La Junta tribune., 1900-09-08
EFFECTIVE DIPL LoMAcY
WISE AND REASONABLE COURSE.
The United States Have Led the Way
In the Chinese Trouble.

Once more the United States has
taken decisive action III China. In a
note which II has just sent 30 the rest
OF the powers represented in the con
cert 1t has urged the opening of neeo-
tiadons between those countries and
the Chinese government, and as ne
cessary preliminary 1t asks that some
authority be agreed upon which can be
held to stand for the Chinese nation In
its corporate capacity. This counsel
is so reasonable and SO necessary 1T
the present moment that there is the
strongest probability 1t will he acceded
to by all the countries, as 1t has al
ready been by some of them. The first
object of the Chinese campaign having
been accomplished, 1t is necessary tu
map out plan of operations In accord
ance with the new conditions. and the
United States move opens the way for
intelligent work in that direction. The
diplomatic representatives of the vari-
Gus governments have been rescued
except Germanys, who was murdered
early in the siege), Pekin has been cap
tured, and the primary work of the al
lies has been done. Obviously new
stage In the operations In China has
been reached. The American govern
ment asks for the adoption of pro
gram which will meet the changed sit
uation, and points out what that pro-
gram ought to be.
When the Chinese cataclysm first
presented itself, and while Europe mp.
peared to be dazed by the unexpected
peril, the United States uttered the In
telligent and decisive word. Secretary
Hay declared that the purpose OF his
government, which represented a coun-
try vitality interested in Chinese affairs,
was TO restore order in China, to res
cue the diplomats and the rest of the
foreigners whose lives We're endnnger-
ed, to protect the legitimate Chinese
authorities in the suppression of the
turbulent elements In their country, TO
preserve the open door to all nations.
and to prevent the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of
the empire. This position appealed SO
strongly to the worlds sense OF fair
dealing and progressiyeness that 1t
was accepted by all the other countries
at least for the time, and the campaign
against Pekin proceeded on, The lines
thus laid down. Many efforts were
made by Ii Hung Chang, with or with,
out the suggestion or consent of the
Chinese authorities, to wheedle the
United States into postponing the
march on Pekin, but this country was
not moved from Its purpose. and thus
success came earlier and more COM
pletely than any OF the European gov
ernments expected.
Americas triumph In the purely mil.
itary part of the Chinese demonstra-
ton will lead the way to the Acceptance
Of Its counsel In the strictly political
part Of the problem which now pre-
sents itself. From the American point
of view the war Is ended unless the
Chinese government should attempt to
regain military possession Of Its capi-
tai. Russia and one or two of the 9TH
er countries, however, are disposed to
act as IL the war was still under way
and to strike the Chinese authority
wherever they can find 1t. The Rus
sian commander says his sovereign has
declared war on China, and that 1t is
his duty to follow up the capture of
Pekin by march into the interior af-
ter the Empress and Emperor. with the
object of capturing or deposing those
personages. As the United States
wishes to find these magnates in order
to treat with them for the peaceable
settlement Of the trouble, there is
wide divergence between the two con-
ceptiOns of the proprieties in the case.
The United States position is so rea-
s0nnble and so humane that 1t Will be
agreed upon unless there Is determin-
alton to find a pretext for subverting
all native government in China and d.
viding up the empire between the great
nations. The course of President Me
Kinley and Secretary Hay has been
indorsed by the American people with
out distinction to party, and 1t is ex-
tremely likely to meet the approval of
Europe ultimately. 1t Is evident that
the United States is about to score
diplomatic victory which will hold II
high place in the long list of the moral
cOnquests 1t has achieved in the CEN
tury.-St. Louis Globe-Democrat.