The evening times., 1900-09-12
Another Chinese LuII.

The developments of the past twenty
four hours tend to show that the Admin
istration is hesitating before finally COM
hitting itself TO the scuttling programme
in China, and leaving American mission
aries and the native converts under their
protection to a fate which is not open to
doubt if they are abandoned in Pelin-
Elsewhere it is oficially stated that the
massacre of Chinese Christians continues
without abatement. Nothing can save
those in the capital from a like Eate
should it be evacuated by the allied
troops, or most of them.
The action of the State Department yes
terday, in deferring its acceptance Of Ii
Hung Chang as peace envoy and proceed
ing 10 treat with him independently for
peace, is justified by the conditions of the
situation. II is reported that Prince
Ching also has been given powers identi-
cal with those claimed by Ii Hung Chang
II would be very well to go slowly in the
direction of adopting q position and policy
which would put an end to ali hope Of an
interna nationaI settlement. Moreover it is
not altogether certain that our military
/ duty in China has been fully performed
The torture and butchery of American wo-
men and children in Paoting-fu, by the
order. or at least through the connivance,
of the responsible Chinese Government, is
! something that would appear to demand
| action en- the part OF cur forces. before
| their withdrawal from he Empire. Ameri-
/ can public opinion is evidently impressed
with that idea. Again, our dispatches
/ state that hordes of Boxers are gathering
! On the Grand Canal and peaeeably inclin-
! ed villagers are petiJioniEg the interna-
/ tional comma nd"rs for protection.
OF course il is possible for Mr.. McKin-
/ ley to change his mind and TO think better
| of the promise conveyed IN the note Of
! July ,. TO the powers, defining the purpose
of the United States. among other things,
to assist in the restoration of order. But
if he should decide finally to ''scuttle,' -
while the current disturbances and afro
cities are in progress. II is hard TO see
just how he could defend such course,
| on the basis of his previous declarations.
1t must be admitted that the position
I Of the Administration is difficult one.
! On one side it has the responsibility of
! breaking the concord of the powers, and
thereby of probably preventing common
settlement, to face. Il has also the i'm
portant American element interested in
! the Chinese missions, missionaries and
their converts 10 count with. And then
on the other side il is under the strong
est kind of pressure from the New Yori
/ syndicate. in close association with it
which financed the recent Russian loan II
| this country and OF the contributory
| trusts which are furnishing the Russian
I Government with millions Of dollars
worth of railway, bridge. and other con
| struction material These Influences are
insistent that Mr.. Mckinley shall help the
] Russian game in China; for one reason
because its success would bring further
enormous orders for material wherewItl
TO complete the railways in Manchuris
and The lines traversing she I-aoting pc
ninsula. Altogether it is a tight box fol
All Administration TO be in: but such sit
nations are not difficult to produce where
The President takes the responsibility Of
foreign adventure, invasion, and wal
without The authority of The war-malsine
mower