The morning call., 1894-11-15
HANDS OFF.

1t is stated in political circles in London
that the European powers are not disposed
TO take action in regard 10 the war be- ween
China ami Japan, so long as the United
States is Offering mediation. There is
some mistake here. The Government at
Peking did invite Colonel DENLY to solicit
the kind offices of the United States to
suggest plan for the restoration of peace,
but it is not known that our Government
responded to the appeal and it is doubted
by well-informed people whether it con-
templates doing so. Mr.. Cleveland has
trouble enough on his hands without Dor
rowing worry in Asia. Mediators some
times incur responsibilities which are on
erous. Cases have been known where
hey were forced into the position of prn
clpals in the controversy.
If the dispatches canbe believed, the war
has assumed One-sided shape. Japan is
striking fatal blows at China, while the
latter is neither striking back nor defend
ing itself, but is enduring the DEGREES Of
late with philosophy. The Chinese are
like the Democrats in PennsylvaDia-cur-
rent events interest them no more. They
remind one of MarryatS naval officer who
attended symposium which degenerated
into a free fight. The officer had no quar-
rel with any one, but wishing to be in the
fashion. he selected as his antagonist a
corpulent merchant beside him and deliv-
cred his one, two. three in steady cadence
upon the waistcoat of the merchant. who
neither parted nor struck, but received
each blow with a sorrowful gasp.
To be serious, this move may lead TO
very grave complications, and it is not at
all desirable that the United States should
be mixed up in them. A nation which is
incapable o! self-defense is no nation at
all, but simply an aggregation of human
atoms without cohesiveness OF cooperative
energy. When In the past a nation
reached that stage of decrepitude il has
been the custom that its neighbOrs admin
istered upon its estate. and divided its prop
erty. Thus the powers divi ed Poland :;
and in 1854 the Emperor Nicholas referred
10 the helplessness of Turkey as suffi-
cient reason for its invasion and partition
by the maritime powers. The underlying
idea was that the existence of a helpless
nation was menace to peace, and per-
petual danger to civilization.
Now. if Japan moves steadily forward
as she has been doing, and occupies Mouk-
den and Ppking; if the Chinese armies
are unable to defend Port Arthur. or to
fight one square battle in the field;
Christepdom will conclude that the Gov
eminent of the Chinese Empire has abdi-
Gated its functions, and that it is fair
game for the spoiler That would be an
entirely unprecedented condition OF
affairs. We have seen small islands so
torn by domestic dissensions that common
humanity called for foreign interference
Rulers have turned up in Hindostan so
insensate. so brutal, So unbearable that
England has been compelled to put a
guardian over them. But that a nation of
100000 Of partly intelligent people
should have Government incapable of
performing the first duty of q government,
to wit. the defense of the national. terri
tory, is without example in history.
Observers say that the fate of China
appears to be disintegrstion. But that is
merely word. What will the facts be /?
WHAT can they be, except that while the
bulk of the 400, 100000 Cinnamon go on
with their agriculture and their industries
to support their families predatory bands
viii arise all over the empire and will live
by rapine. while France, Russia and Eng
land will lay hands on such portions of
the empire as may seem desirable, and
will in course of time quarrel over the
spoil? That prospect embraces a show
for confusion or war at which humanity
may we'll recoi. There has been nothing
like it since the death Of Alexander the
Great split the Macedonian empire into
fragments. Do we want any share in such
a melee?