The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-30
Result of Suggestion of the United
States that China Herself Punish
Perpetrators of Outrages.
MEMORIAL FROM vIcERoYs
WHICH WAS PROMPTLY HEEDED By
THE IMPERIAL AUTHORITIES.
Ii Hung Chang's Suggestion that the
United States Act Mediator
Well Received by Mr.. WI.

news cdtne ITOn CHlnd dt the euu Oh iic
day which in itself tends to advance mater
tally the efforts for a final settlement.
China has accepted the suggestion of the
United States contained in the answer to
the German proposition and has begun vol
UNFAIRLY the punishment of the reactionary
Chinese leaders who were responsible for
the Peking outrages. The Department of
State has been informed by Consul General
Goodnow at Shanghai that Sheng, Chinese
director of railways and telegraphs. has
handed him a decree of the Emperor and
Empress, dated at Tsi-Nan Sept. 25. blam-
ing their ministers for encouraging the
Boxers. The edict orders the degradation
of four princes, and deprives Prince Tuan
of his salary and official servants. He is
to be brought for trial before the imperial
clan court.
1t will be recalled that in our answer
the State Department was careful to state
that, while it did not believe in demand
ing the surrender of the Chinese ringlead-
ers as a condition precedent to negotiations.
1t was resolved firmly, as Secretary Hay
had said in his note of July 8, that in the
end the guilty parties should be held to the
utmost accountability. The Chinese gov
ernment has taken this intimation to heart,
and, perhaps, FASTENED in it's action by the
recent manifestation of dissatisfaction by
the United States government at the re-
ported promotion of Prince Tuan, already
has begun the punishment Of him and other
Chinese leaders who are held guilty
The decree recited by Sheng is felt TO be
of the utmost Importance as indicating a
complete change of heart on the part of
the reigning dynasty. 1t means that the
reastionary influences which have been
dominant in Peking throughout the upris-
ing and have even continued of late days.
have suffered a complete overthrow, and
that their most conspicuous figures are de-
graded and on trial. 1t is believed here
that If this action is genuine, 1t will be
hard for any of the powers to find a reas-
enable pretext for longer refusing to heed
the appeals of the Chinese government for
the opening of negotiations looking to a
settlement. The Importance of the action
is shown by the determination to try Prince
Tuan before the imperial clan court This
is the supreme judicial tribunal Of China,
and is the only one having jurisdiction
over the members of the imperial family. 1t
is presided over by Prince Ii, with the
welI-known Prince Chang as vice presi-
princely families of China. and is regarded
as friendly to the progressive element. The
attitude OF Prince Ching has been notable
throughout the trouble as friendly to for
eign interests There are FIVE other mem
bers of the court. all of them high person
ages. They occupy building at Peking.
and are in regular session for the trial of
cases affecting members of the nobility and
the highest personages.
Chinese officials here say that the refer
ence of the case to this high court Is Of
itself the fullest assurance of the gravity
with which the throne regards the matter.
II Is noted also that even before the trial
Prince Tuan is stripped of his salary and
official servants. Being a man of large
and Independent means the loss of salary
would not amount to much If it were not
this and the loss of the servants is a spe-
cial means OF humiliation. The names of
the four princes who have been degraded
are not known either by the State Depart
ment or the Chinese legation.
The action of the Chinese government in
overthrowing the reactionaries Is likely TO
give the most intense qualification to the
friendly viceroys of the south of China and
to the ministers here. in London and in
Europe WHO nave slTenuouSiy resisted the
Boxer movement. 1t may be specially
noted that only to-day Minister Wu re-
ceived information that these viceroys in
cluding Ii Hung Chang, had memorialzed
the throne TO punish the very element
which has now been overcome.
Minister WI to-day expressed his strong
approval of the suggestion by Ii Huns
Chang that the United States act as
<ha nf f1a
Chinese question. The minister was much
gratified at the favorable character of the
advices from China. particularly the refer
ence of Earl Ii TO his constant communi-
cation with Mr.. wu and the specific refer
ence of the Chinese envoy in favor of the
United States as mediator. Mr.. wu has
from the first urged that the United States
should take leading part in the peace
settlement, and 1t is probably due to this
position that Earl Ii now takes the ad-
vanced position In favor of the United
States as mediator. Since the suggestion
has come from such a high source the
minister expresses his confidence CT be.
ing able TO secure any authority or requests
for an American initiative which raay be
reedful.
In speaking of the matter to-day Mr.. wu
rointed out that while all the powers had
taken q position against the partition of
China, yet conditions might arise whereby
one power would deem 1t expedient to oc-
cupy territory. thus leading other powers
TO take q similar course and bringing on a
general move toward a partition OF the
empire He feels that 1t is essential to
prevent such a contingency and that the
United States is in the best position to
guard against such result Should Il oc-
cur the minister feels that the open door,