The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-19
the cArrunE OF pEI1IN.

The relief OF the foreign legations In
Europe from the suspense under which
they have been living and laboring for
weeks past. The "crime Of the century"
has not been committed in Pekln ami we
can again feel that alrs well that ends
we'll.
The world ought to have some redress,
however. against those monumental taSers
in Shanghai who gave us those blood
curdling stories a few weeks ago about
the wholesale massacre and horrible out
RACES by the Boxers and imperial troops
in the Chinese capital. shock Ike that
demands some PREPARATION.
But possibly these Shanghai tales had
their uses. II Is doubtful whether Europe
and the United States would have been
worked up 10 such prompt ana energetic
relief measures had 1t not been for the
sensational news from China, And Ia
finally starting the advance on Pekin the
United States can certainly claim credit
for having stirred the others TO action.
General Chaffee found the international
commanders at Tien Tsin taking things
easy--eXchanging social courtesies, ban
quoting each other and waiting for an
army OF 100000 men before marching to-
ward the capital. Urged on by his own
government it was only few days after
his arrival in Tien Tsin until he had a
compact little column OF determined allies
on the march
The result is brilliant achievement.
The difficulties Of the road were consider
able, to say nothing Of the Chinese opposl-
tion which at two points was stubborn, and
required daeh, bravery and skin on the
part of the internatlonals to overcome.
The japanese. largely through their
greater numbers 1t is true, but to no lin
tied extent by reason also Of their fne
soldierly qualities are entitled to the chief
honors Of the march itself, and In the
actual fighting. though no division of the
little army seems to have failed In any
duty assigned It.
The successful issue OF the campaign
will force us to entertain again our orig.
lnal estimate OF the Chinese. When they
made such determined stand at Tien rs 4
the world began to grow uneasy. 1t wa
feared that China had awakened ant
armed and disciplined her millions In
way to, possibly. defy the balance OF thu
world! We began to talk seriously Of th
yellow peril" But our alarm appear
, to have been unfounded. A nation who's
capital. a hundred miles inland. can b
taken by a handful OF foreigners is no
after all to be dreaded. It is the sam
old Chlna--huge but inert, and helplessl
at the mercy of the Western powers.
Now that Pekln has been taken and n
n legations relieved what next? What will
: the invaders do with this white elephant
a What will be the character of the repa
e ration demanded? How long viii the al
> lies remain on Chinese soil, and by wha
= kind OF concert OF action will their fur
d Their movements be guided and the punish
: ment be made TO 1T the crime?
# 1t will at once be seen that tn
IS welghtier questions yet remain. Possibl
l. no power can now say what the end vii
be, or how the Chinese will be adequatel
u punished and guarantees for the futur
. be secured without preciptating the dis
: mcmherment OF the empire or excltin
dangerous clashes among the nations In
:. volved. The critical period has only nol
= been reached and we can only hope tina
:. wisdom and moderation will sit in tn
!, international councils and avert any con
10 fct inspired by selnshness or amblt!o
IS that might shake the world from cente
;, to circumference.