The Afro-American advance., 1900-09-08
AMERICA AND CHINA.
why Uncle Sam will Find 1t Hard
to Collect Indemnity.
Secretary Evart., Letter Of December
30, 1850, 10 the PekinR Govern-
ment May Prove Itself Dip
Iomatic boomerang.
Especial washington Letter.l

THERE is considerable talk In the
newspapers about Indemnity
for the outragesZ which have
been committed in China against for
eigners temporarily resident in that
empire.
At the department OF state the Of
ficials express the belief that there
will be neither indemnity, reparation
nor Tetribution for anything which
has been done. OF course these Of
flcials do not talk for publication, be-
cause that would be contrary to the
rules and precedents of the depart
ment, but in private conversation with
personal friends they say that 'in-
demnity" is practically out OF the
question.
Ii Hung Chang spoke for the i'm
perial government when he said that
the treasury Of China is so depleted
that no cash indemnity can be paid,
and that the people Of China viii not
permit any further concessions OF ter
ritory TO the countries interested. The
word Indemnity" covers a great deal
OF ground in international law. IL
means complainant, friendly, frater-
nal effort on the part OF the country
in which the outr8ges have been COM
mitted 10 bring the criminals TO JUS
tlce and retribution; On effort TO in
dcmnify the sufferers for their wrongs,
or TO indemnify their heirs II human
lives have been sacrificed; or repara-
ton in the form OF abject apology, II
the national honor has been specific
ally involved,
The utterances OF Ii Hung Chang
indicate that the Chinese government
does not intend TO do any OF these
things, aud the eminent oriental
statesman speeiously pleads the utter
inability Of the government Of Peking
70 do anything more than publicly ex-
press regret for the consequences Of
the alleged insurrection. Present In
dications are that there viii be no
recognition OF the fact that the ma
tional honor Of any country has been
involved.
What other nations may do under
these circumstances can only be con-
jectured. II Is well known that all OF
the powers OF the world cannot de-
mand an eye for an eye and tooth
for n tooth, because the invasion and
destruction OF the Chinese empire
would be impossible. The reasons for
this conclusion have heretofore been
given with some degree of elaboration.
This republic In very unfortunately
eircumAtaneed in the matter. 1t has
always fought of the payment of in
tional responsibility for outrages com.
mltted in violation OF treaty stipula-
tiona. There Is one specific case In
point which the Chinese government
may we'll cite. and which il will I'M
douhtediy elite On December 30, 1880.
William NJ. Eyarts, our secretary of
state, wrote oiliclally to the Chinese
minister In Washington as follows;
II know OF no principle OF national obli-
cation. and there II certainly none arising
from treaty stipulation. which renders II
incumbent upon tho government OF the
United States 10 make indemnity 10 the
Chinese residents OF Denver who. In com
mon with the citizens OF the United States.
suffered losses by the operations Of the
mob, Whatever remedies may be offered
20 the citizens ut Colorado. or TO the eit-
iEena Of the United states from other states
In tho union resident In Colorado. for losses
resulting from that occurrence are equally
open TO the Chinese residents of Denver
who may have suffered from the lawless-
ness Of the mob"
Twenty years ago China was a small
factor in International affairs, and
every nation snubbed her In diplomat
10 correspondence. The Chinese minis