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father and mother； he was congratulated by the sovereigns and
royal personages。 The ambassadors and ministers having been then
received by the Emperor and Empress； the young prince came along
the line and spoke to each of us in a very unaffected and manly
way。 He was at that time somewhat taller than his father； with an
intelligent and pleasant face； and is likely； I should say； to do
well in his great position； though not possessing； probably；
anything like his father's varied gifts and graces。
In the evening came a dinner in the White Hall of the palace to
several hundred guests； including the Emperor of Austria…Hungary；
the King of Saxony； and other visiting personages； with the heads
of the diplomatic missions； and the leading personages of the
empire； and near the close of it the Emperor William arose and
made an excellent speech； to all appearance extemporaneous。 The
answer by the Emperor of Austria…Hungary was read by him； and was
sensible and appropriate。
That this visit did much to strengthen the ties which bind the
two monarchies was shown not merely by hurrahs in the streets and
dithyrambic utterances in the newspapers； but by a mass of other
testimony。 One curious thing was the great care everywhere taken
in the decorations to honor the crown and flag of Hungary equally
with that of Austria； and this； as was shown by the Hungarian
journals； had an excellent effect。 By this meeting； no doubt； the
Triple Alliance was somewhat strengthened； and the chances for
continued peace increased； at least during the lifetime of the
Emperor Franz Josef。 As to what will follow his death all is
dark。 His successor is one of the least suitable of
men；unprepossessing； and even forbidding； in every respect。
Brought up by the Jesuits； he is distrusted by a vast mass of the
best people in the empire； Catholic and Protestant。 A devout
Catholic they would be glad to take； but a Jesuit pupil they
dread； for they know too well what such have brought upon the
empire hitherto； and； indeed； upon every kingdom which has
allowed them in its councils。 His previous career has not been
edifying； and there is no reason to expect any change in him。 The
Emperor Franz Josef is probably as thoroughly beloved by his
subjects as any sovereign in history has ever been。 His great
misfortunesfearful defeats in the wars with France and Germany；
the suicide of his only son； the assassination of his wife； and
family troubles in more recent timeshave thrown about him an
atmosphere of romantic sympathy； while love for his kindly
qualities is mingled with respect for his plain common sense。
During his stay in Berlin I met him a second time。 At my first
presentation at Dresden； two years before； there was little
opportunity for extended conversation； but he now spoke quite at
length and in a manner which showed him to be observant of the
world's affairs even in remote regions。 He discussed the recent
increase of our army； the progress of our war in the Philippines；
and the extension of American enterprise in various parts of the
world； in a way which was not at all perfunctory； but evidently
the result of large information and careful observation。 His
empire； which is a seething caldron of hates； racial； religious；
political； and local； is held together by love and respect for
him； but when he dies this personal tie which unites all these
different races； parties； and localities will disappear； and in
place of it will come the man who by force of untoward
circumstances is to be his successor； and this is anything but a
pleasing prospect to an Austro…Hungarian； or； indeed； to any
thoughtful observer of human affairs。
Interesting to me at this period was a visit from representatives
of the 〃Kriegerverein〃German…Americans who had formerly fought
in the war between Germany and France； who had since become
American citizens； and who were now revisiting their native land。
They were a very manly body； evidently taking pride in the
American flag which they carried； and also in the part they had
played in Germany。 Replying to a friendly address by their
commanding officer； I took up some current American fallacies
regarding Germany and Germans； encouraged my hearers to stand
firm against sensational efforts to make trouble between the two
countries； urged them to keep their children in knowledge of the
German language and in touch with German civilization； while
bringing them up as thoroughly loyal Americans； reminding them
that every American who is interested in German history or
literature or science or art is an additional link in the chain
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