Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-02

Some time ago an English missionary,
the Rev. Mr.. Brooks, stationed at Ping
Yam. in the province of Shang Tung. was
killed by an organized gang of ruffians
known as Boxers" whose avowed pur-
pose is to drive out the Christian clergy
men and to punish the natives who en-
brace Christianity. The governor of the
province sent soldiers to the scene, but
they We're too late and the assassins had
dispersed. The British government entered
protest and demanded some measure of
satisfaction from the government at Pekin.
After characteristic delays and shifty dip
lomatic negotiations the Chinese govern
ment has at last agreed to atone for the
murder by behcadirg two of the Boxers,
imprisonins one for ten years and another
for two years. and erecting a memorial
chapel upon the scene of the murder and
tablet in Canterbury cathedral, England.
But even these acts will not offer as
surance that the English missionaries will
be secure in the future. There is no guar
antee that the provincial government will
be reorganized to ensure peace at Ping
Yam. TO suppress the Boxers" or to en-
courage sincere respect for foreigners. The
beheading of aSsasSinS is by no means un-
common in China Men are officially slain
for much less. Indeed 1t is never known
in such cases whether the real criminals
are punished or only unfortunate subst-
tutes chosen to protect perhaps persons of
official Importance Death has no such
terrors for the celestial that it will by its
own threat deter him from pursuing
fanatical hatred. What is needed in China
is more than occasional spasm of JUS
tice. the erection of chapels and me-
MORALS, at the urgent instance of pow
erful nation. 1t is the creating there of a
strong feeling of responsibility among the
people, the teaching of the fact that for
eigners have rights the native is bound to
respect. the incubation of new moral
thought.
The provincial governments in China are
VIGOROUSLY corrupt and inefficient. Official
pilfering is carried on to such an extent
that the imperial Golfers at Pekin are kept
filled only by virtue of the most excessive
taxation. which. through a process of pee
ulation from hand to hand represents the
waste of millions before the throne is
reached. Lord Charles Beresford in his
report to the United Chambers of Com
merce of London. after a journey through
China. states that there is probably as
much public money stolen or misappled as
is finally deposited to the public account.
The trouble lies in a lack of system of
public conscience and of responsibility.
The governor of a province is ordered to
present a certain sum at Pekin No one
can tell how much he collects or how
much flows into the pockets of subordi-
mates and minor officials. The govern
ment at Pekin merely accepts payment as
evidence of official activity.
1t is just the same with matters of JUS
tice and police regulation. The lack of
order in the interior of China is due to
the fact that there is no thread of re-
sponsibility running from post to post, to
insure prompt obedience to orders. to fore
see trouble and to prevent outbreaks With
an efficient European American form of
administration established in the various
provinces these occasional troubles over
missionaries would steadily diminish as
the force of example would become plain
to the people. What is needed in China
Is domestic reform. The open door of
trade may be the means of so enlightening
the natives as to their opportunities and
duties that the requisite regeneration will
tiow- from it incident to that great
diplomatic achievement.