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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 forgets that
the House of Hohenzollern was one of the first European powers to
recognize American Independence； and that it was Frederick the
Great who made that first treaty；a landmark in the history of
International Law；the only fault of which was that the world
was not far enough advanced to appreciate it。 We also remember
that Germany was the only foreign country which showed decided
sympathy for us during our Civil Warthe second struggle for our
national existence。
I also feel fully authorized； in view of Your Majesty's interest
in everything that ministers to the highest interests of
civilization； to express thanks for service which the broad
policy of Germany has rendered the United States in throwing open
to American scholars its Universities； its Technical Schools； its
conservatories of Art； its Museums； and its Libraries。 Every
University and advanced school of learning in the United States
recognizes the fact that Germany has been our main foreign
teacher； as regards the higher ranges of Science； Literature； and
Art； and I may be allowed to remind Your Majesty； that while
Great Britain is justly revered by us as our mother country
Germany is beginning to hold to us a similar relation； not only
as the fatherland of a vast number of American citizens； but as
one of the main sources of the intellectual culture spread by our
universities and schools for advanced learning。
Allow me； then； sir； to renew the best wishes of the President
and people of the United States； with their hopes that ever
blessing may attend Your Majesty； the House of Hohenzollern the
Kingdom of Prussia； and the German Empire。
The Emperor in his reply spoke very cordially of the President's
special telegram； which he had received that morning； and then
gave earnest utterance to his belief that the time is coming when