The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-08
awe Must Win China's Good WILL
BY Baron Won. Brand, Late Minister to Pekin.

Baron von Brandt. who returned from his pos
~ German Minister in Pekin year ago Is
known Ia Europe and the United States FOR his
understanding Of Chinese affairs.
He living in retirement at veinar.
| where he dev0tes his time literary pursuits.
| One must take a retrospective view OF the
history Of foreign nations in China to ur
derstand the causes of the present unheaval
It's now sixty years since the Chinese
/ were forced to enter into amicable relations
with every foreigner who chose TO visit
their land
! For the last forty years China has been
compelled to tolerate in all parts of the
/ Empire. the remotest as well as the most
I accessible. the presence 0: missionaries who
! try 10 take away from the people all that Is
most sacred 10 them, their belief In the fam
lily. in their ancestors and IN their gods.
For the last six years China has been CO.
. creed into dissorging one railway and min
| Ing concession after the other.
! And the foreign press has Insisted all
| along that the Empire Is totterins and ripe
| for division among the Powers
! Can any one wonder at the reaction. end
| that the Chinese are trying to forestall the
fate prepared for them? True. they go about
their misfortune. not their fault
The Boxers. revol. is nothing but gen.
eral protest OF large portion of the Chinese
populace against threatened annihiiat'on-
The Chinese don't want TO be wiped OF
the face of the earth as a free. independent
nation-hence the resistance offered. They
have taken time by the forelock. but who
will blame them for that?
Every people has the right 70 protect It
self against the loss of its Independence
that the Chinese are unhappy IN the selec-
ton of the means for doing SO. does not
lessen their sacred prerogativs. They must
co their duty toward themselves.
The Powers.
The Powers. on the other hand. must
look after their own interests. the revolt
must be suppressed. the guilty ones must
be punished-but what then? This Is the
question confronting the Powers having
treaties with China.
Pekin has been coercei into making GER
tain concessions in favor OF certain Govern
ments. and / am OF the opinion that such
concessions, being in the interest OF civil
ization 1. Q. of humanity. were rightfully
obtained. The Powers were. at least, jus
titled in obtaining them. We won't inquire
too closely into the manner employed The
question now is, can we ENFORCE their luI-
ailments with or against the will Of the
Chinese people?
Many writer's seem TO think that. having
obtained permission from the Chinese Gov
eminent. the nations consen; is Of secon-
dairy or no consideration. But knowing
China as / do. / maintain that the nations
consent is OF the utmost Importance and
that without 1t no permanent prosperity
can be hoped for foreign establishments on
Chinese soil.
Obtain Nations Consent.
The realization OF projected enterprises.
building of railways and mining operations.
require besides. such immense capital. that
the general public must be interested In
order to obtain the necessary funds which
the rich alone cannot furnish. The general
public. however, will not make investments
that depend for security on the promises
OF Government that may be wiped out at
any time. To open up China to the civil
lied world. We must have the Chinese peo-
pie on our side, and TO get the capital for
the opening up. we must have the conf
dence of our own people
But we cannot persuade our own people |
that China Is .'all right by merely quell- |
ing the present revolt. must ba pre-
pared to show that such revolts are. for |
the future. well-n;gh impossible.
How can We do IL? BY proving that the |
existence OF the enterprises 10 be intro |
duced by us in the various Provinces is as \
sured by the concurrence and the consent |