The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-17

What VIII the President Do.


attaches of legation. the women an'
children under their protection, and all tn
other foreigners in that murder hole have
been butchered with fiendish atrocity, tbs
time has come for the Hon. William Nc.
Kinley, President OF the United States, &c
let the country know what he is going 10 d.
about it!
He and his advisers have had the same
opportunity that this journal has had to
out by Sheng at Shanghai on Sunday wa
in course of preparation, and would lie
sprung upon the world within few days
of the leakage of Chinese private reports
which have been common property for ten
days. Reasoning from knowledge of CHI
nese character and the horrible probab.li-
ties of the case, the President has been
able to make the same deductions that we
have, that the leading European chancei-
leries have, and which have appeared ob-
vious to all persons familiar with Oriental
affairs in general, and the Chinese question
in particular.
What does Mr.. Mckinley purpose doing?
He is confronted by q terrible crisis in the
affairs of the world; one which viii GER
tainly call upon every civilized nation for
vigorous action and sacrifices. 1t is rot
alone that Minister Conger and our leg ton
people and missionaries have been tortured
and massacred. Being dead. their mute cry
for vengeance might have deaf ear turned
TO it until after the Presidential election
But others OF our people are in imminent
danger Of destruction. Our troops at TEN
Tin are even rox in peril of annihilation.
Liscum, Davis. Lemiy. and perhaps may
more of the flower of our officers have
fallen within a few days. Is the nation TO
rest supinely Indifferent under such condi-
lions? Is the situation in China to be ig-
nored while the Chief CT our State sits be-
nignly on the front porch of his village
home and talks politics TO the neighbor.ng
farmers?
There is serious work before the Amer
lean people and the American Government.
The atrocious crime of Pekin must be
avenged. The Chinese Government must
be punished for the outrage and made to
pay an indemnity commensurate with the
extent of its offending. All this is nee
essary and will be demanded by the coun-
try, no matter bow many men it may
take. nor how much treasure. The muir
derers of helsless women and children
must be exterminated. and the city in
which their agonies were suffered left a
ruin for future generations of Cinnamon
to look upon as an object lesson.
Let 1t be distinctly understood. however,
that, just vengeance once satisfied, and an
adequate indemnity secured. the interest
of the United States. except in the pres
ervation of its trade rights. will cease
This country does not seek, nor should 1t
accept. one foot Of Chinese territory. Its
object is singly punitive, and for the fur
ther purpose OF exacting exemplary dam
ages. Sooner or later the Administration
will realize that its aggressor and debtor
is the Chinese Crown. and not the savage
mob upon whom that Government would
lay the blame in order to escape official
responsibility.
All the evidence before US points directly |
to the recognized Government Of China as |
the instigator and author OF the Pekin hor-
ror. In our evening edition Of yesterday
we argued that as the Empress Dowager.
mented the anti-foreign movement, had
called the foreign drilled army to the capt.
tai. had massed it against the relief
column of Admiral Seymour, had reorgan-
ICED the Tsung -li-Yamen with the Boxer
chief at its head. md had used the regular
forces, with their modern guns, against
the legations. therefore the massacre mus.
be considered a governmental act
That 1t was so is, of COURSE, denied by
Chinese officials, including Minister WI at
Washington; but such denial is utterly
foolish In the face of the Developments.
II is not Boxers who have the international
troops nearly, or perhaps by this time
wholly, surrounded in the foreign conces-
sion at Tientsin. II is the Chinese regular
army, and 1t was reported yesterday that
the portion of Numbering nearly one
hundred thousand men-which has been
successful in butchering the foreigners In
Pekin is advancing by rapid marches TO
complete the investment of Tien tsin, and
o accomplish the massacre of he civil
geo troops now there, before help can ar
i've Even Ii Hung Chang. that willy Chi ;
laman, upon whom the Administration has
nsanely relied for aid in suppressing the
o-called disturbances" has ordered his
Black Flags to Pekin, which can only
.ean that he. too. 10 about to Join the
soxer movement. |,
The American people der..nd satisfac- I
ion Of China. To exact It an army will .