The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-07-23


a dire,. Dy. from the Chinese imperial
government % use his good offices to
extrlcate that government from the da-
fcult and dangerous position in which it
has been placed as a result of the Boxer
uprising and the ensuing hostile attitude
Of the great powers. Although the exact
text of the appeal made by the emperor
OF China TO France, as outlined in the
cable dispatches of yesterday. has not
been made known. it is believed that the
address to the president is similar in
terms to that communication In our
case the communication was made through
Minister WI 10 the state department.
An answer has not been returned. The
United States government finds itself
alone in its view of the China matter,
but nevertheless has behind it the con-
solins assurance that all the European
governments have tacitly admitted that
an error was made in not following the
common sense advice of the United states
naval commander at Taku The Eu-
ropean governments are proceeding upon
the belief that ell OF the foreign minis
ters and missionaries and guards at Pekin
have been killed. and insist upon dealing
with the Chinese government upon that
basis. thereby assuming hostile atti-
tude that tends TO destroy the last chance
OF availing themselves of whatever friend
ly sentiment may yet exist among the
powerful Chinese Viceroys and the inn
perial government itself. Thus the French
reply. as indicated in the four conditions
laid down by NJ. Del Case yesterday,
sets an imposing task for the imperial
government in its present straits and
tends to drive it at once to make terms
with the Boxers and Prince Tuans party.
ON the other hand. our government while
not guaranteeing the truth of the adj
vices from the Chinese government as
TO the safety Of the foreign ministers.
Is willing to accept the statements tenn
porartly. in the meantime RENTING none
OF its efforts to get access to Mr. Cou-
ger. through military force. If need be.
BY following out this policy the state
| department argues that it retains two
chances instead of one. 1t may reach
Mr.. Conger with troops and it also may
secure his deliverance through the
friendly offices of some nj the powerful
Chinese officials. However. the United
states government does not intend 10
relinauish its claim for compensation and
reparation in the ultimate settlement
peculiarly deplorable effect OF the
reasoning OF the European governments
on this point, in the estimation OF our
| government is the abandonment OF the
idea that there is particular need for
haste and for taking desperate chances in
the effort to get the International relief
| column to Pekin. II is true that the latest
adyices from Taku indicate that where II
was originally estimated by the foreign
commanders that the expedition could not
! be started before August To- it Is now re-
garded by them as possible to make a be-
ginning about thc LIST of August But
the military experts here who have been
closely scanning all the reports from Tien
Tsin that appear to be worthy OF credit
feel that even now the way is open tc
Pekin, and that the march should begin
with the force al present on the Pei Ho
leaving the powers to bring up reinforce
ments to open the base, should the frs,
| expedition be cut off. According TO the
latest official reports the country around
Tien Tsin is clear of hostile Chinese
The flower Of the Chinese army in thai
section has been defeated a Tien Tsir
and these army experts calculate that il,
power is so broken that that particular
army will never be reorganizsd in season
to afford formidable resistance. So they
argue that the time Is ripe for stroke o
bold generalship, such, for instance, a.
French's ride to Kimberley.
Further proof OF an official character o
the mistake made by foreign commander
in the attack upon Tien rsin is contained
! III a COuLu uu4Ndtluu JUST TecolNtu ny III
state department. from United States Con
sui Fowler at Chez Foo. He has trans
mitted an imperial edict which was sup
piled to him by telegraph by the Chimes
governor at Shan Tung, Yuan Shlh Kal
at Tsi Nan, the capital of the province
: having been issued on July II. The edlc
appears to state that owing to the troub
existing between the Christians and til
popuG.ss~and to the subsequent seizure .
the Taku forts, which aroused the militar
, to arms, the imperial court was layiu
$ great weight upon lis International rela
tons. The Manchu generals. therefore
vceroys ard governors, are ordered to as
certain whether the merchants and mis-
, sionares OF the various Nations residin
. in the open ports are being protected. an
| the assertion is made hat the projects an
. magistrates have been sent repeated i'm
: perial edicts TO protect the legations. Or
ders also have been sent to the provinces
= authorities to protect the missionaries
While hostllities have not yet ceased, III
D Chinese officials are directed to give pre-
q lection to the merchants and others {
liz the various Nations in accordance wit
is treaties. and must not fail 70 OBEY. tn
is edict refers TO the killing last month {
IN the Japanese chancellor, Sugiyama, whic
n II charActerizes as startling. 1t says thu
TX a abort time thereafter the German mir
III ister was murdered while residing In I'll
|B canital conducting international affair
III The edlct expresses the deepest sympaih
|R on account Of his death, and asserts tn
II stringent Instructions would be issued
lis seize the murderer, who must be caugl
III and severely punished after the termin'
III tion OF he present hostiliues, togeth'
Tx with those who haze murdered iore-sHei
lis and missionaries. or taken tnelr proper
III without cause. a.. IT,
III nv Mr. Fowler on this subject. 10 yer
liz much involved, but it appears TO exemI
lis from punishment those who have kille
lis soreisners connected with war" tn
III governor NJ Pekn and the Neeroy
IR Chi ia are charged to Issue instructor
Ills to investigate and then 70 ueai lateii
Ills gently with each case OF wrong doln
s mr. sd,o, states that recently evil doe
y created riots. deliberately rebelled an