Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, July 26, 1900.
MYSTERY INTENSIFIES.
Question Whether Conger Messages Were Redated.
ALL ATTRIBUTED TO ONE ORIGIN.
Another Dispatch, From Canton, Announces Safety of Ministers—General Chaffee Has Strict Orders and Will Advance Immediately.
WASHINGTON, July 26.—The receipt at Tien Tsin of an undoubtedly genuine and autographic message from Minister Conger has done nothing to dissipate the doubt as to the situation at Pekin. The message which was forwarded by the naval officers at Tien Tsin, Taku and Che Foo, has indeed served only to deepen the darkest and saddest mystery of the century.
The official conclusion remains unchanged, of course, but it is admitted that a careful, scrutiny of the autograph message in comparison with the famous cipher message from Minister Conger admits of the belief that the two messages were indited by Mr. Conger at about the same time.
The situation at the British legation is represented to be the same in each case, and as Mr. Conger declares that relief must come quickly, if at all, there is ground for the supposition that that condition could not long have remained unchanged in such a crisis. The assumption that this reasoning is correct involves the further conclusion that Mr. Conger's cipher message, if genuine, was redated as of the 18th of July, two weeks later than the date of actual writing, and. of course, if redated at all, that was done by Chinese officials.
On the other hand, and in support of the state department position, came yesterday a message from another of the great Chinese viceroys, Tak, at Canton, he who took charge after Li Hung Chang's departure. This also affirmed solemnly the safety of the legations, and coming from so many different sources and from such important Chinese officials these dispatches do claim attention. A pessimistic view of them, however, attributes to all a common origin, namely, some high Chinese personage at Pekin.
It is noted that Tak's assurance brings the ministers one day further towards ultimate rescue than has any preceding message. The fact that it allows only three days to cover the transmission over the great distance between Pekin and Canton has attracted attention here and appears to demand explanation, if the message is to be accepted as genuinely of Pekin origin.
Ignorant of Request to French.
It was not known to the state department until the publication of the fact in the news dispatches that the French government also had been addressed by the Chinese government in the effort to secure mediation.
Now it appears that still other powers were addressed in a similar strain. It is known that Great Britain and Germany and probably Russia have received such messages. The language is not the same, but the animating idea is. The state department officials feel that, generally speaking, this idea is not so much to secure mediation pure and simple, as to induce the powers to resort to the settlement of the difficulties between them and China by the substitution of negotiations for armed forces.
This appears more clearly from a comparison of the various notes than it did in the single note addressed to the president. Being so, the chances of a successful outcome of this attempt of the Chinese government to secure an amelioration of the consequences of the Boxer uprising are much diminished by the intimation that the powers are expected to refrain from pressing the movement towards Pekin.
On the contrary, the United States war department is moving at present with greater energy than at any time since the original orders for troops to get its contingent in position for the task before it.
Chaffee Will Advance at Once.
General Chaffee reported to the department formally from Nagasaki and there received orders which have been sent by cable since his departure from San Francisco. An idea of their general character can be gathered from the general's report that he was about to push forward at once with his big transport for Taku. He will not ever stop at Che Foo, and it is doubtful whether he will detain the Grant at Nagasaki long enough to take on coal.
He is also energetically taking steps in advance to meet the evil of which all the foreign naval commanders have complained, but none have remedied; the lack of landing facilities at Taku. To this end he has instructed Lieutenant Colonel Coolidge of the Ninth infantry at Tien Tsin to secure at once all of the tugs and lighters necessary to a speedy landing of the reinforcements and stores that are being carried out by the transport Grant.
In spite of the alarm with which the Chinese officials, including Li Hung Chang, profess to view the advance of the allied forces on Pekin, so far as it affects the safety of the foreign ministers, it may be said that none of the powers have evinced any tendency to abate their preparations or to accept an escort of imperial troops for the ministers from Pekin to Tien Tsin. This government has acted all the while on the theory that the ministers were alive and has accepted in good faith the assurances of the Chinese government to this effect; but it has not recognized in any way the suggestion contained in Sheng's cablegram of Tuesday that the Chinese government should furnish the foreigners an escort out of Pekin.
It was said at the state department yesterday that the American minister is not to be delivered up by a force of Chinese troops to the allied forces, or to anyone else. This government deems it much more apt, if he needs an escort out of Pekin, that it should be composed of American soldiers.
VIEWS OF CHINATOWN.
New York Mongolians Interviewed on the Situation.
SYMPATHIZE WITH THEIR OWN.
It is Believed That the Occidental Forces Will Ultimately Triumph and That the Final Outcome Will Be Improvement.
NEW YORK, July 26.—[Special.]—Though very few New York Chinamen can read English, it is nevertheless a fact that newspapers printed in English sell very well in Chinatown these days—almost as well, indeed, as they would were its denizens native Americans instead of yellow men from the orient.
On the day that the alleged cipher dispatch from Minister Conger was received every copy of every paper taken into Chinatown for an hour or two was sold promptly, and every Chinaman who could read English was besieged by scores of those who could not to translate the Peking dispatches and other oriental news.
The Chinese and the News.
As soon as the colony understood the nature of the intelligence there arose a tremendous jabbering, which did not quiet down until well into the night. An Americanized Chinaman—dressed in occidental garments, cueless and wearing gold rimmed specs—who asked that his name be not put in type, has expressed himself rather freely to the writer on the situation.
"The reception of the Conger dispatch made us feel very glad at first," he said. "But what if it isn't wholly genuine? The trouble in China has been very distressing to us. We had hopes at the beginning of the uprising that the Boxers would speedily be suppressed by the Chinese soldiers and that peace would reign in our native land; but now the war has assumed such tremendous proportions that it is almost useless to hope for speedy suppression.
"What do we think the outcome will be? It has seemed as though there is only one possible outcome; that is the invasion of China by the powers and the partition of our land among them. That's what makes us sad.
"The Boxers' cry of 'China for the Chinese' has brought from the powers the cry of 'China for the nations,' and, in the opinion of Chinatown, that is the cry that will win.
All Chinamen Love China.
"With whom are our sympathies? Well, we're Chinamen, and, naturally, we love the land of our fathers and hate to see it go to pieces; yet we realize that a great change must be wrought in China. It is time it awoke from its long sleep. It is time that its vast mines should be worked and other industries developed, as they will be when the foreigners take possession. When that occurs, China will be more overrun than it now is. Heretofore the natives have been glad to emigrate to the countries of the white men to earn a living, in spite of the white men's oppression. But when the war is over many are going back and get rich in our own country."
"Do you think the chances will be good for hustling Americans to go to China at the close of the war and make money, as you intend doing?"
"Well, maybe; if there are not too many of 'em going. But, as the 'Mericans say, 'Too many cooks spoil the broth,' you know."
American Visitors in Mott Street.
It is plain to be seen that Chinatown has become of great interest to the New York general public since the beginning of the fighting. There have not been so many visitors to Mott, Pell and Doyers streets for many years as there are now. Not a day passes without streams of Caucasians passing through these narrow thoroughfares. And the visitors are not at all of the sort the Mongolians are used to seeing pass their queer little shops, but men and women from the upper west side.
The Americanized Chinaman quoted above had a few remarks to make regarding these visitors. "We like have them come through our streets just as much as they like to do so," he said, "because they amuse us quite as much as we amuse them. Now, to get my meaning, you watch this man and woman coming up the street. Do you notice the half scared expression on the woman's face, as though every minute she expects somebody to spring out of a doorway and hit her over the head with a club? If a peaceable Chinaman should step out on the sidewalk directly in front of her, she'd fall in a dead faint. See how she clutches her escort. Watch his expression. It says as plainly as though the words were painted on his face, 'Lay so much as a finger on either of us, and I'll do you damage.' Isn't it funny?"
Most of Chinatown's denizens are from the province of Canton in southern China, and known as Cantonese, whereas the Boxer uprisings are in northern China, and this probably explains why the Chinese of New York have not become unfriendly with the white men here.
The stories of the looting of Tien-tsin by the allied troops produced a distinctly unpleasant impression on the New York Chinamen. My Americanized friend hesitated a long time this morning before he would speak about the matter at all. Then he said:
"If the dispatches sent by white men about white soldiers concerning the looting of the native city of Tien-tsin are true, then the occidentals in certain circumstances are as bad as the worst orientals. Can't you see that this makes it all a thousand per cent worse for all concerned."—DEXTER MARSHALL.
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| From left to right: Hatch Library, Kremlin Hotel, County Courthouse. |
SHAW'S CITY CAB
Ready to Answer Calls—Headquarters at the Kremlin.
William Shaw who was for nine years the delivery agent for the National Express Co. in Cortland has bought a fine new cab and a good horse and will be prepared to answer calls for anything in his line. His headquarters is at The Kremlin. Word may be left there for him or telephoned to that hotel for him. Special rates will be given by the hour to ladies who wish for a cab for calling or shopping. He solicits a share of the public patronage and guarantees satisfaction to those giving him a trial.
A Brother of Col. Greene.
Col. Alfred Greene has received the announcement of the death in Geneseo, Illinois, on Sunday, July 22, of his brother, Thomas Greene, at the age of 77 years and 7 months. Col. Greene is now the only survivor of a family of five brothers and three sisters, children of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Greene of Cincinnatus, N. Y., all of whom spent the years of their youth in that place. Col. Greene was the fourth in the family and was 88 years old last spring, and this brother who has just gone was the youngest.
Death of John Fitzgerald.
Mr. John Fitzgerald died of Blight's disease at his home, 66 East Court-st., Cortland, at 1 o'clock, this afternoon, aged 58 years. Arrangements for the funeral have not yet been made, and will be announced later.
PATRONS OF INDUSTRY
Will Hold Their First Annual Picnic at the Park Aug. 8.
The Patrons of Industry of Cortland county will hold their first annual picnic at the Cortland park, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 1900. Electric cars will leave for the park at 9:30 A. M. and each half hour thereafter during the day. Special cars for returning will begin leaving the park at 2:30 P. M. in ample time for all to reach home early. Dinner will be served promptly at 12 o'clock. Lunch baskets and baggage should be left at the office of the Traction Co. on Main-st. before 9:30 A. M., in order to have them sent to the park on the special baggage car. A committee will be in attendance to look after the baskets and baggage. The committee on arrangements consists of Messrs. J. H. May, A. J. Sears, Geo. A. Wilber, Mrs. Eugene Underwood and Mrs. Marvin Wadsworth and they are putting forth every effort to make the affair a success. Everybody is cordially invited.
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| Lyman J. Gage. |
SECRETARY GAGE.
The Chicago Banker Who Was Born in DeRuyter, N. Y.
The following communication from the pen of George A. Benham, formerly a Cortland boy, will be read with interest not only because of the facts stated, but also because the subject of the sketch was a native of DeRuyter and is well remembered there by the older residents of the place:
To The Editor of The Standard:
SIR—The greatest source of strength of the administration in the present campaign is the brilliant work of the secretary of the treasury, Lyman J. Gage—the most eminent financier of the age. The fruitful results attained by the treasury department under its present administrator has proved a tower of strength in the restoration of confidence, the rehabilitation and expansion of industries, and the growth of prosperity. The treasury department is the hub about which the mammoth wheel of prosperity revolves, and the influence of this mighty force is felt in every part of the country.
While the national administration will be vigorously assailed upon various grounds—as imperialism, and trusts, yet the record of the treasury department in the restoration of general prosperity, will stand as a Gibraltar of defense— strong, massive, invulnerable. Despite the attempts of the Democrats to obscure the real issues, and to confuse the minds of the people regarding vital interests, prosperity will be the crucial and decisive test of this great campaign. In the exposition of the practical results of prosperity, the records of the treasury department—direct and legitimate results of the wise and conservative policy inaugurated by the secretary—will be used with strong and convincing effect to sustain the cardinal principles of the Republican party. These records will show a vastly increased sphere of fiscal, commercial and industrial operations for the entire country, a phenomenal increase of exports, of collections from customs and internal revenue and of the treasury reserve funds. The treasury is now like a vast reservoir, filled to the safety limit.
In calling the great banker from Chicago to administer the finances of the country and overcome the disastrous effects of the severe panic and industrial depression, President McKinley exerted a master stroke of genius. To his great laurels as a banker, Mr. Gage has added distinction and high honors as a statesman and director general of the national finances, and his wisdom and experience have proved of great strength in shaping the policies of the federal government. He is one of the greatest men in public life to-day, and his services to the country and his party can never be fully estimated or duly appreciated. Able, aggressive, conservative, exerting talents of a distinctly judicial character, calm, deliberate, dispassionate, guided by high ideals, shaping his entire course by the highest principles of justice and honor. Secretary Gage possesses most admirable and useful qualifications for the duties of a statesman, or executive of a great and influential office. He has one of the finest and most cultivated minds of the age, and in public and private intercourse he exhibits the inseparable attributes of a great man. The charm of his person and grace of manners are indeed most delightful and fascinating.
Of the many eminent men who have administered the duties of that high and important office, none have stood upon a higher plane of merit and excellence, none have won a greater degree of public confidence and respect at home or abroad, none have exerted their talents with such faithful, happy and beneficent results, or have attained so great and enduring fame as Lyman Judson Gage, secretary of the United States treasury.
GEORGE A. BENHAM.
BREVITIES.
—New gas mains are being laid in the west end of Groton-ave.
—Canton Cortland will confer the P. M. degree this evening. A full attendance is desired.
—The City Steam laundry, 7 Tompkins-st., has increased its capacity for turning out work by additional rooms and machinery.
—The thirtieth annual reunion of the Engineer brigades (Fiftieth and Fifteenth N. Y. Engs.) will be held in Geneva, N. Y., Thursday, Aug. 23.
—New display advertisements to-day are—M. A. Hudson, Roller skates, page 4; Stowell & Co., Refrigerators, page 7; Brogden, Sunday papers, page 4.
—Linus Rood, who was charged in police court with petty larceny on complaint of Mr. Z. Lowe of Graham's clothing store, was discharged this morning after having settled for the amount claimed.
—Mr. E. P. Barney of the Laurel café has fitted up a very neat and commodious diningroom [sic] on the second floor of the Democrat block for the use of his regular table boarders, leaving the lower room for transient trade.
—The Ladies' Aid society of the Universalist church held a box social at the home of Mr. and Mrs. E. Mudge, 5 River-st., yesterday afternoon, Mrs. Mudge serving cream and coffee. All left feeling that they had been royally entertained.
—The I. O. O. F. excursion train to Renwick Beach, Aug 2, will start from the Lehigh Valley station at 8 o'clock, A. M., and returning leave Ithaca at 10:30 P. M. The return trip may be made on the regular train that leaves Ithaca at 5:30.
—Henry Howes has already purchased about 65,000 pounds of wool this season. Last week he bought about 7,000 pounds of Jermain and Geo. S. Lee at Morrisville and to-day he sacks some 8,000 pounds at Cazenovia.—DeRuyter Gleaner.
—Calls for rooms and board are already being received from students who expect to eater the Normal [School] in the fall. If those desiring to take Normal students will send their names and addresses to Dr. F. J. Cheney he may be able to locate students with them.
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