New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-28
CHINESE VIEWS OF CHINA.

The observations of the Chinese Minister at
Washington upon the attitude and conduct OF
the Powers toward his country are, from one
point of view, delightfully."- humorous. His re-
minder that China is a sovereign Power and his
suggestion that she is entitled to have something
to say about the disposition of her own territory
are tinged with delicate irony worthy OF III
Hung Chang at his best. At the same time
his expressions are tnged with Irresistible
pathos. For 1t is only too well known that China
has not the ability to enforce that reminder ana
that suggestion, just and pertinent as they are,
and it seems probable that the Powers, or some
of them. are not minded to pay any more than
sort of academic Iced 10 them. The parable OF
the house raided by neighbors is an apt one,
and, unfortunately for China, 1t Is at this mo-
ment being realized The neighbors have act
ually taken possession of doors and rooms, ana
are without conceament planning further seiz
ures, and the man of the house does not show
himself able either to expe them or TO prevent
their further aggressions.
Above their humOr and their pathos, however,
the utterances of the Chinese Minister possess
the supreme qualities Of sense and justice
There can he no room for doubt of that Either
| China is or is not a sovereign Power. II she Is
not then all the rest are guilty OF great folly IN
treating her as one, as they do In many respects
If she u.s. then they are guilty of gross unfriend-
illness and injustice in treating her as though
she were not, as they also do in many respects
! If she Is enough of a sovereign Power TO make
! treaties with, to request concessions from, ana
! 10 exercise diplomatic and court ceremonials
/ toward, she should be enough OF one to be en-
| titled to ordinary consideration In the DISPOSE
| ton and control of her own lands. If she is
sovereign at Peking she should be sovereign on
the seacoast from Corea to Tonquin. 1t Is
anomalous and little short Of self-stultifyng to
send at the same moment diplomats 10 Picking
and soldiers to the coast
Now, we are not inclined to say that "Codlin's
the friend. not Short" and that the United
States Is the only original and authentic Goblin
and all the rest Of the world Is Short On the
contrary. we may as we'll frankly recognize that
, China has grounds-rea or imaginary-of CON-
nIaint against this country, as well as against
the rest OF them, though they are not the same
grounds But at least in this matter OF i-tegrity
of the empire the United States is blameless,
and its policy Is not open 10 the Minister'S re-
proach This country has not sought and does
rot desire a single rood Of Chinese soil. What
II does want is the same rights and privileges on
all Chinese soil that all other nations enjoy. To
that It reckons itself entitled, because it has al
ways been as friendly to China as any other
nation has, because 1t surpasses all other ma
! tons save one two in the volume and value
OF it's commerce with China, and because the
good fellowship Of nations requires in such mat
tiers equal rights for all. We do not want TO
seize door or a room Of our Chinese neighbours
| house. We only want that We shall be admitted