The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-19
Thanksgiving for Pekiu.

Throughout this broad land today the
American psople. gathered in innumerable
places of worship. will lift their voices in
thanksgiving for the rescue of the foreign
diplomats. the helpless women and chill
drea under their protection, the gallant
; little band OF legation guards. other for
eigncrs. and the three thousand native
Chr!.tians in Pekin.
After all the suspense and anxiety coca
stoned by their horrible and nearly hope
less condition is ever. il is almost inpos-
sible to conceive Of the sleepless. ever
present terror that lowered over those
apparently doomed people. While officials
in Washington were confidently declaring
that the Chinese Government was exhaust
ing its shattered power in heroic effort
TO protect the Ministers and their people,
the objects Of this alleged solicitude knew
through two fearful months OF siege that
the she-devil Empress Dowager and her
butcher, the Prince of Tuan. We're re-
sorting to every device OF which they could
think to compass the massacre OF the lega-
ticners. Regular Chinese troops, under di-
rect and daily orders from the imperial
Government. were continually firing Upon
the American flag. and the flags Of The
other powers in Legation Street, and Tor
days were using heavy artillery to batter
down the legation defences. General Sher-
man once said: War is hell" This was
hell without doubt, but Mr.. Mckinley, M.
Hay, and Mr.. Root have always insisted
that it was not war. II answered to all
the requirements Of the term, but to call
Il war. in an official sense, would COM
pei them to summon Congress in extraor-
binary session, and that was something
they dared not do, for Congress might ask
invidious questions, and Perhaps pass
joint resolution declaring that the Con-
stitution OF the United States had been
violated. in wsging an executive war with
cut due authority from the war-making
power.
What is to happen next? There were
Two hundred American. European, and Jap
snese women and children shut up with
ine legations in Pekin. II it had become
evident that the Chinese troops, under the
whip and spur of the Empress Dowager,
would carry the legations by assault,
everybody knows that the husbands IA
beings would have killed them TO save
them from the fate that befell the unfor
tunate missionary women at Paoting- Flu
aud other places Of awful memory. While
we are renewing our expressions of the
most distinguished consideration for Earl
Ii and Minister WI it is as well that this
should be remembered before the Admins
tration finally commits itself TO "scut-
ting policy in China in order that the |
front porch campaign at Canton may be |
resumed without interruption.
BY means OF many edicts and repeated |
acts of violent hostility, including the |
giving Of three pitched battles, China de- |
clsred war upon all the civilized States |
having representatives, citizens, or inter- |
ests in the Empire Specifically, she de- |
clared war on Japan by numbering the /
Japanese Chancellor of Legation, and on |,
Germany by sssassinating the Kaiser's |
Minister. There is ample evidence that |
these crimes. committed by soldiers of the |
Empress Dowsger's bodyguard. were in |
cited by her. There IS equal evidence that |
it was she who caused her army to bonn |
bard the legation OF the United States and |
10 fire upon its flag from June II to July |
20, and again from July 80 to August 6. |
Yet this. we are told. was not war! Be-
cause If such a self-evident proposition as |
war were to he admitted Mr. Mckinley, |
Mr. Hay. and Mr.. Root would have Con-
sgess on their hands.
Other nations will treat the conditions |
subsequent as growing out OF state of |
war. Ii Hung Chang has been appointed |
a plenipotentisry TO negotiate for peace, |
and peace with the United States as well |
as With other States. The Administration. |
subject to the safety OF the Ministers and i
other foreigners in Pekin, as an accom- |
piished fact. has agreed TO recognize Ii in
his position as peace envoy. VIII il un-
deriake to make peace with him? Moth |
ing that the Administration could do !
would surprise US. and. although It has not |
the remotest authority TO usurp the peace
making power of Congress. as likely as not |