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which binds together the two nations。 The speech was of a very
offhand sort； but it seemed to strike deep and speed far； for it
evoked most kindly letters of congratulation and thanks from
various parts of Germany and the United States。
The most striking episode in the history of the world during
these years was the revolution in China。 The first event which
startled mankind was the murder of Baron von Ketteler； the German
minister at Peking； a man of remarkable abilities and
accomplishments； who was thought sure to rise high among
diplomatists； and who had especially attracted American
friendships by his marriage with an American lady。 The impression
created by this calamity was made all the greater by the fact
that； in the absence of further news from the Chinese capital；
there was reason to fear that the whole diplomatic corps； with
their families； might be murdered。 American action in the
entanglements which followed was prompt and successful； and
thinking men everywhere soon saw it to be so。 Toward the end of
July； 1900； being about to go to America for the summer； I took
leave of Count von Bulow at the Foreign Office； and； on coming
out； met one of my colleagues； who； although representing one of
the lesser European powers； was well known as exceedingly shrewd
and far…sighted。 He said： 〃I congratulate you on the course
pursued by your government during this fearful Chinese imbroglio。
Other powers have made haste to jump into war； your admiral at
Tientsin seems the only one who has kept his head； other
governments have treated representatives of the Chinese Empire as
hostile； and； in doing so； have cut themselves off from all
direct influence on the Peking Government； the government at
Washington has taken an opposite course； has considered the
troubles as； prima facie； the work of insurrectionists； has
insisted on claiming friendship with the constituted authorities
in China； and； in view of this friendship； has insisted on being
kept in communication with its representative at the Chinese
capital； the result being that your government has been allowed
to communicate with its representative； and has thereby gained
the information and issued the orders which have saved the entire
diplomatic corps； as well as the forces of the different powers
now in Peking。〃
It was one of those contemporary testimonies to the skill of Mr。
McKinley and Secretary Hay which indicate the verdict of history。
Our later policy was equally sound。 It was to prevent any further
territorial encroachments on China by foreign powers； and to
secure the opening of the empire on equal terms to the commerce
of the entire world。 On the other hand； the German Government；
exasperated by the murder of its minister at Peking； was at first
inclined to go beyond this； and a speech of the Emperor to his
troops as they were leaving Germany for the seat of war was
hastily construed to mean that they were to carry out a policy of
extermination and confiscation。 Even after the first natural
outburst of indignation against the Chinese； it looked as if the
ultimatum presented by the powers would include demands which
could never be met； and would entangle all the powers in a long
and tedious war； leading； perhaps； to a worse catastrophe。
Quietly but vigorously； from first to last； the American policy
was urged by Mr。 Conger； American minister at Peking； and by
other representatives of our government abroad； and it was a
happy morning for me when； after efforts many and long continued；
I received at the Berlin Foreign Office the assurance that
Germany would not consider the earlier conditions presented by
the powers to the Chinese Government as 〃irrevocable。〃 My
constant contention； during interviews at the Foreign Office； had
been that the United States desired as anxiously to see the main
miscreants punished as did any other nation； but that it was of
no use to demand； upon members of the imperial family； and upon
generals in command of great armies； extreme penalties which the
Chinese Government was not strong enough to inflict； or
indemnities which it was not rich enough to pay； that our aim was
not quixotic but practical； and that； in advocating steadily the
〃open door〃 policy； we were laboring quite as much for all other
powers as for ourselves。 Of course we were charged in various
quarters with cold…bloodedness； and with merely seeking to
promote our own interest in trade； but the Japanese； who could
understand the question better than the Western powers； steadily
adhered to our policy； and more and more； in its main lines； it
proved to be correct。
On the Fourth of July； 1900； came the celebration of our national
independence at Leipsic； and being asked to respond to the first
regular toast； and； having at my former visit dwelt especially
upon the Presidency； my theme now became the character and
services of the President himself； and it was a pleasure to find
that my statement was received by the German press in a way that
showed a reaction from previous injustice。
During August and September preceding the political campaign
which resulted in Mr。 McKinley's reelection I was in the United
States。 It was the hottest summer in very many years； and
certainly； within my whole experience； there had been no torrid
heat like that during my visits to Washington。 Nearly every one
seemed prostrated by it。 Upon arriving at the Arlington Hotel； I
found two old friends unnerved by the temperature； one of them
not daring to risk a sunstroke by going to the train which would
take him to his home in Chicago Retiring to one's room at night；
even in the best…situated hotels； was like entering an oven。 The
leading official persons were generally absent； and those who
remained seemed hardly capable of doing business。 But there was
one exception。 Going to the White House to pay my respects to the
President； I found him the one man in Washington perfectly cool；
serene； and unaffected by the burning heat or by the pressure of
public affairs。 Although matters in Cuba； in Porto Rico； in the
Philippines in China； and in the political campaign then going on
must have been constantly in his mind； he had plenty of time；
seemed to take trouble about nothing； and kept me in his office
for a full hour； discussing calmly the various phases of the
situation as they were affected by matters in Germany。
His discussion of public affairs showed the same quiet insight
and strength which I had recognized in him when we first met； in
1884； as delegates at the Chicago National Convention。 One thing
during this Washington interview struck me especially： I asked
him if he was to make any addresses during the campaign； he
answered： 〃No； several of my friends have urged me to do so； but
I shall not。 I intend to return to what seems to me the better
policy of the earlier Presidents： the American people have my
administration before them； they have ample material for judging
it； and with them I shall silently leave the whole matter。〃 He
said this in a perfectly simple； quiet way； which showed that he
meant what he said。 At the time I regretted his decision； but it
soon became clear that he was right。
At the beginning of the year 1901 came the two…hundredth
anniversary of the founding of the Prussian kingdom。
Representatives of the other governments of the world appeared at
court in full force； and； under instructions from the President；
I tendered his congratulations and best wishes to the monarch； as
follows：
May it please Your Majesty： I am instructed by the President to
present his hearty congratulations on this two…hundredth
anniversary of the founding of the Kingdom of Prussia； and； with
his congratulations； his best wishes for Your Majesty's health
and happiness； as well as the health and happiness of the Royal
Family； and his earnest hopes for the continued prosperity of
Your Majesty's Kingdom and Empire。
At the same time I feel fully authorized to present similar
congratulations and good wishes from the whole people of the
United States。 The ties between the two nations； instead of being
weakened by time； have constantly grown stronger。 As regards
material interests they are bound together by an enormous
commerce； growing greatly every year： as regards deeper
sentiments； no man acquainted with American History