The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-02

story of Pekin has been told. DR.. Nor |
rison. in today's Times. holds up the Chi.
nese government before the world as gull !
ty. and TO a degree of infafuy and duplici-
ty that exceeds the surmise OF It's worst
detractors. In the same dispatch he gives
a more hopeful view OF the prospects of
the besleged than has been expressed by
any of the others who have been heard
from. simultaneously there comes from
the Belgian charge d'affaires at Shanghai
an official statement that the allies are
expected TO reach Pekin in about week,
they being eighteen miles from Tien Tsin
yesterday,
Another letter has been received Mt
Tien Tsin from the British minister, Sir
Claude Macdonald, dated July "a; I'VE
are surrounded by imperial troops" Mo
writes, who are firing on us continuously.
The enemy is enterprlsing. but cowardly.
We have provisions for about a fortnight
and are eating our ponies.
"The Chinese government. II there ne
one has done nothing whatever TO help
us, II the Chinese do not press the at
tack we can hold out for say ten days.
So no time should be iOst II a terrible mas
sacre is TO be ayerted."
Yet a Shanghai special says Ii Huns
Chang has received a decree dated July
20. commanding him to inform the con-
suls that the ministers were safe on thal
day. Evidently Sir Claude Macdonald
was over pessmlstc as pr. Morrison.
under date OF July n. announces the ar
rival of supplies. In view OF this II is
quite within reason that the edlct an
nouncing the safety OF the ministers on
the 2Sth Us correct.
Sir Claude MacDonold's latest letter,
while a strong Indictment of tho Chinese
| government, Is not nearly SO much 80
as or. Morrison's dispatch. That cores
| pendent, with the imperial edict as au-
! thority declares that as late as July u
| the imperial government urged the Box
! ers to continue their loyal and patriotic
| services in exterminating the Christians.
He explains those marvellous changes in
| Chinese attitude which have SO puzzled
| the world, 1t appears that all the APP
peals for intervention aud all the profess
| b4tions OF friendship have been due en-
| tirelv to the victories OF the allies at
| Tien Tsin The ministers at Pekn owed
| their safety up to July q not to govern
ment protection but to the scarcity u
Chinese ammunition and to the fear
| which the Tien Tsn Victories inspired.
| ance is placed upon Dr. Morrison In
| England the imporuaco Of his exposure
of the Chinese government can scarcely
! be over estimated II seems to banish
all hopes entertained by Lord Salisbury
| that the Chinese government might yet
| be proved not directly responsible for
| the outrage and 1t may result In an en-
| tire cessation of the negotiations with
| Chinese diplomatlsts II not an open decld-
| ton as ant ha ma n hn
| General Sir Alfred Gaelee lis quoted as
saying on July 2S that he was ready to adj
vance, although lacking in artillery. Colo
mel Daggett commanding the Americans
at Ten Tsin, is also credited with sim
! liar statement on the same date, although
utterly without transportation, not even
| having a horse for himself.
Roinforcements are reported 10 have
been sent TO the Chinese at Yang Tsnn,
where strong entrenchments have been
| thrown up to bar the advance OF the allies.
The Berlin correspondent OF the Daily
! Chronicle says that Emperor Wtliam
approval of the employment Of non-com-
miseioned men on leave is evidently in
tended to pave the way for German eN-
petition on large scale and that It Is
possible that when sufficiently large this
force VIII act Independently
Commenting upon DR.. Morrison's MS
! patch, the Times says: N Is now beyond
doubt that the frequent assertions of the
different Chinese representatives that for
a month past the legations have been en-
Toying the protection Of the throne, are
enc and all, unqualified falsehGods The
cumulative evidence is Overwhelming that
the whole affair has been throughout nm
der the control and direction of the CHI
nese government
ut now rests with tho powers to make
the Chinese government understand thai
It Will be held responsible for whatever
happens in Pekin."
London, August 2.--Dr. George Ernes
Morrison. the Pekin correspondent OF tbs
Times, has been heard from direct. Thu
Times this morning prints the followin'
dispatch from him. dated July 81;
There has been a cessation Of hostill
ties here (Peldn) since July is, but 70
fear OF treachery there has been no re
Taxation OF vigilance, The Chinese sol
dlers continue to strengthen the bar
rlcades around the besieged area and ais