Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-08-23
THURSDAY EVENING. AUG. % 1900

event is a great disappointment to that
class of people who love and fatten on
sensations, but it is profound gratit-
cation to all thoughtful and humane
people. Two facts in this connection
are noteworthy. First, the members OF
the diplomatic legations were in no
peril prior to the aggressive action OF
the European powers in bombardlne
and capturing the Taku forts and 10
killing and wounding all the Chinese
soldiery who were defending them as
far as possible. In this act OF wanton
aggression and war the American adj
miral did not participate. For this act
of discretion he was promptly relieved
from command. The good sense OF the
u. 5. admiral in keeping out OF this
fight is shown by the fact that the al
tacks upon the legations by the Boxers
and other lawless persons at once fol-
lowed. This was very natural. Ii d
European power were to lombard Fort
Hamilton and the other forts around
New York and kill and wound num-
Der of their defenders prior to any
declaration OF war by either side, 1t
would create an excitement which the
government might be powerless to re-
strain. 10 1907 the British msn-of'war
Leopard fired into the U. s. fri gate
Chesapeake, killing three men and
wounding eighteen more. There had
been no declaration Of war. If such al
atrocity as this were now to be repeated
by Great Britain, the Anglo-Ssxon sl-
lance would be Knocked to smithereens
and acts of popular violence and re-
taliation might occur whether the
American government endeavored TO
repress them or not. Secondly, in the
presence OF a general feeling Of popular
excitement, caused by systematic In
reference with their national creed
and customs, ard by large spoliation
of Chinese territory, with threat OF
partition Of oil the balance, the central
government at Pekin appears to have
been unable to repress disorders Cd
the part of insurgents and lawless peo-
pie. Il does not, therefore, follow as a
consequence that the Chinese govern
ment sympathized with these outrsges.
Many OF the officials of the Chinese
government are highly educated men,
educated in Europe and the United
States, and perfectly familiar with the
law of nations and the public senti-
ment of the world. That the Chi
nese government should he ready to
defy the sentiment and indignation
of Christendom by promoting or per-
hitting the massacre of the ministers
and their families at Pekin will be
credited only by individuals dominated
by prejudice and who are more igno-
rant than any Of the Chinese. No
event could more certainly bring about
the subjugation and partition Of China
than such q massacre. II the Chinese
government had no higher motive than
mere sell-interest, that alone would
tufIice to make its officials desire of all
things that not hair OF the head of
single foreign minister should be harm
ed. 1t is a fair common sense pre-
sumption that the Chinese government
did the best it could 10 repress these
disorders and to protect the ministers.
The popular feeling against foreigners
was strong originally, and after the
bloody conflicts at Tsku and Tientsin,
this feeling probably affected the i'm
perfectly disciplined army on which
the government relied, so that order
could not be restored; but if the gov
eminent had wished to capture the le-
cations, they had for this purpose
sufficient force and an equipment Of
heavy artillery which Europeans have
been selling them freely for years past.
To sum up, the Chinese government
the power to destroy the le
cations, but all their interests lay in
protecting them. Every man, even
the fools, will admit that this was the
interest of the Chinese government and
the fools ought 10 know also that q
Chinese government knows something
Of its own interests. II the legations
are relieved and the American minis
ter and his household are out OF dan
ger, what right has an American army
to occupy the country or any part OF it9 |
If IL does so, either alone or in connec.
ton with other governments, it is an |
act OF war. The President has no |
power to make war. II he or the |
crowd of jobbers behind him want a |
war with China let him call Congress |
together. Surely one unconstitutional |
and apparently interminsble war, cost |
ing over hundred million dollars DER |
aunum, is enough to satisfy the blood. |
thirsty man and the imperialist. TIA
Chinese, is to follow the Philippine war,
what country is next to be the object
Of Americas victorious arms ? When
Is the thing to endP When will the
emperor be satisfied?
A DISPATCH to the London Morning
Deaf ~ fodoyiS date from pakin saya