The age-herald., 1901-03-21

Washington, March 20.-(Speciai.)- order withdrawing all American troops from China except a company of 15o men Is the strongest evidence the United States has as yet given of its intention not to take part fin any European scheme Tor pulldozing the Chinese or securing territory there. The handful of men win simply be legation guard, a necessary protection to our representatives in Pe- Kin. Thus, as far as the military part Is concerned, the United States has en- tireiy withdrawn from participation in China. This is in line with the policy pursued by the United States from the oeginning. So soon as the 1egationers were relieved our troops took no part in punitive expeditions and only about two thousand men were left on Chinese soil. Now 1t seems safe to the American gov ernment to withdraw all of them except the legation guard
 The moderation of American demands ana the withdrawal of American troops will show even the most ignorant Chi nese that the United States is not a ter ritorial robber and is really the best friend China has among the pawers. Of course, the withdrawal of troops does not mean that the United States does not propose to exact a reasonable indemnity for the insults to and the endangering of the lives of the legationers, as well as for the murder of missionaries and the destruction of property, but our demands
 will be moderate and in no sense execs- | sive.
 
 | cerned in the intervention in China, if I such 1t may be called. has shown con- sideration for the Chinese nation and high minded Christianity. Our troops did no footing and were guilty of no unnecessary sacrifice of Chinese lives and property. To the bloodthirsty the attitude of the American government seems weak, but in reality it will strengthen the friendship of China for America and protect American rights anu citizens far better than the wreaking of
 vengeance possibly could. In the years to come, when China Is again orderly it will be of immense advantage to the United States commercially.
 The ordering of General Chaffee to the Philippines means of necessity, that he | Is to succeed to the command there | which also menas that General MacAr-
 thur is to come to the United States to
 well earned rest after his arduous and satisfactory services there. General Chaf- 1 fee, who is General MacArthur's senior | will have an opportunity to show his tact
 and good judgment in the Philippines. It
 was this good sense and tact in China hat dfl ho hi ,.s
 else for his elevation to a major general cy in the regular army.
 Cuban Situation.
 | It is unfortunate, particularly for the | Cubans, that the leaders of the constitu- | tional convention seem either to misun- | derstand the attitude of the United States
 and are consequently unduly suspicious
 or think it is possible to secure some
 amendments to the conditions to be ifn-
 posed on Cuba precedent to tho with
 drawal of American troops This simply means that the United. States must con- | tinue to maintain military control over | the island until the Cubans come to a
 realizing sense of the situation. The long | CT the United States controls the island
 under military rule the more likely it will be that it will be annexed without
 the Cubans having an opportunity to show what they can do at self govern
 ment with limited Republic under l American protection.
 l There is no questioning the strong sen- | timent throughout the United States for
 the annexation of Cuba, and the offer to
 permit Cuba to set up a government
 subject to certain conditions, will be held I by many to be fully carrying out the l promise not to hold the island. It will be
 argued that the United States offered gen. I eral terms and the Cubans would not ac- | cept them; hence the American govern
 ment is under no moral obligation not to
 proceeds to annex the island. That is not,
 and is not likely to be, the attitude of
 President McKinley's administration, but
 it is very evident that long continued
 military rule, made necessary by the ob-
 stinacy of the Cubans, may become tire | > A A AA A AA