The evening times., 1900-06-11
The Crisis in China.

The news from China today shows clearly
that only the most vigorous action on the
part of the civilized powers can save the
diplOmatists and other foreigners in Pekin
from massacre. Vice Admiral Seymour,
of the-British. and Captain McCaIa, Of the
American Navy, have started from Tien-
tsin with fifteen hundred marines. includ-
ing American, English, French, Russian.
Austrian. and japanese details, to re-en-
force the four hundred defenders Of the
legations. They should be able to reach
Pekin by this evening.
Anarchy has become general in northern
China The American mission at Tung-
Chau has been burned by the Chinese
troops sent to defend it, and its foreign
inmates only saved by American marines
from Taku. Seyenty-five native Christians
at Tung-Chau were murdered and many
of them burned alive during the three
days attack upon the station. In Pekin
the street OF the legations is barricaded.
and mobs of bloodthirsty Boxers swarm
against the defences. A more horrible con-
dition Of riot. arson, and butehery could
not be imagined. What do Mr.. WI and
space-rate champions of the Empress Dow
ager imagine that the grand old soldier,
General Grant, would do in the circum-
stances. if he were now at the helm Of
state?"
To anyone who believes that he was a
civilized man and a Christian the answer
is easy. He would do exactly what the
interests of his country and OF humanity
demand that his successor should and,
OF necessity, must do. The situation COM
pels armed interference by the United
States for the protection OF American lives
and property. and to impress upon the IA
natical element among the Chinese man
darins and people that citizens aud rights
Of this country are not to be assailed with
out punishment.
At latest accounts the prospect was that
an international force of ten thousand
troops would be thrown into Pekin as soon
as possible. On such a basis, it would ap-
pear that not less than thirty thousand
would be required to hold the railway,
garrison strategic points and the ports
Russia alone could furnish such a force
at short notice, but, for the other Euro
pean governments and the United States
TO consent to such movement, would be
to invite trouble on the part OF Japan.
which it is the common policy at present
to avoid. For obvious reasons a dual oc-
cupation by Russia and Japan would be
still more dangerous to the peace of the
world. But the United States, by show
ing itself in force could prevent friction.
and set the pace of disinterested inter
vention solely for the restoration OF or
der, which England and Germany would
take up, and to which International opinion
would probably compel the others to con-
form.
1t is generally reported that the War and
Navy Departments are preparing to des-
patch a brigade or two, including a bat
talon of marines from Cavite. to Taku. un-
der command OF Brig. Gen. Lloyd Wheat
on. II may well be hoped that there is
no doubt about this. Evidence is con-
elusive, as in the Tung- -Cnau case, that the
Chinese Government is unwilling or una
BILE to protect Americans, and the fact
leaves us free to assume that duty. What
ever action we may be compelled to take
viii be without hostility to the Chinese
Empire. or to. its legal government, which
is now under suppression by the Queen OF
the Boxers, the savage Empress Dowager.
Nrrifh will rrhO 4 l.