The evening times., 1899-05-27
Arovnd the World.

The worlds news in these days Oh peace
seems dull to people used for whoie year
or more to wars, battles. insurrections' anu
other wholesome excitements, but We mus
be patient. Things will happen again some
time or other The only CLINT OF sunlight
one can see today breaking through the
dark clouds of contentment abroad Is Iur-
nished by China. That amiable power
after surrendering to Russia in the matter
of the Manchuria and Pekin Railway, mas
deye,oped a sudden and fierce belligerency
in the directions of Italy and Germany.
The appearance off the bay OF san Mum Oh
six Italian war vessels has much annoyed
the Empress Dowager. and the Tsung-h-
Yamen has ordered viceroys and governors
TO nut themselves on a war footing. Italy.
of course. will take San Nun Bay Just the
same. and, if the Chinese are foolish
enough to fight about it. will take good
deal more by way of indemnity after
ward.
Some of the press correspondents in Chi
ma believe that the warlike preparations OF
the Chinese are preparatory to an attempt
To drive the Germans out of the Shan TunS
DenllSuld- tutIt ID ody coNy 49,
world that hopes so it is the Kaiser. Moth
ing would please him better than exactly
such a chance to exercise his navy and a
few battalions of his peace-tired soldiers.
Perhaps he may win the opportunity. Inc
affair would not amount TO much. but Its
consequences would be important and seri-
Gus. The partition of the Empire would
| h,. Al and there
would be an end of the Flowery Kingdom
and the old exclusive civilization whicn
was full grown and fiourishing in precise
Iy the outward form il presents today gen.
erations before the beginning OF the Chris
tian era.
1t is not likely that China could avert
the disaster by a resort to the arbitration
principle. now so eloquently being adyo-
Gated at The Hague by our delegates. There
will be a Chinese arbitration some day
perhaps, but China will not be in it; which
reminds us that the Cars Disarmament
Conference appears to be coming around to
the Anglo-Amer!can view of things in fine
shape. There can be no doubt that grand
step in the march OF civilization Will be
taken when all nations agree TO adopt ar
bitration as a substitute for war, but the
time for such action is not likely to occur
before we can get new clothes made to
see it in. 1t is probable that the move
ment of the British and American delega-
tions at The Hague may lead TO the gen.
sral acceptance OF some modified scheme
in the direction of arbitration. For exam
pie, the leading powers might agree to the
establishment Of an international court
Of honor to which they would submit their
quarrels to see if they could not be ad-
justed without resort to war, just as indi-
viduals sometimes refer their differences
to courts OF honor before proceeding to the
extremity of the duello. Obligatory ar
bitration is a little in advance of the day,
as no doubt its warmest advocates will
find when they spring another British ar
bitration treaty on the United States Sen
ate next year. Yet. 1t is TO be wished that
the real thing might be accomplished at
The. Hague, on Sir Julian Pauncefote's ac-
count. 1t is evident that he will never die
happy unless he can get measure of ar
b;tration through somewhere.