The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-29

Proof of the Pekin Horror.

i'roof of the Pekin Horror.
All reasonable doubt of the massacre OF
tae Ministers and other foreigners in Pekin
has been removed by the news of yester-
day. 1t will be noticed that it almost ex-
actly corroborates the native stories whiea
originated coineidently in Tientsin. Shang-
hal. and Chefoo on July and 3. The char
acter and sources of the intelligence, which
are so well vouched for that its truth is
not doubted at any European chancellerie
this morning, substantially settles the mat
ter.
Readers of The Times will remember
that this journal has never swerved from
its settled conviction, reached on July s,
that the legation people had been massa-
cred and that the Chinese Government was
responsible for the atrocity. In no other
manner could the condition of affairs in
China be adjusted to the probabilities. We
have had dozens OF conflicting, contra1ic-
tory stories from Chinese official sources,
claiming that the legationers were alive and
safe on this, that, or another day. But
native gossip. springing up spontaneously
in many widely separated Chinese loeali-
ties. has all been insistent that on or
about July the British compound was
taken by storm by the troops OF the En-
press Dowager, and everybody in it butch
cred.
The latest news seems fully to confirm
the opinion OF The Times. 1t appears GER
tain now that the final horror happened
on July 6, just as We have all along be-
lieYed. As 70 the details. we shall proba-
bly, hear more about them within day
or two The former account of the torture
OF the Russian Minister and his wife was
not referred to in the reports received yes
terday. 1t is to be hoped that there was
some mistake as to the alleged occurrence,
and that all the diplomats were able TO kill
their women and children before being
overcome. 1t is possible, Of course, that
some Of the doomed husbands and fathers
had not the nerve to commit the merciful
act of murder upon their dear ones, and
that some of the helpless may have fallen
into the hands of the cruel Asiaties- We
are afraid that it so happened, and that
: De Giers aud his unhappy wife may not
alone have suffered the agonies OF which
we have heard.
In the face Of such a crime it would be
useless to talk about anything but the
vengeance which must be visited upon
China. We have Joined with others in
doubling the wisdom Of words uttered by
2 the German Emperor in his farewell speech
Z TO his troops leaving for the seat of war;
B but only because they were in advance of
official knowledge of the massacre. Now
no American can hesitate to think that
retrihution complete and terrible should
fall upon the perhdious and fiendish Celes-
tails. The least that we should aid in do
ing would be to utterly destroy the city of
Pekin and dig up and scatter to the winds
the bones of every Manchu Emperor,
prince. and clansman in the imperial ceme-
terry. That is not nice thing to say from
oar normal point Of view, but 1t is the only
way to punish the Chinese from their own.
Events will now move rapidly. The Chi
nese Government may be expected to throw
of it's mask. The civilized powers. includ-
ing the United States, will be Immediately
compelled to wage punitive war, and on a
scale hardly dreamed of few weeks ago.
1t will be necessary to call Congress in ex-
traordinary session and probably to pro-
vide an extra force of at least fifty thou
sand men as an addition to our military
establishment for service in China. This
nation does not want Chinese territory
not an inch of it-but it must have awful
satisfaction. It will be necessary for the
President to call upon Congress to an
nounce state Of war and to provide mel
and means to meet the emergency. Hu-
mainly demands that the Chinese SHOULD
be taught a lesson that, in the words Of
The Kaiser. they will not forget in thou
sand years.