Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-10-09
THE AMERICAN BOARD
issues a Statement on It's Position in the Miss
4 Stone Matter,

J Z u -
t;nnal exercises 'atsthis evenings session
of the .finericap Board:FPreSideRt S. Il.
Sapen. Ii. D.. read, tbs oiftcsr ytport Of
me board concerning. eges captiSity and
ransom OF Miss ts, Eilen q i sssepe;s The re
port wa. as follows :, -,
case +, nec of Miss Ellen Nj. 'Sto1FG NOV in the
hands Of the brigands, tna4 Z seems wise
for the officers OF the boarfte make a
brief statement of the facts as. they en-
ist ut the present time. For several
weeks the government authorities at
Washington have been at work. using eN-
cry possible effort to secure her release.
These have been in frequent communica
tou with our representative in Constan-
tjuonle. Last Thursday, we received a
dispatch from Washington which told
had become. on the receipt of this tele
gram a meeting of the prudential com
inittee was hastily called to meet the
following day at l. q clock.
The committee came together and con-
sldered the situation most thoroughly.
On the one side was the life of a dearly
beloved missionary; on the other side
was the fact that if We yielded to this
demand for ransom 1t was putting pre-
MUM on the lives of every missionary
Of the American Board and not of our
board only, but the missionaries of e.
cry society in the world. The question
was even broader than the case of mis-
sionares. il practically concerned the
safety of any and every American citi-
zen.
Recognizing the full gravity of the sit
uation. the committee. without dissent
ing vote decided that ii had no right u
pay a ransom and establish 4 precedent
which would be sure to be dangerous in
all the future Furthermore, We were re-
strained by the further fact that We had
no funds that could be employed for
The
strained from paying the money by con-
stitutonal limitation and the American
Board seemed equally restrained from.
paying the ransom
The solicitude of the committee was
such and their purpose to do everything
possible was so strong that they sent a
deputation consisting of the president
and one of its secretaries. to ashington
TO meet President Roosevelt and the of
fcials of the state department. The con-
ference was held. last Saturday forenoon.
II Is impossible TO overstate the sym
patty and interest of the President. tn
acting secretary of state and the other
officials.
The conference was lengthy, during
Which time the government showed what
Steps 1t was taking and how every pow
er Of diplomacy was being used to effect
the release of Miss Stone. Confidential
details were given which of course is a
preach of trust for US to give to the pub
lie, but friends of the board and IT,,
thing conceivabIa is haiIe+ - 70 f,,.I,
the recoIrerv Of MI, 80 IN ~, ~ iu a III,
and Tho narsisto,,Ii - -, ny NC. !
this nffort 80 49, - = teoie ~ ~
assured NC "b. ms s!slliNcaht; ihoF
ment Tho orit. attat ~! az me III -
cIira ~ re- 70 i'ictLou ~ -
uromntIv at banS 70 ~ II" ~, ~ .iie Lui'o'
was nv.idant,,. - ~ r; ,G nv ld! soii. Il
tbn ,o,.arm,a nv po9.tHe coHNlctioil %
ars. ~, 81 =. liiiteHt mat th!s step was u"
PM ~ ~ ~ ~ 'aheti.
,Dut ~ ought TO be clearly understood !
i 10 Ill, t.is y 9ut one step that when she
SOW, -, tltit VII be vigorous al
M rn ,u KIN KIN y secure lhe return II
ahort gi pul' III thetihofe' 70 brln :
cn,r'',, 4 II'Iult'otS thai such an o :
tnra n. ilnl Hpt y pnSSlple ~ the ~
mar, ~ "Hr uoupIS lhat our govern
droI, ~ a. t.eseht oISdiilzcd VIII not
AM rnpar; tats mater H. uhtlI the rights OF
WoarS al ti'l%thShlp are established.
der az, az i iiiiJ d movement was n'Sun IN
ST., ,"t 'caueISiil ~ the family of Mis-
a,nn,,, ~ Sceul' -! popular appeal tn
ti.uiLt UI the ransom and notices ha :
CO.. $500 nt5n sem that funds could T."
ton ~ hLuGer' peabody q 60. of Bo'-
Irnr "t'o hdu consented To act a treas
f-,, ~ u1S idhH-
,nent s.liS ne" autlcc OF me govern
r,i,,r iicetIhS OF inc prudential COM
ah;"b vas cdlleu on Sabbath nor ming
~ II "ds ATTENDED ny eight members Of
mr., eo. ~ ana 1oGr officers. I'll" re-
IN - M gentlemen sent to Washing
atia, ~ eu ana. after fuil dclibcr-
t,ot t', ~ y mas decided that while We con'"
dav I'M ,ia; Llnh the action OF last FIJI