The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-07-05
THE CHINESE QUESTIONS.


depend on thecom and united
action of the Great Powers. How
far the Chinese Government is
responsible for the outbreak
against foreigners and against
the missionaries and their con
verts, and whether Russia is really
the power behind the throne and
an active, but concealed, factor
in stirring up the vast horde
of ignorant Chinese, can only be
ascertained when by force of
arms the united armies and navies
now in or on their way to China
have restored peace and solved
the real cause of this sudden
outburst of passion. The mys-
terry that envelops the actual con-
troll Of public affairs in China
must be dissipated, and we must
know just who can be held re-
sponsible for the recent loss of
life and for peace in the future
When we see China represented
in the United States by a Minister
as clever as its present represen-
tative at Washington, it is impos-
sible to believe that Pekin and
the Chinese Empire are governed
by ignorance and violence, such
as led to the futile effort to pre-
vent missions and material pro
gress by slaughter and war.
How far there is some malevolent
agency at work disseminating
false and exaggerated conditions,
and magnifying a foolishand wick
ed band of robbers and highway
men into an attack upon the re-
representatives. of friendly foreign
Powers, will also undoubtedly be
ascertained, and peace in China
must be restored with such con-
ditions as will secure, safety
there for foreigners.
That vast empire has been
largely parceled out on paper
by the nations of the world, and
Russia at the north, Great Brit
ain and Germany on the coast,
France, and even Italy, on the
south, and Japan near at hand,
have each and all threatened SOW
ereignty, while the United States,
faithful to its history and tradit-
ions, expressly disclaimed any
desire for territorial aggression,
asking only that it's people and
its trade may be safe everywhere.
Is it possible that the Chinese
Government has brought upon
itself the rightful invasion of its
soil, in order to enable foreign
Governments to protect its rep
resentatives at Pekin, it's property
everywhere and its people in the
few places where they live under
treaty rights? The vast popula-
tion of China and it's enormous
extent of territory, much of it
hitherto barely touched by for
eign influence, must now be
brought into subsection to inter
national rights and relations. We
must know whether the Imperial
Government of China and its local
administration are so honeycomb-
ed with dishonesty and disregard
of humanity that they must be
reorganized and reduced to sub
mission, and practically controll-
ed by foreign Powers, through
local representatives supported
by armed forces on land and sea
large enough to enforce order,
maintain tranquility, re-estab-
lish peace and open China to inn
provement that will enable trade
and missions to pursue their
/
tasks in safety The price of
such a peace will be a heavy one,
and it is doubtful whether China
can pay it, or whether foreign
countries will be enable to recoup
their outlay by the profits of
trade or of railroads and mining,
and such other industries as may
be possible within the nominal
limits of the vast aggregation of
China.
1t is only when we have the re-
ports of our own Minister, Mr.
Conger, now shut up in Pekin,
| an6 from tho Admiral i'm conn