The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-07-27

and the army, what there was OF it,
had taken its lances home, it was
that all the world could in
suit, ravage and loot China with i'm
punity. 1t was the old story of the
traveller tied to a tree and robbed by
a passer-by who had been asked to
assist him. So the merry round
commenced, and without explana-
ton, argument or reason Germany,
Russia, England and France de-
manded and received concessions of
territory.
OF all these the only one that has
any excuse is Russia. A terminus
for her railroad which would not
freeze up was necessity. She
might haze got it in Corea and left
the nation which she had promised
to protect against all comers un-
touched. 1t would have been better
for her, and for China, too.
There is about Russian diplomacy
a directness, straight forwardness
which are admirable. She simply
makes up her mind as to what she
wants-and then takes it. What
other people say about the matter
does not concern her. Her diplo-
matists work for their "august mas
ter" aud nobody else.
Will the world ever do an honest
thing? When Germany seized
Eaiochow, why did not the powers,
or some ore Of them, protest? Was
there ever in history a more splen-
did opportunity to do simple act
Of justice?
And now see the result of all the
robbery that has been going on.
The empress who from 1861 to 1899
had maintained a considerable de-
gree OF peace and order, has become
a tigress; a great people has been
lashed into fury, and a movement
rivaling in magnitude the TAPPING
rebellion, in which 10000, 900 lives
were lost, is afoot.
Can it reasonably be expected
that the Chinese should love the
white man while he is plundering
them? Fancy what would happen
If Russia seized Fortress Monroe,
and slice of Virginia; Germany
Governors Island and a part ol
New York; England, Mare Island
and half dozen counties in Cali
fornia, and France, New Orleans
and a hundred miles up the Miss
issippil Then suppose that Italy
asked for Charleston. Is it to be
supposed that such events would
be taken as all being for our good
and that we ought to feel rather
proud than otherwise that our great
nations acted so handsomely to-
ward us? Yet this is exactly what
has happened in China, with the
addition that Japan took for herself
the island of Formosa. And so the
Chinese people are hostile to the
foreigners, and show it by riotous
demonstrations.
But it shall not be said that | am
defending China in this war.
No question can arise as to the
duty Of our government in this
emergency. We must protect our
people at all hazards. We must
send armies if need be so that oul
men and women and children shall
live.
But what shall happen after the
war is over? This is the rub. II
cannot for a moment be doubted
that the world in arms can conquer
China. 1t is highly probable tina,
so, 900 European troops can march
from one end of China to the other.
There are about 10000 troops in
China who have been drilled by
German and Belgian officers, and
are armed with modern guns. ]
have been assured by their drill
masters that they are as good as
any troops, but what are they nu-
merically as compared with the
force which can be brought against
them?
The balance of the Chinese army
lis armed with spears and long
swords, and would not stand min
ute before Europeans or Americans.
Foreign drilled Chinese troops are
the force which are bombarding
lTien Tsin at this moment.
All the world has been selling
arms to China, and has been clam
orous to furnish military officers,
and now she is utilizing the mater
ial and the experience. 1t is fight
for life for the foreigners, all the
wealth Of foreign banks, manufac-
tories, railways, steamships, stores,
warehouses, together with the nu-
merous missionary buildings, is
hanging on the issue. Should we