The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-25
Imperial Mediation.


While We have no particular objection
to offer to the text of the Presidents reply
to the alleged note from the Emperor Of
China, asking for American Executive
mediation between his and the civilized
Governments. We are impellei to say that
the Presidential attitude in the premises
generally is neither wise nor prudent.
In the first place, the Administration
is taking a position which is not accept
able to the allied powers. 1t is assuming
the right to enact the leading role in
play which it has definitely refused to
participate in, and to dominate a situa-
ton with which it announces in advance
that it has no concern, excepting the pre-
servstion OF American lives and property:
whereas. it knows that the States whose
course it aspires to guide have mutual ard
general interests of another kind with
which they certainly will not allow US TO
interfere.
It is evident from the manner in which
the Cabinets of England, Europe. and
Japan treat the American course and
policy, based on the post-dated CongeT
message. that the conduct of President
Mckinley and Secretary Hay in the con-
nec,ion. and in connection with the whole
Chinese embroglio, as far as the same has
developed, is not taken either seriously
or kindly by the European and Japanese
Governments concerned. From the outset
our authorities have claimed the privilege
Of taking advantage of whatever the other
powers might do. to promote the views
CT the Mckinley Administration; while. at
the same time. we have refused to CO.
operate with them in what they have
thought necessary to the common end.
They have assumed, and with good rea-
son. that the foreign Ministers and people
in Pekin, whose voices have been absO-
lutely silenpsd for a month. must be con-
sidered dead in the absence Of absolute
proof to the contrary. Our State De-
pa1tment. on the contrary insists that
the legation people must be regarded as
alive and well until the Chinese authori-
ties are able or willing to produce official
dispatches from them announcing their
massacre. The representatives OF all other
civilized States with which we have pre-
tended TO be cooperating in China, de-
cided that the Taku forts must be taken
in order TO clear the way to International
operations from that base. and from Tieu-
tsin. We refused TO take part in the re-
duction Of those forts.
Now. al er Insisting that China has been
friendly. tina. tn Taku fight was al Out
rage. an.I that tile Legations are safe. We
demand that there shall be an immediate
movement upon Pekln to punish the Chi
nese and also hold out to the world the
idea that We mean. nevertheless. to bring
about peace and an adjustment OF diner
ences without tolerating the loss Of terri
tory on the part Of China. by way OF in
Gamuity. In other words. the United States
purposes playing the deg iu the Manager. on
the sole initiative Of its Executive. who is
constitutionaly on thin and dangerous ice.
in the absence OF authority from Congress,
in tackling the situation at all.
It is perhaps hard to understand why
we should take the position that Russia
ought not to defend her possessions in
Siberia and the Amur country By strategic
movements. and the exercise CT military
power in Manchuria and Shrinking. Rus
STA is China's neighbor in those directions.
and Chinese disorder. anarchy, and massa-
ores just over the border. may. perchance.
appeal to Russian public opinion just as
the same sort of things appealed to Ameri-
can sentiment when Cuba was bleeding IN
der the horrors Of Spanish misrule and
massacre. We are not prepared 10 say
that the United States has any well de-
fined international right to refuse terri
torial satisfaction TO Germany for the as
sassiuation Of her Minister. That. one
would think, is a matter entirely between
the Chinese Government and the Kaiser.
In brief, We have been and are carrying too
much sail for our hull Our interest may
lie in the line of preserving the integrity
Of the Flowcry Kingdom. II so, We have
been acting foolishly. if what is being done
is intended to conserve It. We shall not
win the master voice in the councils Of
the powers by first kicking over the traces,
and then trying 10 bully others into our
way of thinking.
BY way Of parcnthesis. Il is perhaps not
improper to remark that the facetious habit
Of the independent press in referring to
Mr.. Mckinley as an Emperor seems to be
taken By MN seriously ana with saus-
faction. His conduct throughout the Chi
nese crisis UP to this time has been that
of man who viewed himself as an ire
sponsible, personal ruler. He first thought
Of sending aid to the threatened legations
in Pekln Then he abandoned that idea in
Difference to the objections of his friend
Lord Salisbury. Then he declared that. In
IL
to China. Later. he modified that concep-
ton Of plain duty and ordered a small
brigade to the scene Of trouble. Now when
every other Government on the face of
the earth is satisfied that all the Ministers
and foreigners in Pekin have been butch
cred, he refuses to believe anything OF the
kind. and sirily offers to assume the part