New-York tribune., 1900-09-17
THE CRISIS IN CHINA.
AMERICAN TROOPS SHOULD REMAIN IN
PEKING UNTIL REFORM GOVERN
MENT is ESTABLISHED.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Shall the troops be withdrawn from Peking?
is the all absorbing question at the present time.
TO those who or have been resident In the
East long enough to know the conditions and 10
understand the working Of the Chinese mind there
can be but one answer. The American Association
composed of business men and missionaries, has
snoken Most of them are Of experience men
in touch with existing conditions. whose sue
cess is related to these varying conditions and is
affected by every breeze that public senti-
ment whose interests are bound up in the same
bundle with those of the natives of the land and
who are anxious for reform and progress for the
ma tlves as well as for themselves not infrequent-
ly men of statesmanshp and insight. whose opin-
ions have not always been estimated at their true
value by the home governments. Attention Is called
to the following considerations:
Such withdrawal, all similar OF leniency
in the past will be misunderstood and misinter-
preted by the Chinese and attributed 10 fear or
some other base motive The Government cannot
understand act done from motives OF mercy.
pity or sympathetic desire to be helpful Only
measures should now be adopted which accord with
simple justice
Withdrawal will furnish encourag agement and hope
to the usurping DOwager and her party. The Boxer
movement is abundantly evidenced, was organ
lied and supported by the Government. Prince
Tuan is it's acknowledged head. 1t is the wings
Cor militia) of the body COR army" which was ito
drive the foreigner into the sea" Any action which
gives comfort encouragement to her and her
friends Is inlmiCal TO the best interests or the
Chinese people. 1t will retard the suppression Of
this anti-foreign outbreak. 1t will continue the
murder of foreigners and native Christians, 1t
will encourage rebellion, for the whole country
was in a state of unrest and uncertainty verg-
ing revolt because of the Empress Dow
ayers course The continuance of these conditions
will promote the breakup policy and endanger
war between the foreign Powers. China needs re-
form and a stable government; encouragement to
the Empress Dowager is opposition to reform. to
the highest desire of the best Of the land, a
desire that is moro general than is imagined by
those not intimate with the Chinese by residence
and familiar intercourse.
Peking is the proper place for negotiations and
for the establishment of the reform government,
and hence for the troops till conditions made
secure. Sacred obligations violated in Peking.
The subjects and representatives of foreign
Powers were besieged in Peking The usurping
Court has fed its post to escape the recognized
just consequences Of its deeds and to gain time,
and forcibly abducted the de jure Emperor He
should be returned there he should be reinstated
there; he belongs there-all this for the present at
least And this quasi Government puts for
ward as it's Commissioner it's most astute support
for willy craft and subterfuge, past master az
sowing and manipulating discord and paid agent
and supple tool of that Government whose inter
ests withdrawal at the present moment.
Americas position may be thus stated; The in
tegrty of China, a stable government on reform
lines and equal opportunity for commerce and
Christian civilization and reform. She wants no
territory. She afford sacrifice her selfre-
spect by acceding to the plans Of Power whose
past course has been as unscrupulous as has Rus
attempt Port Lazareff. CoTea; later Corean
finance and paramount influence her friendly act''
TO Saln III ms STeis ue sn5 tbS - 9sn
Convention" The United States must not leopard