The morning call., 1894-12-22
Is THE WAR AT AN END ?

The chronicle OF the war 10 Asia is
succession of surprises. Just as the world
10 prepared for Japanese advance on
Peking. or at least flemish. and the
fighting quality of the Chinese has become
a standing joke. news comes that terms Of
peace have been agreed upon at TOXIC and
that the war is practically at an end. If
authentic the news Is as unexpected as the
famous settlement between Austria and
France at Vlllafranca. Still, it may be
true. On Novem Der 30 Mr. Matsu, Jap
anese Minister of Foreign Affairs, In
carefully guarded statement TO CORE
spondent. admitted that peace uegotia-
tions were going on at Toxic with hopeful
prospects,
If peace is made China will have to pay
an indemnify, which will probably take a
territorial as well as pecuniary shape.
No one will be surprised il Japan calls
upon her 10 pay the expenses of the war,
nor If she IS forced to abandon her semi
sovereignty over Korea. But Japan would
gein little by such concessions. They
would merely ensure tremendous retalia-
tion from China as soon as the latter power
had recovered from her present bumilia-
ton. What japan will have 10 provide
for is not only indemnity for the past, hut
also security for the future. When Ger
many held France PROSTATE at her feet
twenty-four years ago she not only exacted
money dam yes sufficient TO cover the ex-
Denses of the war; but also territorial
cession which shut out the French from
the Rhine. She made it certain that if the
war was ever renewed the battlefield
would be on the west bank Of the river
and old Germany would not become the
theater OF the war. Similar foresight will
pro bably prompt the japanese to demand
:he cessiOn of Shing King, so as to give TO
Dai Nippon the control of the Gulf of
Pechili; and. furthermore, a stipulation
that the Chinese shall dismantle the for
tress of Chefoo and shall not reconstruct
it. Such a concession by China would
make Chilli the theater of any future
war and would practically guarantee Japan
proper from invasion.
If the war ends now, a new deal in ORR
entail politics must ensue. China stands
bumilaied, as thoroughly conquered as If
the japanese had overrun her whole terri
tory. She exhibits to the world spectacle
of the most populous nation, teeming with
resources and wealth, yet unable to defend
her own territory. Such an exhibition is
sure TO provoke predatory enterprises by
covetous nations. Great Britain is likely
TO demand more slices Of China, and
France, Russia and Germany to insist on
share OF the spoil. The vultures will
gather round the carcase, each screaming
for portion. 1t will become absolutely
necessary for the predatory nations TO
agree upon an orderly plan of spoliation,
or else they will fight with each other, as
nations fought over the partition of Po-
land.
On the other hand. no nation ever got
such drubbing as China has received
that it did no! learn a lesson from the ex-
perience. 1t is not to be believed that,
after concluding a humiliating peace,
China will relapse into its present torpor
and Reorganization. Men will surely
arise who will insist on organic reform. so
that the strength and intelligence of the
empire can be organized for its defense in
future. The hands of the imperial Gov
eminent will have to be strengthened and
the power OF the provincial authorities
diminished. At present the political sys-
TEN Is volunteer arrangement, pune
tua.ed with periodical decapitatlons and
paralyZed by universal corruption. Surely
among the four hundred millions of Chi
nese, some one will arise with vigor and
courage enough to weld the disj DIN ted
members OF the nation into whole, ODE
dent to a single will and capable of being
combined for single purpose. 1t will be
remarkable if no such man looms up.
The present state of China is depicted
10 miniature by the city of Picking. That
capital has just been visited by Pastor
Helms of the German navy. who paints it
with a few graphic touches. 1t is giant
city in dimensions, a sea of houses stretch
ing beyond the horizon. but the houses are
mostly one or at most two story buildings,
mean and shabby In appearance. The
streets are broad, but they are not paved
or drained, and they are incumbered by
mounds of refuse in which pigs root. The
palace of the Emperor. handsome build
ing, erected on an artificial mound,
is uninhabited, and the walls which sur
round it are falling to ruin. On every
side the distinguishing mark of the place
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