The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-04
A Final Declaration of War.

4 Final Declaration OF War.
Whatever excuse may have existed here
tofore for adhering to the fiction that the
Chinese Empire is not at war with the
United States has been demolished by the
statement of Il Hung Chang to the French
Consul at Shanghai that communication,
such as has existed. with the Ministers in
Pekin. will be cut off until the interra-
tional relief column is prevented from ad-
vancing on the capital. This is a speedy
answer to Mr.. Hays note warning the i'm
perial authorities to place the legations in
full and free communication with their
Governments. and to cooperate with the
relief expedition. 1t is rendered more
pregnant of meaning and of Chinese
treachery by the report that the two men,
bers of the Tsung- liYamen who we're IA
vorable to the protection of the Ministers,
have been decapitated.
This alarming news came yesterday TO
the State Department from Consul General
Goodnow. and its authenticity is not open
to doubt 1t was freely admitted that it
amounted 10 declaration of war by China,
ard that, as soon as corroborated official
". this country would accept the gauge OF
battle and proceed to act accordingly.
without waiting for Earl Ii to carry out
his threat
We are. therefore. face to face with a
condition which will necessitate the i'm
mediate assembling of Congress in extra
ordinary session and call for volunteers;
unless there should be an instant back
doxn on the other side. which hardly
seems probable The Administration has
been patient with China and its represent
tatives beyond any limit ever contemplate
cd in international usage, and the time
has come to act with stern vigor. In fact
such a course is not to be longer avoided.
France certainly viii regard the defiance
c. Ii as an act of war, and Russia and
Germany will not be backward in assum-
ing the same position. The United States,
Great Britain, and Japan must join, and
there is no apparent ground for douit that.
within a day or so. the whole ci5ilized
world will be formally arrayed against the
Chinese Government in a wa watch. II
once started. cannot stop until the Man
esru dynasty the Imperial Clan, and its
stronghold have been wiped out of ex-
istenee, and China. deprived Of interna-
tional recognition. has been made 4 mere
geographical expression.
Neither this country nor any other great
power can hesitate or stop to count the
cost in blood or treasure At all hazards
China must be terribly punished and rem
dered harmless for the future. Otherwise
the yellow peril to modern civilization
would become ct once imminent and the
cause of decent humanity endangered in
the very next generation II is pity that
the prophetic view of the Russian Count
Sehouvalofi could not have been adopted
and his warning acted upon in 1878. At
the Congress of Berlin he made an impas-
stoned appeal to the powers, asking them
10 enter into an International agreement
not to allow the introduction of modern
arms and high explosives into China. His
plea was treated with disdain. as clever
device 10 make il easier for Russia to ac-
complish territorial designs upon the Chi
nese Empire. All the Industrial States
have since competed with each other in
furnishing the barbarians with modern
rifles and artillery and with trained officers
to teach their use. and 10 organize a for
midabls Chinese army instructed in
European tactics. 1t sometimes seems
that intelligent and far-seeing Govern
ments can be greater fools than the
most deficient individuals could ever
hope to become; and at length We
recognize the bitter consequence OF The
blundar Now it is seen that the future
/ peace Of the world can be ensured only by
the destruction of the Chinese Government,
/ feet, and army, the demolition of all Chi
| nese arsenals and forts. and the general
disarmament Of the Chinese people. The
question may be asked: Is the joint phys
| zeal power of the civilized States great
enough to accomplish such a task? 1t is
probable that it is if they can act in har-
| mony. Whether they can or not remains
| 10 be seen; but the common challenge
which these yellow butchers offer to the
| United States, Japan, Great Britain, and all
Europe ought TO make union and disinter-
ested action on all sides possible If any
thing could.
In any event it would appear that the
effort TO secure concerted action in The
| premises will have to be made. and that
| it cannot be delayed. In their present
! temper, the American people would prob
ably feel Inclined to undertake the punish
ment of China alone; but nothing that
any single power could do in that vast
/ territory would be effective enough to
guarantee lasting results. 1t needs the
whole world 10 teach the required lesson
in way to drive it home, and to compel
| Chinese realization Of the remorseIess
power Of the West TO exact retribution for
| crime.
| The mistaken Reed.
The Republican newspapers which have