The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-08-09
OFFICIAL ER-KENOsHA COUNTY
A National Cataclysm.

IN is address TO the EugISH SONCh Il
ment, Chin Lo Fengi Ho, Chinese
minister in London, makes the follow
ing statements:
eff the allies move this great army
against Peltin they will probably des-
troy the dynasty and preelp1tate the
murder of all the foreigners IN the
empire. Moreover they will 1naugu-
rate a generation of anarchy. The
situation is in the highest degree
critical and hope that the allies Wall
be guided by wise counsels. China is
unlike almost any other country IN the
world. If the present dynasty were
destroyed, perhaps twenty-five years
of anarchy would ensue before the
whole of the empire could be brought
to acknowledge any one as ruler.
81 tell you. China is on the brink OF
a national cataclysm. Her millions,
in all likelihood, will not await a dec
1aration of war from Pekin If the
terrifying news spreads over the
provinces that foreign army is
marching against the capital with
orders to Stay the people and lay waste
the land. In such an event they will
rise against the invaders and China. S
darkest hour will be at hand. Eurot-
cans cannot govern the Chinese. They
must deal with the ruler. Weak and
unsatisfactory though the present
government be, the allies should do all
in their power to preserve it, lest they
set in motion forces which no nation
and no combination of nations can
control"
It seems only too probable that such
a disheartening condition of affairs as
the Chin Lo sets forthwith materialize
in China in the very near future. But
that it will be precipitated by Othe
march of the allied forces on Pek1n is
by no means necessarily true. In fact
there is the best of reason"to believe
that such a condition is already preg-
nant in the great Chinese empire.
There has scarcely ruler assembled
the throne Of China IN the past 100
years whose reign has not been dis
turbed by an uprising of greater or
less magnitude. At present the ex-
listing conditions in China are the
fttest possible to engender anarchy
and revolution.
The sgovernmentAis vicious1y weak.
The recent conduct of European
nations toward the celestial empire
has been in every way calculated to
arouse the Chinese latent hatred of the
foreigner, and he has had just enough
taste of blood and plumber to whet his
barbarous appetite. 1t would surprise
no one, and contribute nothing novel
to the history of China if the prophetic
words of Chin Lo should soon find
theirfu1f1lment. We may easily be-
1ieve that China is on the verge of
national catac1ysm, but that the allied
powers march to Pekiu will materially
affect conditions there is great reason
to doubt.
On the other hand, what would be
the wisest counsel for the allied pow
ers to follow? Chin Lo exhorts them
to keep away from Pekin and depend
upon the Chinese government to pro-
tect foreigners and que1l the disturb
ances. There is no evidence that Chin
Lo is any better Informed of the actu-
al status at Pekin than our own au-
thorities, and the reports from our
minister and the other most reliable
sources set forth that if the legations
are alive they owe it to their own gal
liant conduct; that they are closely be-
sieged, unable to endure much longer,
and that the Chinese government itself
has not only utterly failed to give re-
lief, but has co-operated with the Box
ers. In the midst of the uncertainty
that prevails, guided by the best infor-
nation obtainab1e it would seem that
the policy of the United States is the
only wise one. Acting on this policy
the allied forces are already on their
way to Pekin. Only few days will
serve to prove the wisdom or unwis-
dom of the course.