The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-03
uINIsrER WI GOING.

There is hardly an intelligent American
who will not learn with keen regret of
the reported intention TO trans -er Mn ster
WI from Washington to the court of St.
James
No national representative ever render
ed his government and people more val
liable service than has Minister WI, and
no nation was ever in harder oircum-
stsrces. or more sorely needed the devo-
ton of its leading men, than did China
Curing the period of Minister Wu's chief
use[ulness
There may be no substantial basis for
tie prevailing report In the present Sit
u&tton of affairs nothing can be assumed
as true of the wonderful variety of state
1aents which find currency in the press
dispatches regarding China But this re-
port seems to bear internal evidence of
truth.
The moral influence exerted by the
United States throughout the recent
troubles in China was tremendous We
represented the only force of great mag
nItude operating to China's advantage
From what the observant and intelligent
reader has been able to gather of the
MoaVes and purposes of the evangeIizing
states of Europe, it is reasonably pIafn
mat with the United States out of the
problem the eXactions put u9on tho
chinese would have been much more ex-
tenslve.
1t Is undoubtedly the settled policy OF
this nation to withhold all interference
In the affairs of outside nations. But
there was ample palliation if not iusti-
hcation, to be found for a different line
OF action. Had this government united
with those of Europe in the policy Of
aggression there could hardly be any
serious blame attached to it. Amer
leans were, relatively at least, as great
sufferers as the people of any other race
In China. Yet all the Establishment used
by the other powers to induce American
cooperation in the batting of the Chinese
was OF no use. When an American war
Vessel refused to join in the lombard
ment of Chinese fort the country an
piauded, and the traditional policy of this
people with reference to the concerns of
other nations was INDICATED.
No individual influence was stronger
throughout that entire period in keentn~
TINS people on the true course of national
policy than that of Minister WI. His
popularity was and Is great. His public
utterances were and are well-tinad
shrewd and broad in spirit He hos
shown a degree Of knowledge of our
history and of the nat;o2al preferences
and propensities which is rare even on
the part of the profoundest among native
observers.
1t would be gratifying to the American
pee pie could this marvelously skilled din
lOmat remain with US. But his usefr,-
ness can very evidently be hereafter
made more available to his country in
Europe than here. AT the court of ST
James he can do more than elsewhere.
bI-tlsh PUBIC opinion is quite akin to
that of America. 1t is influenced through
the same agencies and controlled bv the
sane forces. The British government.
Notwithstanding its pacific professions.
has shown disposition to bear down
unon China With such a representative
as Mr. WI in London it is almost inevf-
table that tee government would ere
long find itself out of touch with public
feeling in any project entertained lookino.
toward the dismemberment of the Chi
nese empire.
II Minister WI cannot remain with us
every true friend of Chinese autono,,,,
Will wish that he may be appointed as
Chinese minister to Great Britain.