New-York tribune., 1900-07-10
TWENTIETH CENTURY NEEDED.

Chinese results at the worst are only les
son which civilization has been for centuries re-
fusing to learn. 1t is really startling how fire.
quently and with what impressveness this
same lesson has been forced upon the nations
within the last few years. The assembled EN-
voys of all ChristendOm stand in deadly peril at
Picking. Why? Because the greed Of Christian
States stopped Japan when on the point of
taking responsibility for order in China. The
German Ambassador kicked and battered to
death and the German Emperor declaring with
intense wrath his determination to avenge the
killing of my representatiye'-fOr what act
come these penalties? The newspapers of the
same day give one aEswer-a photograph show
ing the Chinese artillery as improved and reor-
ganized and drilled by the excellent German
expert who was doubtless amply provided with
his permit by the German Emperor. The Ger
man company which found an enormous de-
mand for arms and material can answer for
the rest. Men do not consider that the morals
of this question run all around the world A
correspondent reports that in the chamber of
the Tsung-li- Yamen there was found the pro-
p0sal of a British commercial company to de-
liver for $500 900. more or less, full equipment
and outfit for Chinese army. But how long is
it since a Boer general actually engaged in that
business and caught in the conflict of ad-
vancing forces. was captured by the British, he
being well known in German training? Neither
in that case nor in the case Of the eminent
French soldier who led Beers so we'll has civ
ilization thought it needtu to apologize very
deeply for educating and training the half-civ-
ilized and semi barbarOus If the German had
refused, somebody else would have done as
much, the world answers.
Does not everybody know that are only
opening again in these days a very ancient
dumping ground for national unfairness? Have
men no remembrance of Indian warfare in
which Christian arms of precision have been
placed in the hands of savage tribes and OF
skilfully made Christian scalping knives pro-
vided for lifting the scalps of Christian soldiers?
Are we to forget how arms have thus been pro
vided for every savage foe of every civilized
nation for generations, and how at this very
day and hour multitudes of savages so armed
NAV be found in western parts of these United
States on either side in Mexico or in Brit
ish dominions in the West Indies and in the
Philippines? At every such point civilization
has stored up for itself some future disaster or
bloody outbreak or massacre. against which it
will in due time protest with all holy horror
meanwhile carefully ignoring the fact that the
people who have done the mischief are the civ
fized business men and Christians who have
sold the goods.
What is the use of Indignation until cviliZa-
ton becomes sufficiently civilized not to sell TO
barbarians the munitions of war? 1t is a proper
year for the Christian world to consider whether
its twentieth and other coming centuries shall
be in fact Christian and civilized or not If it
Is to be eminently proper for every citizen of
every country calling itself civilized and Chris
tian to sell to any ignorant, prejudced, bar
barous or fanatcal tribe all the material of
civilized warfare and moreover, provide the
trained officers to show how the weapons and
the ammunition may be used most effectively.
It seems to be the extreme Of foOliShneSs for
the representatives of Christian Powers to
make formal appeal against the carefully armed
and well drilled barbarsm of China. The
United States has acquired some honor by its
practical proposal regarding an open door.
What hinders proposal by the United States
that no civilized nation shall hereafter tolerate
the selling of arms, ammunition, munitions OF
war armed vessels or. armored ships, or any
parts of them, to any organization or body or
Power which has not full recognition as a civ
lized and Christian State and satisfactory
treaties honorably observed with the Christian
Powers? If, moreover, 1t should be added that
the Powers aforesaid would undertake to leave
due care Of China with its strange races to the
hands of Japan, and to withdraw wholly from
the business of separating the Chinese Empire
into possessions or pastures for the commercial
nations of the West it might do a good
thing for the twentieth century, and one which
would cause even the worst disasters at Peking
this wear TO he remembered not wholly with
gret or shame.