The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-09-03
Circulation Statement.
The Truth From China.

For some reason or other, the New
York World is Offended by the statement
Of already notorious facts, made by Mr..
McKinley's special commissioner. W W.
RockhilI. in a press interview al Shanghai
Mr. Rockhnl declares that no doubt should
exist concerning responsibility for the re-
cent Chinese murders and the attempt to
massacre the ministers and other foreign
ers il Pekin. These things, he says. have
been results of "a deliberately planned
movement on the part of the Chinese Gov
eminent to expeI all foreigners" He con,
tinues:
The DEGREES printed in the Imperial Gazette
prove this: The movement has been practically
successful, since every foreigner in the interior
has been obliged TO seek refuge in the treaty
ports
The Imperial Government merely utilized the
Boxers convenient accessories TO It's schemes
The relief of Pekin Is merely an incident OF
the crisis The really important work remains
TO be done
Marquis Iro. probably the best-iniormed man
alive Eastern politics, said 20 that the
present is the greatest crisis in the history OF
China. and that all preceding Eastern questions
sink into insigrifcance beside IL
Are civilized nations 10 yield TO the Chinese
conceit OF their supcTiority?'
Now. just why Mr.. Rockhill should be
abused for view of the situation which
is supported by the convictions and dec
larations of Mr.. Conger, Sir Claude
Macdonald, Sir Robert Hart, and other
thoroughly informed and competent men
on the ground, we are unable TO under
stand. The special commissioner has not
been persona grata TO The Times since his
course as an Assistant Secretary Of State,
in suppressing consular reports from Cuba
Just before the Spanish war because they
We're embarrassing TO the then pro-Spanish
policy OF the Administration. But that is
not a reason why We or anybody else
should do him an Injustice nov. We are,
IN fact, agreeably surprised at his candor
II announcing truths which We had feared
Ie had been sent to China TO cover up.
Whatever else may be said OF Mr. Rock
nil it cannot be denied that his thorough
knowledge of Chinese affairs, and his COM
pIe1e command Of the Chinese language
gained through long residence in the En-
pire, render him better fitted for the mis-
sion he has undertaken than any other
American of whom We have knowledge
could be- 1t should be remembered that
his appointment was decided upon when
Mr. Conger sent a report to this Govern
ment distinctly charging that of China
with full re possibility for the Boxer upris-
Ing. the butchery of missionaries. and the
attack upon the legations. Then it was as
sumed that, as a result of insult injury,
and personal suffering and anxiety our rep
resentative in Pekin had become incapable
of clear judgment or of ability to advise
our author tiles wisely or even nationally. So
Mr. RockhilI was despatched in the hope
that he would do some MagooniEg. and be
able to fortffy the Administration conten-
ton that all the outrages and atrocities in
China had been the work of irresponsible
rebels against their own Government.
The value to the President and his ad-
visers of such finding. if procurable. is
obvious. 1t would tend to condone the
offence of waging an executive war in
violation of the constitutional war making
prerogative Of Congress, and make it ap~
pear that the operations we have conduct
ed We're not of war but of a police ma
ture. Henceforth all such ideas must he
dismissed. We have it now from the
mouth OF Mr. McKinley's own envoy. that
the Chinese Government, as a responsible
Government, deliberately entered into a
state of war with US. and should be held
TO account accordingly. Instead of harsh
criticism there should be unstfnted praise
for Mr.. RockhilI's fearlessness in uttcring
truths which cannot be otherwise than IN
comfortable for his employers