Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-07-06
THE CORVALLIS GAZETTE.
FRIDAY. JULY 6, 1900.
CHTNA'S PARTITION,

the front, says the St. Louis
Globe-Democrat. In a large de-
gree the answer to this lies with
our nation. The report that the
United States has been asked to
Join with the European powers
in the partition, and to signify
what part of China it would ask
as its own portion, is probably
not correct. There is not the
slightest doubt, however, that
the only thing which stands in
the way of Chiua's partition at
the present moment is the COIL
sent of the United States. 1t is
easy to see that the Chinese Gov
ernment is dexterously playing
into the hands of the enemies of
its country. Its resistance to the
American aud European sail
ors in China, who are there
for the purpose Of protect
ing their own citizens, will put
the world against 1t, and hasten
the day when, unless the reform
influences begin soon to assert
themselves, the division of that
country has to come as meas
ure Of protection to civilization.
The only barrier which stands
between China and division at
the present moment is the con-
sent of the United States.
China's own acts are imaking
the position of the American
Government as her defender
against spoilation more and more
difficult. Her troops are fight
ing against the Americans, and
some American lives have been
lost in the warfare which is un-
der way, Much American prop
erty has been destroyed. At the
present moment half a dozen OF
the foremost nations of the world
are .arrayed against China.
1t is not the Boxers whom the
United States, England, Russia,
Germany and France are fighting
at tho present time, but the Chi
nese Government itself. China's
authorities have taken the side of
the recent rebels, against her
government. This is the cir
cumstance which makes the
situation in China serious. The
Boxers could easily. be put down
even by a small force of the in
ternatioual army and navy which
are on the ground, but the in.
reference OF the Chinese Coy
ernment in behalf of the reaction
= ary elements gives the situation
an aspect for which none of the
nations, with the exception of
Russia seems to have been pre-
pared, or expected.
This is the aspect of the Chi
nese situation which has the
greatest concern for the Ameri-
cans. The United States has a
decided interest in the rescue of
her citizens who are imperiled.
The lives of some of them prob
ably have been lost already.
But Chinese resistance will
quickly be everseme in any case.
The Chinese officers who are re-
spousible for the attacks On the
foreign armies will be degraded,
and some of them may be exc
cuted. The leaders of the
Boxers will undoubtedly be exc
cuted. The flags of the United
States and Of the other nations
which are taking part in the
trouble will float over Pekin.
Then the divergence of senti-
ment between the United States
and the other countries will
come. This country simply
wants the reform elements to be
restored, and as In the case when
the recent Emperor was in
power. England will undoubt-
edly stand with the United
States On this peint. Bat Eng.
land at the present moment has
her hands tied, to some degree,
in the South African trouble,
and she will be unable to act
with the same decision as on
ordinary occasions. Most of the
continental European nations
will probably suggest division of
the empire, and will be more
than willing to allow the United
States a share of the territory as
the price of her consent to the
partition. On this point the
position of this country may be
stated with the utmost conf
dence. The United States will
neither enter into any alliances
with the rest of the nations, nor
will she accept any territory in
China or any other part of Asia.
The military asnect of the Chi.