The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-08-19
zIcEINLEY'S STATECRAFT.

Thanks TO the frmness and vigorous
state manship Of President Mckinley
and lis able advisers. there is no
mistas.gg the position of the United
States IA the present Chinese trouble
and the prospect seems good for the
United states 20 have the honor of set
ting Ige whole Chinese AFFAIR.
When Minister Wu declared on July
22I that he had received message
from his government saying that the
ministers and their suites were alive
on July 18th. the United States at once
demanded that it be put into communi
cation With its minister. Let US have
Il talk with Mr.. Conger," were Presi-
dent ALcIlinley's words, and the willy
celestial who represents the middle
kingdom al Washington found himself
very neatly trapped. The demand Of
the United States to be placed in COM
muuication with its minister in Pc
king WAS complied with. though in
diiatory and roundabout way. and that
compliance opened the door for other
nations TO communicate with their
representatives, Imprisoned in the Chi
nese capital
Ii hung Chang. the greatest China
man OF them all. then began asserting
that China must be allowed to escort
the ministers out Of Peking with
military guard. guaranteeing their safe
delivery at Tientsin. Every one ac-
Quainted with Chinese character felt
that this meant the determination of
the ministers and all the refugees
housed in the legations. An attack
which would result in their massacre
could very easily be excused on the
ground that the imperial guard had
been 0verp0wered. Thanks to the de-
termination of the ministers. they re-
fused TO accept such an escort when
Il was urged upon them in Peking by
the Chinese authorities.
ar this time desultory firing on the
beleasured legations by Imperial
troops continued and men, women and
children were worn out with the terri
Die gigil and the dread of being over
come 6y people whose savagery ana
torture gor their captives would know
ne bounds.
President Mckinley tired OF this sort
o. th,Dg and determined TO put stop
10 H. The last message TO the govern
meDs az Pekiug vas very firmly word
ed L demanded that firing on the le-
cations must cease; that the ministers
sud ~ American citizens in Peking
mus, 6e protected until the arrival of
the United States troops and that
American troops only would be allowed
to act IS the escort for Minister Con-
ger and the other Americans with him
from Picking TO Tientsin.
II now transpires that Immediately
following the sending OF AIS message
Japan and tae European powers were
notified Of It's dispatch. Japan at
once slgnided her Endorsement OF the
message. which is TO all intents and
purposes an ultimatum, and the latest
DISPATCHES Indicated that within twen-
ty-four hours England would express
her endorsement of Americas a,ti-
tude.
This would mean that the United
States has shown the world how TO
deal with China and would be the
creates. diplomatic triumph for Amer
ica in all the history OF the nation. |
Lesder as s world power as the United |
States IS today. it would stamp Presi-
sent McKiniey's administration as |
standing in the front rank Of viriie
statesmansAip Of the present perIlous |