Evening star., 1900-08-18
Senator Thurston Discusses Govern
mental Policies.
GUARANTEES TO BE EIACTED
In Case of the Dismemberment of
the Chinese Empire.
THE LITTLE BROWN MAN

Ing with Senator John M. Thurston of Ne
braska, a reporter of The Star asked the
senator, now that Minister Conger has been
rescued by the allied forces. what should
be the policy Of this government in dealing
with the Chinese government.
Il think this government" replied Sena-
tor Thurston, should cooperate as fully
as possible with the powers in restoring
order in the Chinese empire and preventing
It's dismemberment.- am opposed to the
dismemberment of the empire, though 1t is
perhaps a bit premature to consider such
a proposition at this time. I do not know
that such thing is contemplated. But
the restoration of law and order will be
the first step. My heart goes out to Cen
eral Chaffee and his splendid little force
Of American soldiers They are true
heroes, as are those who so nobly and
bravely stood off the attacks Of the mur-
derous Chinese on the legations. The
pulse Of every true American ought to beat
pluck and bravery admirably exhibited.
1t Is typical of the sturdy strength of
American manhood
Amount of the Indemnity.
'What guarantees should be exacted
from the Chinese government, what indem-
nifty demanded and what disposition should
be made of the American soldiers now and
soon to be landed on Chinese sou?" was
asked.
"It seems mercenary for governments to
demand a money indemnity for the lives
of its citizens, but such a course Is the
only legal and justifiable one. We dom t
want their lives, so we must demand a
monetary consideration. think the very
least, and 1t should also be the limit, we
can demand would be enough to keep the
families of those killed in comfort. for the
wounded and 11I11 cOmDenSatiOn for all
property destroyed, and expenses incurred.
I include the soldiers who so gallantly
fought their way to the walls of the i'm
perial city or attempted to- 1t would be
hard to fix a given lump sum at this time.
Perhaps s2hO00O,OOO would be a reasonable
indemnity. But this Is a matter of subse'
quent settlement
"One guarantee we should exact Is that
from henceforth 1t may be possible for q
civilized man to go from one end Of the
Chinese empire to the other with safety
The day for numbering foreigners for the
only reason that they are such should nave
ceased in China.
If the Officials Are Implicated.
"If It should be proven" continued the
senator, that any of the high Chinese Off
cials are directly implicated in the assault
upon the legations and were directing the
attack the powers should insist upon their
answering for their treachery with their
lives. lHlS 1dCt SIlouiu, ol CouISep DC ILL
partially and carefully ascertained, but II
proved they would we'll merit their fate
The civilized world could hardly do other
wise than treat them as murderers and act
accordingly.
sIf, on the other hand, 1t should be DEM
onstrated that the attacks were from a
mob the Chinese nation as a nation would
be held responsible. as in other instances
of mob violence.
"I believe, however. that the powers
should compel the removal of the capital
from Pekin to some seaboard or river city.
where the foreign legations would be under
the protection of the guns of their fleets.
The Chinese would naturally resist such
removal to the utmost, but l take 1t that
1t Is the consensus of opinion among pub
lie men that the foreign ministers should
never be permitted to re-establish the le-
cations at Pekn.
II think our troops should remain In
China, at some point TO be fixed upon by
the commanders, until such time as this
government deems it expediert to with
draw. l anticipate no further trouble with
the Chinese nation in which our troops
must fight, as it is whipped and demoral-
lied and incapable of serious resistance
to civilized armies.
The President. Course Admirable.
"I am filed with admiration, as every
American must be, with the attitude of
the administration in the handling OF this
momentous question. 1t has been splendid
We have literally set the pace for the pow
ers. The Presidents foreign policy has
been admirable True to our original pur-
pose, we have pushed on to Pekin to res
cue our minister and have been perfectly
fair to the Chinese without a thought of
entering into a war of conquest or of re-
venge."
In Case of Dismemberment.
Assuming that the powers will now land
troops in large force and proceed to cut up
China amicably or vi ct arnis, what should
be the attitude of this government during
the dismemberment prooess?"
I'VE would enter a very strong and dig
nfed protest against the dismemberment
of the empire. We would throw all the
against its partition. But l do not think we
would be justified in declaring war upon
any of the powers, no matter what action
they may see fit to take In China We
would insist in all proper and diplomatic
ways, but would not resort to the force of
arms"
Suppose that China. in this event, to
preserve its integrity, should appeal to the
United States?"
II think answered the senator, a trifie
dryly, that after what has happened at
Pekin. China is scarcely in the position to
expect much from the powers. But assum-
ing that China should make the appeal to
the United States, l cannot see any ground
which would justify US in interfering
The Little Brown Man.
What do you think of Mr.. Bryan's speech
at Lincoln on last Thursday, in which he
expressed such solicitude for the inhab-
itants of the Philippines, who, he says, are
not governed with their CONSENT"
Il consider 1t one Of the crowning incon-
grufties of the age" answered the senator
Mr.. Bryan's solicitude for the little brown
man and his forgetfulness of the black man
in the southern states Of his own country is
ludicrously pathetic. 1t is. however but an
exemplifcation Of one of the cardinal prin-
ciples Of the democratic party They have
always harped upon the declaration that all
men are born free and equal, but have al
ways put in practice the doctrine that only
white men are free and equal. They clamor
in clarion voices for the extension of the
constitutional guarantee to the Philip
pines, while they. as an organized body are
engaged in a systematic persistent attempt
to take it away from the negro voter in the
SOUTH
III the people do not already see this
glaring inconsistency, and believe they do.
they will certainly do so before the cam
paign is over If one was not familiar with
the history of the democratic party, one
would marvel at the temerity of its leaders
in daring to bring this question into the
lime light Of public discussion and criti-