The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-17
TURNING POINT REACHED.
Only Logical Outcome is the Par
tition of China


New York. July IA dispatch TO the
Tribune from London says: Civilization
is confronted with a terrible war with
the forces of barbarism- One of the
turning points of history has been
reached. Pekin will be occupied after
an arduous campaign in the autumn
and the bloodstained dictator and en-
press, in sympathy with the anti-for-
eign movement, viii be overthrown, but
the only vengeance which civilization
can carry into execution is the humane
policy of governing China in an en-
lightened way through the partition of
the empire. The boxers will gradually
be dispersed and the assassins driven
into the interior. but Japan, Russia and
the other powers will be compelled to
accept responsibility for conducting the
administration of China.
The last engagement at Tien Tsin is
a signal proof of the arduOuS work
which now lies ahead of the powers
The Chinese are fighting with deter
mination and skill which they never
once displayed during the war with
Japan.
The lighting powers, equipment and
craftsmanship of the Chinese are
spoken OF by the Mails correspondent
as positive revelations.
It Is rumored in diplomatic circles
that the German emperor has advised
the appointment of the French general
DOds as commander in chief of the al
lied forces. but that the Paris govern
ment has not assented to the PROPOSE
paiSn is a source of weakness when
there are many cOntinSentS.
The only source of consolation re-
spectirg the Pekin massacre is the ut
ter worthlessness Of all the detailed ac-
counts which have been or may be pub
Isned. The true story of the closing
scenes at the legations will never be
told. for no foreigner is left to relate it
and all the Chinese versions will be re-
garded with suspicion
The enterprise of the half penny jour
nalism has its limitations. 1t cannot
bring the murdered foreigners back to
life to startle the world with a record
of their own suffering. It can only
piece together dark hints and excited
surmises of Chinese who were not wit
nesSaS of the tragic scenes Two facts
which are beyond doubt are that the
legations made a most gallant fight and
that the foreigners We're massacred.
The value of the assistance rendered by
Prince Ching and General Wang Weng
Shao is open to question. since the Chi
nese authorities may have invented or
exaggerated these details in order to
exculoate or condone their own leth-
argy.
The atrocities with which the storm
ing and destruction Of the last embassy
Enclosure were accompanied may be left
TO the imagination, if any one who re-
members the story of Cawnpore has the
heart to picture the scene.
The South African war. with its daily
lists Of casualties and deaths from fever
the pathOs of human suffering, but the
GOODNESS and lack Of excitement with
which the most monstrous crime of the
century was discussed We're most re-
markable. One explanation of this
strange calm was the fact that all re-
fecting men had abandoned hope many
days before the catastrophe was reveal
ed by the Chinese officials and that the
public was prepared for the worst.
The press, with one or two excep-
tions, is avoiding hysterical writing
about Nemesis and vengeance and is
displaying GOODNESS and common sense
Thoughtful men perceived the gravity of
the situation when the murderous cam
arilla nsurped power. sent a horde
OF soldiers and fanatics to drive the
allies from Tien Tsin and ordered fifty
thousand black flags to march toward
the Tang Use.
The British roll call at Pekin in
men and many children. There We're
many missionaries with their families
in the doomed Enclosure. Friends of the
British minister remember sadly his
satisfaction when he received his APP
pointment and his telling to them that
he was at last in great luck in receiving
his promotion. Lady Hart is complete
Iy Frustrated at her London home by
the tragic death of her husband. for
which his own dispatch prepared her
The only journalist at Pekin was DR..
Morrison, whose dispatches in the
Times have been marvels of enterprise
and oriental cunning. He was an Aus
tralian who had Travelled far and wide
in China and perfectly understood the
native character.