The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1901-01-31
HAY BLuNDERs AGAIN.
Places United states In UnenviahIe
po.ltipt.

Places united states In UnenVfantb
Position,
President NcKinley's wonderful state
department is In another pickle and
one which will make the alleged states-
man at its head smart as much as the
Alaskan boundary and Nicaragua
messes did. This time the Chinese and
our minister to them, Edwin IL. Con-
ger, are engaged in showing the admin
istration that it's capacity for getting
into trouble is iDexhaustihlc. OF course
Secretary Hay will attempt to throw
she blame upon Minister Conger, but
people who read the papers and have
memories will recollect things which
will nullify the excuses from Washing
ton.
At present China is face to face
with a condition of affairs that means
war unless a miracle occurs. If the
Chinese government does not sign the
demands presented by the powers, the
latter will proceed by force to make
their wishes respected. If the de-
mands are agreed to, the Mongolian
princes and mobiles whose death Is ask
ed for in the joint note will revolt The
choice now is between war with the
whole western world. with certainty
of defeat and an ending of national ex-
lstence, or internecine war in which
the powers would help the Peking
government against its rebellious sub
jects and as price for the service take
two-thirds of all they would save from
the wreck. And this is caused by Min
lister Conger siding with the Germans
In forcing the word 'irrevocable" into
the collective note of the powers to the
Chinese emperor, whereby China was
defense, but called upon to reply only
"yes" or mo" "Yes" means rebellion; /;
mo" means foreign war.
Minister Conger claims he sided with
the Germans bee 7use the state depart
ment at Washington so instructed him.
The state department declares that
Minister Conger is either telling an un-
truth or that he misunderstood his ca
BILE messages. Secretary Hay now con-
tends that he ordered the minister not
TO sign any note that irrevocably bound
China to do anything. Between the
two men there the matter rests.
But blaming 1t on Conger will not ex-
cuse Hay Before the negotiations be-
tween China and the powers were
opened the secretary was warned to re-
call the minister, as the latter could
not be expected in view of the indigni-
ties he and his friends personally suf-
fered from the Chinese to handle the
case of the United States in an impair
tial manner Mr.. Conger is human,
and it was represented to Washington
that his desire to punish the Chinese
was very strong. But he was not re-
moved. After negotiations had been
about concluded the state department
was notified that he was about to sign
note which would ultimately mean
trouble for all concerned. Nothing was
done except to send him his usual in
structions in the usual way. There
was no repetition of cablegrams to OBJ
viate the possibilities Of mistakes in
the cipher code.
AS the matter stands. therefore, a
war is almost certainly bound to break
out in China, and no matter what kind
Of war 1t may be the whole world will
be involved. The blame is universally
placed on the United States. We CO.
not dodge the responsibility, thnns to
President McKinley's secretary of
state.
This man, who was supposed to have
had a training that peculiarly fitted
him for his present post, has made
ducks and brakes of everything to
which he has put his hand. And he
will not resign. What is President Nc
Kinley going to do? Assume person
al share Of the blame or let the world
see by ousting Hay that he did not
share in his subordinate's carelessness
and inetticiency New York News.