The Republican journal., 1900-09-13
McKinley's Diplomacy.

ASHING1ON, .'SP>' OoOy
is talking about Mckinley's mastery
diplomacy. OF course here in Wash
ington people have had an opportunity
to observe closely everything that is 60
ING on. and are perfectly aware that the
difficult Chinese problem has been
handled by the President in a most
skillful manner. But it is not only here
that this sort of talk is heard, for peo-
pie all over the country are evidently
gratified that our President has taken
the lead in every diplomatic move relat-
ing to China and that he has met every
problem in most skillful manner, and
has placed Washington in the lead in
matters relating to world events. On
a train the other day, i'll smoking car,
there was a general discussion of the
Chinese situation when some man
broke loose in about this fashion:
"You can all say what you please
about this Chinese situation, and what
has been done but tell you right now
that the people that have talked with
are mighty well pleased with the way
President Mckinley has handled the
situation. He has been right there at
home in Canton most of the time, handl-
ing these questions for himself. He
has met every shrewd Chinese move
with a counter reply that has received
the approval of every right thinking
man in this country, and has started the
tongues of the diplomatic world wag-
ging about his ability in trying situa-
ton. You can all talk as much as you
please about this man or that man, but
everybody knows that Mckinley has
done the right thing and that he is the
right kind of man to trust with any
difficult situation that may come up. If
there was not another thing to his credit,
the manner in which he has handled
this Chinese problem ought to re-elect
him to the Presidency
| found upon inquiry that this man
was not a politician at all, but a plain
business man, who looked at things
from a practical standpoint, and who
Judged things on their merits. Now
there are a great many men going about
the country talking i'll this sort of
way, and they are not doing it as poll
ticans, but as American citizens, with a
pride in their country. One good thing
about it is that such statements as these
cannot be denied. There We're two or
three Democrats i'll the party, and they
could not gainSay a single utterance
that the gentleman made regarding the
splendid achievements of the Mckinley
administration in this dealing with the
Chinese problem.
Some Democrats in their anxiety
to say something against the admins
traton. have endeavored to criticise
the action of the President i'll sending
troops to rescue the American minister
and the American citizens imprisoned
III the Chinese capital as ''imptrialism I"
But such utterances have proven so I'M
popular that nearly every man that has
said anything Oh that line has had to
explain. one of the most recent ex-
plantations of that kind came from L.
W. Habercrom, who evidently talked
too much at the recent indianapolis
gathering. When he got back to Wash
lngton Habercrom had to explain, and
attempted to modify his statement.
The modification amounted to about
this: 1T was right to send troops to
the rescue of the American citizens.
but it was wrong for Mckinley to do
it,
There are a few chronic kickers who
insisted that before anything was done
OF before the troops We're sent, or now
that the troops are there, awaiting the
pacitication of China so that negotia-
tons can go forward for settlement,
that Congress should be called into
session. They want something Of that
sort to plunge the country into state
of uncertainty and trepidation. Now
no one wants war with China, and bar
ring very few persons, no one wants
Congress in session. More than that
the satisfaction with which every act of
the President is viewed is a guarantee
that he has taken the right course, and
that his position will be endorsed This
talk about getting Congress in session
III order to raise an army is one Of the
most absurd propositions that the Dem
ocrats have advanced. 1t would take
months to raise volunteer army after
it was authorized by Congress, and
everything so far has shown that the
raising of such an army is absolutely
unnecessary. One of the brightest
pages in the history of this administra-
ton will be the manner in which it has
dealt with the difficult Chinese situa-
ton.