Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-06

The interposition by the United States of
plea for moderate demands upon China
has been justified by the full agreement
by all the ministers al Pekin as to the
final demands to be made upon China.
These demands are so framed as to avoid
the danger of a rupture of relations. They
are within the power of China to grant
While probably unsatisfactory In some de-
tails, and assuredly so to the more radical
powers. they are best calculated to pre-
serve the peace and to lead to a reforma-
ton OF the Oh. nese government.
The item of the punishment OF the prin-
cipal Chinese Offenders was the chief OBJ
stacle to complete agreement for some
weeks. Germany was disinclined to fore
go the privilege Of infiicting the death pen
atty upon the officials and other person
ages who are undoubtedly responsible for
the outrages of last summer. In this posi-
ton she was sustained. in a moderate de-
gree by England bound to her support by
the Anglo-German treaty. The influence
of the United States was steadfastly
thrown against insstence upon the death
penalty on the ground that. China's ruler
being in the power of the very persons
whom it was proposed to require him to
behead, to press the demand would be tan
tamount to losing all control over the stu
alton and precipitating perhaps a war with
China or worse, international strife.
1t may have been the japanese announce
ment in favor of moderation which eventu-
ally turned the scale. But it is not to be
denied that ii was the American influence,
cxerted TO this end from the outset, which
permitted Japan's declaration to have the
weight it did. Secretary Hay has kept in
touch with the situation in all its delicate
changes throughout 10 avail himself
of the opportunity afforded when Japan
announced her policy of moderation
It is not for China altogether that the
United States has thus stryen for a con-
sentative demand. There were selfish mo-
tives for the course vigorously pursued
by this government. The commercial
rights and prospects of the United States
were TO be guarded. The political interests
Centered in the Philippines were to be
cured. The broader interests of the re-
public We're to be preserved from the
spoliation sure to be suffered through a
war between the powers. If civilization is
to be regarded as enlightened selfshness,
then surely the course of this country
throughout the Chinese negotiations was
dictated by the highest demands of civil
1izaton.
The crisis seems now to have been
passed. Assure noes are apparently at
hand that the governments will ratify the
action of the ministers and that the de-
mands will be formally presented forth
with. 1t remains to be how far China.
through her negotiators, will resist the
pressure thus uniformly applied. 1t is not
to be believed that the government. as
such. will seek to hold back the reforms
and refuse to perform the retributive acts
required by the powers. Should the reac-
tionaries continue in control of the person
OF the emperor and undertake military
campaign to prevent the acceptance of the
terms il will be necessary. of course for
the powers TO proceed in force against the
rebels to enable China to do it's duty to-
ward the world. The chances today seem
10 be that this will be unnecessary.