Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-09
THE CHINESE MASSACRE
No Surprise in Circles Acquainted With
Life in the East.
The Sad Event May Prove to BE of
Great Permanent Benefit-The
American Minister'S Work.

AS distressing as it is, the present news
from ChiEa causes no surprise in circles
acquainted with life in that part of the
east. The wonder expressed is that the
missionaries themselves should not at the
conclusion of the disastrous war with Ja-
pan have taken precautions of unusual
tkoroughness, and, If necessary, have re-
treated for a time back on ports of as
sured safety. The era, 1t is pointed out,
was ripe Ter the native fanatic. There was
a general shifting of the burden of respon-
sibility for the terrible losses sustained.
Civilians and soldiers accused each other,
and censure and distlust became the order
CT the day. Then the fanatics. to relieve
the native pressure bethought themselves
of the hated foreigners, and the burden
was made finally to rest there. China had
been punished for hsrboring the mission
aries, and SO the cause of the trouble must
be removed
May Serve Il Good Purpose.
The opinion is expressed that these mas
sacres, deplorahle they are, will yet in
the end, serve a greater purpose in the
spread of civilization throughout the Chi
nese empire than the whole of the japanese
I triumph considered in its separate relation.
1t is assumed that both this government
and the English government will press the
case to it's utmost limit. Japan improved
her opportunity merely to secure a small
extension of trading facilities. But the
United States and England, 1t is believed,
will improve this occasion to make the
path in which civilized people may travel
in China broader and safer in every d!rec-
tion, and in that way lay a substantial
foundation for the ultimate opening up Of
the whole empire to civiliZing influences.
The hideous backwardness and superstition
Of the whole Chinese race stand revealed
a little more plainly than ever before, and
will justify, it is asserted, the imposition of
the strictest and severest terms by the two
Christian governments.
The American Minister.
Some criticism along with some praise
has appeared in the cables directed at the
American minister at Peking. Complaint is
made in certain quarters that he lacks
energy and resolution. Friends of Colonel
DENLY in Washington are very confident
that the charge cannot be sustained. They
speak OF him in the highest terms. They
accredit him particularly with both energy
ard resolution and refer TO his unbroken
service minister to China for ten years
as evidence Of his undeniable capacity for
diplomatic business. They predict, indeed,
that when the whole business shall have
been disposed of it will appear that the
United States was admirably represented
and that no point calling for either courage
or acumen was overlooked unimproved
His Career.
Col. DENLY is Virginian by birth, and
was educated at Georgetown College. At
ter graduating in the law, he went west
and settled at Evansville Ind. He built up
a large practice, and confined himself strict
ly to it. Though repeatedly solicited to en-
ter politics, he declined. He served with
distinction in the army on the Union side
When Mr.. Cleveland was first elected Pres
icent, Col. DENLY, who had amassed a COM
fortable estate at the bar, decided to try
for place in the diplomatic service. He
asked for Russia, but got China, and, with
the exception Of a vacation of several
months spent at home last year, has been
at Peking ever since. He stands very high
a the State Department.
Col. DENLY is seventy years old, large of
frame. and handsome man. His bearing
is distinguished and dignified, and his cul-
ture of a high order. The English-speak-
ing world at Peking is composed of only
about seventy souls. To many men the
appointment would be a sort of exile. But
Col. DENLY is student, and finding great
deal of time for reading, is represented as
well satisfied at his post. His influence
with Ii Hung Chang is said to be greater
than that of any other foreign representa-
tive at the Chinese capital.