-
garding this as the initial condition of
an acceptable settlement between China
and the powers, I said in my message
of October Is to the Chinese Emperor:
'1 trust that negotiations may begin so
soon we and the other offended gov
ernments shall be effectively satisfied of
Your Majesty's ability, and power to
treat with just sternness the principal
offenders who are doubly culpable, not
Your Majesty, under whose rule the pur-
pose of China to dwell in concord with
| the world has hitherto found expression
in the welcome and protection assured to
strangers"
Taking as a point of departure the
Hung Chang and Prince Ching
plenipotentiaries to arrange a set
tlement, and the edict of September
rs. whereby certain high officials were des-
ignated for punishment. this Government
has moved in concert with the other
powers toward the opening Of negotia-
tfons which Mr.. Conger. assisted by Mr..
Rockhill, has been authorized to conduct
on behalf of the United States.
General bases of negotiations. formu-
lated by the Government of the French
Republic, have been accepted with GER
tain reservations as to details, made
necessary by our own circumstances and
by like similar reservations by other
powers open to discussion in the prog
ress of the negotiations. The disposition
Of the Emperor's Government to admit
liability for wrongs done to foreign gov
ernments and their citizens and to act
upon such additional designation of the
guilty persons as the foreign Ministers
at Pekin may be in position to make
gives hope of complete settlement OF
all questions involved, assuring foreign
rights of residence and intercourse Cd
terms of equality for all the world
1 regard as one of the essential factors
of durable adjustment the securement
of adequate guarantees for liberty OF
faith, since insecurity of those natives
VINO may embrace amen CreeQS Is SCARCE
ly a less effectual assault upon the
rights of foreign worship and teaching
than would be the direct invasion thereof.
Matter of Indemnity.
The matter of indemnity for our
wronged citizens Is a question of grave
concern Measured in money alone. a
sufficient reparation may prove to be be-
yond the ability of China to meet. All
the powers concur in emphatic disclaim-
ers of any purpose of aggrandizement
through the dismemberment of the en-
pire. 1 am disposed to think that due
compensation may be made in part by
increased guarantees Of security for for
eign rights and immunities, and most
important of all, by the opening of China
to the equal commerce of all the world.
These views have been and will be earn
estly advocated by our representatives
The Government of Russia has put for
ward a suggestion that in the event of a
protracted divergence of views In regard
to indemnities, the matter may be rele-
gated to the court of arbitration at The
Hague. I favorably incline to this, be-
lieving that high tribunal could not fail
to reach solution no less conducive to
the stability and enlarged prosperity of
China itself than Immediately beneficial
to the powers.