New-York tribune., 1900-08-04
THE CONCERT AND ITS LEADER.

The Hon. Frederick W. Seward, in the admi-
rably judicious and lucid letter upon the Chi
nese question which we print in another column
of to-day's paper, remarks upon the fact that
the tortuouS and treacherOus course Of the Chi
nese Government has led, is leading. to
various ends which are exactly contrary to
those which were intended and expected, one
of them being unity instead of dissenson
among the Powers. This, we are glad to be-
lieve, is in a great measure true. There have
been some regrettable differences of opinion
and OF policy among the Powers, resulting in
delay of operations, and there have been men
aces of worse dissensiOns There is a pOssi-
bility, too that the future will see serious
rivalries in the final settlement of affairs Ger
many too having suffered more grievous loss
than any other Power, may pursue nde-
pendent course and conduct much more harsh
campaign than the Others But at the present
time it is most gratifying to observe that the
unity of which Mr.. Seward speaks does act
ually exist and is potent for good. In Its pres
ent efficiency must deem it an exception to
the average Concert OF the Powers, doubtless
because as we shall see il exists in exceptional
circumstances.
1t was we believe Mr.. Gladstone who coined
the phrase Concert of the Powers, or at least
put it into common circulation. He was a
strong believer in such combination, because
as he explained. by keeping all the Powers in
''union together you neutralize and bind up the
selfish aims of each" That has sometimes
proved true but it has also sometimes been the
case-ridc Armenia and Crete-that the gen
erous aims Of some have likewise been neutral
lied and frustrated. The fact is that in Con
cert of the Powers. in every other concert
nearly everything depends upon the leader A
leader there must be He may not stand upon
Il dais and WELD baton. He may not he
formally chosen, nor even recognized. But
leader-dOminant and directing fOrce-there
must be- unless indeed the so-called Concert be
in fact most inert and futile deadlock. The
success or non-success, the benefcence or malef-
icence OF any Concert of the Powers may safely
be measured by the purpose and the aims of its
leader. To that rule the present Concert, so
far as there is Concert, will doubtless be no
exception.
There is no idle boasting in claiming for the
United States the distinction Of leadership in
the operations now being conducted in China
II is true that at times this country has stood
entirely apart from all the rest and in disagree
ment with them-as, for example, in the attack
upon the Taku forts. The United States Gov
ernment has also been the target for much ridi-
cule, if not denunciation as in the case of its
belief in the safety of the legations. Neverthe-
less the policy Of this Government has through
out eXerted a marked influence over the policies
and the acts of others. The progress and
disclosure Of events have in a noteworthy man
ner vindicated the correctness Of the American
policy. The Powers have come more and more
TO look to the United States for direction and
for the initiative. And by natural and IOgi-
cal processes this country has become the leader
Of the Concert. How long that leadership will
lat we may not say. The time will come when
the legitimate and benefcent purposes OF the
United States in China will have been accom-
plished. Then this country will withdraw from
the campaign 1t will be for the others TO
determine whether they will do the same or
will 90 under other leadership TO other ends
We believe that it is because Of the character
of this present leadership that the campaign in
China is prospecting. For the attitude of this
country toward China is different from that OF
any other country, and different too is China's
attitude toward and estimate of the United
States. An advance under the leadership of or
according 10 The policy Of almost any other
Power would be interpreted by the Chinese to
mean conquest and partition for the other
Powers have been openly aiming at such ends.
Even GTeaI Britain has taken Hong Kong and
Kow Loon and Wei-Hai-Wei, and has practi-
caIly admitted that II the others began 10 par
titon the empire she would be compelled to
join in the work. But China knows perfectly