The National tribune., 1900-08-23
AFTER PE-KING, WHAT?

Pe-King has been taken, the Ministers
rescued, and the Dowager Empress is in
| fight, hotly pursued by the japanese cav
airy. The all-important question is:
What next?
Our Government is fully committed to q
policy which has the general approval OF
the people.
1t is that the integrity of the Empire
enough to insure peace and order be es-
tablished, and that China be free to the
trade of all Nations. The other Nations
have expressed an agreement with this
policy, but there are doubts expressed as
to the sincerity of all of them, particularly
Great Britain and Russia, and difficulties
may develop in carrying it out.
The first apprehension is as to whether
any Government can rise or be established
in China which will command the obedi-
ence of the people, and be able to carry
out its obligations TO other Nations. The
caste which has ruled China for the last
256 years is alien in blood TO the people,
and intolerant and unjust to them. II has
grown ineffably corrupt, selfish and ineffl.
cient by its long enjoyment of power. IL
the Chinese people had developed any real
leader the power would have been wrested
from the Manchus long ago. The Manchus
themselves have degenerated so that there
is no man among them capable of taking
and welding the scepter, and the real
power Of the Empire is being exercised by
an old woman who was born a slave. This
makes dark outlook for finding and set
ting up any man with semblance of legi-
timacy TO command the obedience of the
ever, our policy will be plain and compara-
lively easy. We shall only have to give
his Government moral support, and let him
work out the salvation Of the country in
a Chinese way. Our moral support will
be everything, for the world knows that
we are in superb shape to give him ma
ltiiiI .is>iSlduCt III case VI HetC. we can
put 100000 unsurpassed soldiers there,
and supply them much quicker and easier
than any other Nation can 100000. The
knowledge that we can do this will be the
best guarantee that we shall! not have to
do it.
If no Imperial Government can be es-
tablished, then it is likely that the differ
ent Provinces may be erected into sepa-
rate Kingdoms, with their Viceroys as
Kings. There are 18 Of these Provinces.
the smallest about the size of Ohio, and the
largest Of California. The least populous,
Kwang-Si, has an area of 1880 miles
about the size of one of the Dakotas-and
population of 5,l51 1927, equal to that of
Pennsylvania in 1890. The largest, SEE.
Chu-En, has an area of 1G6,S00 square
miles-nearly equal to that of California
and a population of 67,T12, 1897, or more
than there are in France, Spain and Por-
tugal combined.
If there are IS Governments to arise in
place of one, then the duty of the United
States will be to see that in all of them
| the Open Door prevails, that our people
have equal opportunities with the rest of
| the world for trade and commerce, and
| that each Of them assumes its share of the
| indemnity for the recent outrages.
The immediate work now in hand is to
secure complete possession of the Capital.
The gallant band which accomplished the
rescue of the Ministers only secured posses.
sion Of one of the four cities which consti-
tute Picking. AS we go to press-Tuesday
noon-it is reported to be assaulting the
walls Of the Inner Sacred City, to gain
possession Of the actual seat of Govern
ment. The immediate, imperative need is
| for an enormous Strengthening of the
troops there. The sooner that the Allies
can put at least 100000 troops in Pe-king
the better. The Chinese will soon recover
from the panic caused by the impetuous
advance of the small allied column and
begin nagging guerrilla tactics unless they
find there troops enough to hold all places
and communications firmly, and enough
more TO chase down and punish any preda-
tory parties. We should be represented in
Picking by 25,O00 troops at the very ear
liest moment they can be got there. 1t
would be high economy to send $4,000.